On 22 April, Federal Health and NDIS Minister Mark Butler announced a significant package of proposed changes to the NDIS.
We know many of you have questions and some of you are concerned. We’ve pulled together what we know so far, what it may mean for your NDIS Plan and what will happen next.
What this means for you right now.
There are no immediate changes to the NDIS. Your current plan, funding and supports continue as normal.
If you have questions about your plan or your spending, our team is here to help.
The proposed changes must pass parliament before they become law. More on that below.
4 key changes expected in 2026.
Some changes will begin in 2026. They focus on how the NDIS manages, reviews and monitors plans.
- Unscheduled plan reassessments will be limited.
These will be harder to request and will only happen in limited circumstances. Your plan is unlikely to change outside your regular review cycle, unless there is a significant change in your support needs. - Plan funding rollovers will end.
Unspent funds will no longer carry over from one plan to the next. This aims to better align funding with current support needs. - Some budgets will change from 1 October 2026.
To reduce spending, the NDIS is likely to reduce some budgets for Social, Civic and Community Participation and Capacity Building daily activities over time. Supports for critical care and daily living needs will not be affected. - Some provider and system changes will begin.
From 1 July 2026, the NDIS will require mandatory registration for Supported Independent Living (SIL) and platform providers. This was previously announced and remains on track.
Changes expected from 2027.
Reasonable and necessary.
From 1 February 2027, the NDIS is expected to tighten how it assesses ‘reasonable and necessary’ supports. The proposed changes aim to make this more consistent by using standardised criteria across new plans, reassessments and renewals.
New planning framework.
The delayed NDIS planning framework is now expected to begin rolling out from 1 April 2027. This will introduce a new way to assess support needs and set budgets, with a gradual transition for existing participants.
Provider registration.
The government is moving to register more providers from 1 July 2027, particularly for higher-risk supports.
Plan management.
From 1 October 2027, the government has proposed a new approach to plan management. You will still be able to choose your plan manager, but only from a list of approved providers.
Changes expected from 2028.
Access and eligibility.
From 2028, the NDIS intends to assess eligibility based on how a condition affects daily life, rather than the diagnosis itself.
NDIS and mainstream services.
From January 2028, the NDIS will apply clearer rules about what it funds and what other services cover, such as health, education and community supports.
States and territories will deliver ‘foundational supports’. These are community-based services for people with disability, whether or not they have an NDIS Plan.
Support coordination.
The government proposes that participants will choose support coordinators from a government-vetted panel starting in July 2028. There is limited detail available on what this will mean in practice.
How these changes become law.
Minister Butler intends to introduce a bill to Parliament in May 2026 and have it passed by 30 June 2026. Here’s how it works.
- A bill is introduced. A bill is a formal document that sets out all the details of a proposed law. Once introduced, you can read it on the Parliament website at aph.gov.au/bills.
- The bill goes through both houses. The bill is debated and voted on in the House of Representatives and the Senate. There are three readings in each house.
- The Governor-General gives final approval. The Governor-General grants royal assent (official approval) and the bill becomes law.
This process takes time and the bill’s content or timeline may change along the way. As more details become available, we’ll update you.
What you can do now.
- Check in on your plan. It’s worth reviewing how you’re tracking against your goals and spending and checking when your next plan review is due. If you’d like some help with this, Leap in! offers free one-on-one Understand Your NDIS Plan sessions. Call us on 1300 05 7878 to book a time.
- Read our dedicated NDIS changes page. We’ll update it as things develop
- Sign up for our weekly enews if someone has forwarded this to you.
We’re here to help.
We’ll update you as these reforms develop, but in the meantime, if you have questions about your NDIS Plan or current supports, the Leap in! Crew is here to help.
Call us at 1300 05 7878 or email [email protected].
