NDIS Changes 2026: What’s Confirmed and When Each Change Starts

In August 2026, the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 passed the Senate with the support of both major parties. It did so despite one of the largest public responses to a Bill in recent memory – around 4,500 submissions to the Parliamentary Inquiry after the draft was tabled in mid-May, with feedback almost universally critical.

I’ve drawn the list below from multiple sources, including both items expressly included in the NDIS Amendment Bill, and statements made by the Disability Minister in his April “Press Club” speech which foreshadowed the Bill. Key measures include:

• Reduced participant numbers – Government modelling aims to bring the NDIS to around 600,000 participants by the end of the decade, rather than more than 900,000 projected without the changes.
• $55 billion spending trajectory – Government aims to limit annual NDIS spending to around $55 billion in 2030, compared with over $70 billion under the previous trajectory.
• Eligibility overhaul – From 2028, access will progressively move to a more standardised, evidence-based assessment of functional capacity, alongside tighter rules concerning permanence, appropriate treatment, impairment-related support needs and access to other service systems. Existing participants will be reassessed progressively.
• New framework planning – Participants will progressively move to a new planning system based on a new support-needs assessment, with the transition running from April 2027 to December 2030.
• Tighter funding rules – New criteria for determining reasonable and necessary supports will apply from February 2027.
• Plan controls and unused funds – The reforms tighten reassessment arrangements, introduce plan end/renewal processes and, from February 2027, provide that unspent funds are not carried into a renewed plan.
• Major reduction in social/community participation budgets – From October 2026, allocations for social, civic and community participation supports are to be reduced by 50%, while capacity-building daily activity allocations are to fall by 10%. Some participants with 24/7 supports will be protected.
• Expanded provider registration – Mandatory registration will progressively extend to higher-risk supports, with implementation beginning in 2027 and completing by 2030. The Government estimates 90% of NDIS payments will ultimately go to registered providers.
• New provider enrolment and digital payments system – Most providers will need to enrol with the NDIA, with stronger payment evidence, claims monitoring and traceability intended to reduce fraud and improve oversight.
• Commissioning replaces parts of the open-market model – Plan management will move to a commissioned panel from October 2027; a new commissioned support coordination/connection service begins July 2028; and commissioning of some SIL/home-and-living supports is being designed.
• Support coordination fundamentally changes – From July 2028, support coordination will no longer be funded as an individual budget item in the participant’s plan; providers will instead be commissioned directly by the NDIA.
• Thriving Kids / alternative supports for some children – From 2028, children aged eight and under with developmental delay/autism and low-to-moderate support needs will move to Thriving Kids programs (run by States/Territories) rather than the NDIS.
• Inclusive Communities Fund – $200 million will be provided to rebuild the capacity of mainstream and disability organisations to offer inclusive community participation outside individual NDIS-funded supports
• Fraud, compliance and enforcement powers – The NDIA and NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission receives strengthened powers and information capabilities, alongside new record-keeping and payment controls.

I’m deeply disappointed by the changes and the way the NDIS has been portrayed in the media in recent years. I’m hoping to see a more open and honest approach from both the Government and the National Disability Insurance Agency than we have seen over the past three years and more.

Thinking about the changes themselves, there are a few that, in my view, are some of the most potentially damaging and unnecessary:

• From October 2026, allocations for most social, civic and community participation supports are to be reduced by 50%. The real objective should be to rein in the rate of cost growth; I don’t believe there is an absolute need to cut the budget from this October. I think this will have a disproportionate and damaging impact on participants and carers/families.
• Removal of Support Coordination (from July 2028). I think that this change hugely reduces a participant’s ability to navigate NDIS complexities and challenge NDIA decisions. I believes participants should retain their choice and control over who fulfils this key function for so many.
• Commissioning Supported Independent Living (from 2028): the rationale for this change has not been adequately explained. Again, I think participants deserve choice and control over where they live and who with; commissioned SIL is a step backwards. If there are concerns about SIL quality, address these through better oversight.

Several of the overall changes affect eligibility for the scheme and these will clearly have a huge impact on participants and families as has been well argued across the participant community in recent weeks. In addition, there is little confidence that the “foundation supports” and Thriving Kids will be adequate replacements, nor ready in time.

I hold significant concerns that many of the planned changes are being rushed without due consideration and without serious engagement with participants, families and providers. The report from Senate Committee Inquiry into the NDIS Amendment Bill did not genuinely reflect the concerns and views put to it through thousands of submissions.

However, regardless of whether people agree with the changes, we also need to accept that at least most of this is happening and prepare ourselves for the future as best we can. Read more on what the NDIS changes mean for you – and how to prepare.