Information current as at 18 August 2026
On 18 August 2026, the latest NDIS Amendment Bill passed the Senate.
There is going to be a lot of information and opinion shared about these changes. For us, the important part is understanding what is actually changing, when it is changing and what that means for participants.
The NDIS is still here. Participants still have plans, funding, goals and supports to access.
So, let’s look at what we actually know.
Changes to NDIS access
From 1 January 2028, there will be changes to how people access the NDIS, with more focus on functional capacity and how disability impacts everyday life.
This isn’t happening tomorrow. The new assessment process still needs further development and consultation.
For participants, it reinforces something we already know – good evidence matters.
Planning and budgets are changing
New framework planning is expected to start from 1 April 2027.
A support needs assessment will be used to better understand what disability-related supports a participant needs and help determine their budget.
This means being able to clearly show what support you need, why you need it and what difference that support makes in your everyday life.
Not reports for the sake of having reports. Useful evidence that actually tells your story.
Plans will have an end date
Under the changes, plans will have a legislated end date and unused funding will not simply roll across into the next plan.
That does not mean rushing out and spending your funding before your plan ends.
It means understanding your budget and using your funding appropriately throughout your plan for the supports you actually need.
This is something good Support Coordination should already be helping participants with.
When circumstances change
There will be clearer rules around requesting an unscheduled reassessment.
If there is a significant and ongoing change in support needs, functional capacity, living arrangements, work, education or informal supports, there will still be pathways to have the plan looked at.
The important part is being able to show what has changed and what that change means for the participant.
Again, good documentation and evidence matter.
Social and community participation
From 1 October 2026, changes to social and community participation and some capacity-building supports will start being introduced as plans are reviewed or renewed.
This does not mean everyone’s funding changes on 1 October.
The Government has also announced a $200 million Inclusive Communities Fund aimed at creating more inclusive opportunities for people with disability within their communities.
For now, participants should continue using their current plans and accessing their supports.
Providers will also have greater accountability
And I think this is important.
There are stronger measures around fraud, inappropriate claiming, record keeping and provider behaviour, as well as further registration requirements for providers delivering higher-risk supports.
There will also be a 90-day timeframe for providers to submit claims after a support has been delivered.
NDIS funding belongs to participants and it should be used properly, transparently and for the purpose it was intended.
Good providers should be able to clearly show what support they delivered and why they claimed for it.
What about Support Coordination?
There are changes planned for Support Coordination from July 2028, with the Government proposing a new commissioned model.
We don’t know exactly what that will look like yet. There is still consultation and work to happen before then.
So for now, we keep doing the work.
Helping participants understand their funding. Making sure the right supports are in place. Identifying gaps before they become bigger problems. Making sure there is good evidence when circumstances change. And helping participants use their funding in a way that actually moves them towards their goals.
So, what should participants do now?
Keep calm and keep using your plan.
There is no need to make decisions based on headlines, social media posts or speculation about what might happen.
Use the supports you need. Know what is in your budget. Ask questions. Keep good evidence. Talk to your Support Coordinator when something changes and make sure your funding is being used for supports that are actually helping you work towards your goals.
There are changes coming, but they are not all happening at once.
We will keep across them, understand what they mean as the detail is released and work through them with our participants.
At SLC Supports, our approach isn’t changing.
Keep calm. Keep it individual. Keep it practical. Keep the participant at the centre. And make the funding count.