What’s changing with the NDIS and when?
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The NDIS is undergoing major changes.
The new National Disability Insurance Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Act 2026 came into effect on 27 August 2026.
The reforms it introduced are not all happening at once. While some are already in place, others will only start impacting participants and applicants over the next several months and years.
This regularly updated guide explains the key changes, when they are happening, and what they may mean for children and young people with disability and their families or caregivers.
Last updated: 10 September 2026
You can also learn more about the reform timeline at the following websites:
What has already changed?
27 August 2026
In August 2026, there were some changes to NDIS plan reassessments, administrative processes, and NDIA and ministerial powers.
- Criteria for unscheduled plan reassessments were tightened
- New requirements for how participants and providers keep records about NDIS claims were introduced
- The NDIA was given stronger powers to tackle fraud, non-compliance and suspicious behaviour
- The Minister for Disability and the NDIS was given new decision-making powers about NDIS pricing
Plan reassessments
Only participants, plan nominees, or child representatives can now ask for plan reassessments before a scheduled reassessment date.
You will still be able to ask for this type of plan reassessment when there is a significant and ongoing change to your or your child’s functional capacity, support needs, or living, education, work, or informal support arrangements.
The NDIA will have 90 days to decide whether to reassess a plan once they receive a request.
You will also still be able to ask for plan changes if there is an emergency, crisis, or short-term change in your or your child’s support needs.
New record-keeping requirements
Participants, nominees, and providers must keep records of supports and payments over specific periods of time, including:
- 3 years for participants and plan managers
- 5 years for nominees
- 7 years for providers
Fraud and compliance
The NDIA has new compliance, enforcement and information gathering powers to tackle fraud and non-compliance.
There are also new offences and penalties for fraud and exploitative behaviour.
NDIS pricing decisions
The Minister for Disability and the NDIS now has the power to make pricing determinations for NDIS supports.
They will continue to receive advice from the NDIA through the existing Annual Pricing Review process.
There are no immediate changes to NDIS pricing.
Automated systems
The NDIA can now use automated computer systems for administrative processes, including processing claims.
The Government says decisions will still require human oversight, though some systems are still being worked out.
What is changing next?
1 October 2026
More NDIS changes will roll out in October alongside a new alternative supports program.
- Total funding for two categories of supports will be reduced, impacting new and reassessed plans
- The NDIA will have the ability to suspend plans if a participant does not respond to repeated information requests
- The Thriving Kids program for eligible children aged 8 and under with developmental delay or autism will begin its phased rollout
Changes to participation and capacity-building support budgets
The government is reducing the total allocated budget for two categories of support, including:
- Social, Civic, and Community Participation Supports (reduced by 50%)
- Capacity-building Daily Activities (reduced by 10%)
These are the supports that help participants take part in the community and develop skills.
The changes will initially only apply to new or reassessed plans. From 1 February 2026, it will also apply when a plan is renewed.
Importantly, the reduction in total budget allocation does not necessarily mean individual participants will see their funding drop by 50% or 10%.
A new plan variation pathway will also be created for participants with high support needs who require continuous 24-hour care.
Plan suspensions
The NDIA will have the power to suspend plans when a participant does not respond to reasonable attempts to contact them and request information.
The Agency will need to have attempted to contact you, or your nominee or authorised representative, at least five times over an extended period.
Phased rollout of Thriving Kids begins
Thriving Kids is a new Foundational Supports program intended to replace NDIS supports for eligible autistic children with “low to moderate” support needs or those with developmental delay aged 8 and under.
Its phased rollout will run from 1 October to 1 January 2028, when it is expected to be fully operational.
The Government expects Thriving Kids services to be delivered across every state and territory. However, details and arrangements for each jurisdiction are still to be worked out.
CYDA has consistently called for high-quality and accessible alternative supports to be ready before anyone is removed from the NDIS.
1 December 2026
Changes to claiming timeframes
From the start of December, participants and plan managers will need to submit claims within 90 days of a support being delivered.
What changes are coming in the future?
1 February 2027
In February, there will be changes to how plans and budgets are created and renewed. This includes:
- A new plan renewal process
- Tighter criteria for what supports are considered ‘reasonable and necessary’ and should be funded
- More focus on parent support responsibilities when plans are being built
New plan renewal process
A new plan renewal process will replace what is currently called plan continuation.
