NDIS changes: what the new laws mean for participants, families and providers

The Australian Parliament has passed the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026. The Bill is currently awaiting Royal Assent, and the Australian Government and NDIA have confirmed that NDIS changes will be introduced gradually over time.

At Coastal Connect Independence, we know changes to the NDIS can create questions for participants, families, support coordinators and providers. This update is a plain-English summary of what has been announced so far and what people may need to watch for over the coming months.

Why are the changes being made?

The Government has said the changes are intended to help secure the NDIS for the long term and keep the Scheme focused on people with permanent and significant disability.

Some changes may begin soon after the Bill receives Royal Assent. Other reforms will be phased in over the next few years, with further consultation expected across the disability community and provider sector.

Key changes announced so far

1. Unscheduled plan reassessments

The NDIA has advised that only a participant, their plan nominee or child representative will be able to request an unscheduled plan reassessment.

Requests will be limited to certain circumstances, such as where there has been a significant and ongoing change to a participant’s support needs, living situation, education, work, or informal supports.

For participants and families, this means it will be important to keep clear evidence of any major change in circumstances and seek advice early if a plan no longer meets current needs.

2. Provider record keeping

Providers will be required to keep records for 7 years. New NDIS rules are expected to explain what records must be kept.

This is intended to help verify claims and make sure payments are made correctly. For providers, it reinforces the importance of accurate service records, shift notes, invoices, agreements and supporting documentation.

3. Stronger compliance and information gathering powers

The NDIA will have stronger powers to request information, investigate non-compliance and respond to suspected fraud or incorrect claiming.

Providers may be required to give information when requested. Penalties may apply where certain legal requirements are not met.

This makes good governance, accurate documentation and transparent claiming even more important.

4. NDIS pricing decisions

The Minister for Disability and the NDIS will be able to make pricing determinations for NDIS supports, setting maximum amounts for supports.

The NDIA has said there are no immediate changes to NDIS pricing and providers should continue to follow the current pricing arrangements for now.

5. Claims to be made within 90 days

The NDIA has advised that participants, providers and plan managers will need to make claims within 90 days of an NDIS support being delivered.

This change means timely invoicing, service confirmation and record keeping will become even more important.

6. Plan renewals

Plan renewals will replace the current process of many “plan continuations”. When a participant’s plan is due for reassessment, it may either be reassessed by an NDIA planner or renewed with the same supports as the previous plan.

The NDIA has also advised that unspent funds from a previous plan will not roll over.

7. Reasonable and necessary supports

The way the NDIA assesses reasonable and necessary supports will change. New criteria will be considered when deciding what supports are funded.

The Government has said this will initially apply to new participants and will apply to current participants when their plan is reassessed.

8. Social and community participation funding

Changes to social and community participation funding are expected to begin phasing in from October 2026.

More detail is still expected. Participants and families should monitor NDIA updates and seek support if they are concerned about how future plan changes may affect community access, participation goals or daily supports.

9. Provider registration changes

There will be new mandatory registration requirements for some providers, including providers delivering personal care and daily living supports, and supports in closed settings such as Supported Independent Living or group homes.

Some registration changes, including mandatory registration for Supported Independent Living and platform providers, have already commenced.

10. Access to the NDIS from 2028

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has stated there are no changes to how people access the NDIS until 1 January 2028.

From that date, access decisions are expected to place greater focus on functional capacity — how a person’s disability affects their day-to-day life. A Technical Advisory Group has been established to provide advice on the future assessment approach.

People with permanent and significant disability will continue to be able to access the NDIS.

What this means for participants and families

For now, the most practical steps are:

• keep copies of important NDIS documents, assessments, reports and service records
• tell your provider or support coordinator if your circumstances change significantly
• review invoices and service agreements carefully
• ask questions early if you are unsure about a plan reassessment, renewal or funding change
• follow official NDIA updates, as many changes will be introduced gradually

What this means for providers

Providers should start preparing by reviewing:

• record keeping systems and document retention practices
• invoicing timeframes and claim processes
• service agreements and support documentation
• staff training around accurate notes and evidence of support delivery
• registration obligations, especially for personal care, daily living, SIL or closed-setting supports
• internal compliance processes for responding to NDIA information requests

CCI’s approach

Coastal Connect Independence will continue to monitor official NDIS updates and adjust our systems, documentation and service processes as requirements become clearer.

Our priority remains the same: providing safe, respectful and reliable support while helping participants understand changes that may affect their services.

If you are a CCI participant, family member or stakeholder and have questions about how these changes may affect your supports, please contact our team. We can help you understand the information available and identify any next steps that may be needed.

Important note

This article is a general summary only and is based on public information available at the time of writing. It is not legal advice and does not replace official advice from the NDIA or the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Participants, families and providers should refer to official NDIS updates for the most current information.

Official sources:

• Department of Health, Disability and Ageing — About the changes to the NDIS
• NDIS Provider Newsletter special edition, 20 August 2026