An NDIA planner will reassess a plan at it scheduled date for reassessment, or a new plan will be created with the same supports as the old one.
Unspent money from previous plans will not carry over to new plans.
Reasonable and necessary supports criteria
The NDIA will use new criteria to decide what supports are reasonable and necessary and should be funded in a participant’s plan.
The criteria include considering a person’s individual circumstances as well as the sustainability of the NDIS as a whole.
This will apply to new participants and existing participants when it is time for their plan to be reassessed.
Parental responsibility and informal support
There will be new expectations around what kinds of support parents and families can reasonably be expected to provide for their children themselves.
This includes support a parent would ordinarily provide if their child did not have disability.
It does not include any additional support a child needs because of their disability.
It may include some forms of:
- Personal care
- Transport
- Supervision
- Emotional support
- Behavioural support
When deciding what supports to fund or not fund, the NDIA will also have to take into account possible harm to participants, families, or others providing informal support.
1 April 2027
A new way of planning and assessing support needs
From April, the NDIA will roll out a new process for making NDIS plans called new framework planning.
Participants will be required to take part in an interview with a trained NDIS assessor for a support needs assessment.
They will then receive a report based on this assessment that explains how their plan budget was decided.
This new process will not apply to everyone straight away, but will be gradually introduced over three years to 31 December 2030.
1 July 2027
In July, there will be several changes that impact NDIS providers.
- It will be mandatory for providers of some higher-risk supports to be registered
- A new enrolment system will begin rolling out for most providers
Expanded mandatory registration
NDIS providers of higher risk activities like personal care, daily living supports, and supports provided in closed settings will need to be registered.
This will need to occur by December 2030.
New enrolment system
Most NDIS providers will be subject to a new enrolment system with a minimum basic level of identifiable information.
They will need to be enrolled in this system by December 2027.
1 October 2027
New plan management panel
A panel of plan management providers will be created.
After a 6 month transition period, participants will only be able to choose plan managers who are on this panel.
1 January 2028
Some of the most significant milestones for NDIS changes fall at the start of 2028.
- There will be major changes to who can access the NDIS and how eligibility is assessed
- Thriving Kids is expected to be fully operational
Changes to accessing the NDIS
New applicants will need to complete a new eligibility assessment process that includes a functional capacity assessment.
This will evaluate a person’s functional capacity, or how their disability affects their everyday life. However, details about this assessment process are still being worked out.
Existing participants will not be immediately impacted, but will need to follow this same process when they are reassessed within the next three years.
Determining whether an impairment is permanent
The NDIA will follow new rules for determining eligibility, including by deciding whether an impairment is permanent.
Participants and applicants may have to prove their impairment is permanent by demonstrating that they have tried all appropriate treatment options for the impairment.
The NDIA cannot force a person to have every treatment, with treatments having to be safe and subject to public funding.
Exactly how this will work is still to be set out.
Thriving Kids and access changes for eligible children
The Government expects the Thriving Kids program to be fully up-and-running in every state and territory by this date.
This means autistic children with “low or moderate” support needs, and those with developmental delay, aged 8 and under will be diverted to this program instead of the NDIS.
- Eligible children already enrolled in the NDIS will be reassessed under the eligibility criteria in place before 1 January 2028
- Eligible children not already on the NDIS will be directed to Thriving Kids services in their state or territory
Children aged 8 and under with permanent or significant disability that substantially reduces their functional capacity will remain eligible for the NDIS.
1 July 2028
Support coordination
There will be a new commissioned support coordination and connection function.
Details are still being worked out.
Let us know how the changes are affecting you
Many of the changes set to come into effect before 2030 will impact children and young people with disability and their families or caregivers.
Some of the reforms are still being developed, and how they are designed and implemented could have unexpected consequences or cause harm.
CYDA will continue its advocacy to make sure the NDIS works for you and our community.
Please reach out to our team if you would like to share how a change has affected you. You can reach us by clicking on the button below and emailing media@cyda.org.au
Where to find more information
The NDIA have shared some information about the new changes, and how they will affect participants.
(The webchat function is up the top of the page.)