NDIS reforms
The NDIS is undergoing significant reform with changes being introduced gradually over several years. We know there is a lot of information to take in, so we've created a simple overview of what's changing, when it will happen and what it could mean for you.
What you need to know
The Securing the NDIS for Future Generations Act was passed in August 2026 and introduces changes to how the NDIS operates. According to the Australian Government, these changes are intended to make the NDIS clearer, fairer, safer and more sustainable over time.
These changes relate to areas such as eligibility, plan management, funding and provider requirements. Some changes have already started. Others will be introduced gradually over several years and may be further shaped as government continues consultation with people with disability, families and disability service providers.
Learn more about the new NDIS laws
You can continue using your current NDIS plan and supports, and the NDIA will contact you directly if any changes affect you.
We will update this page as more information becomes available.
Most people won't be affected straight away
Not every change will affect every participant, and many changes will only apply to specific groups of people.
These changes do not automatically mean you will lose supports or receive less funding.
Every NDIS plan is different. Your goals, support needs and individual situation will continue to be considered when decisions are made about your supports.
Our commitment to you
At genU, we support measures that strengthen the quality, safety and long-term sustainability of the NDIS. We believe several of the proposed changes, including stronger provider oversight, mandatory registration requirements and a more sustainable pricing approach, have the potential to benefit both providers and participants.
While there is still more to learn, these changes will be introduced gradually, giving participants, families and providers time to understand and adapt.
genU is following the reforms closely. We will keep listening to the people we support, families, partners and employees. We will continue to speak up to advocate for positive outcomes for people with disability and ensure changes are implemented in a way that is practical and manageable for providers and clients.
We understand you may have questions about what these changes will mean for you. As more information becomes available from the government, we'll keep our clients, families and employees informed.
Supporting you through the changes
At genU, we're committed to providing safe, high-quality supports that put people at the centre of everything we do. As a registered NDIS provider, we meet the standards required by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
If you're already receiving supports from genU, you don't need to take any action. We'll help you understand any changes that affect you and support you every step of the way.
If you have questions about these changes, our friendly genU team is here to help. Email ndis.changes@genu.org.au
Opportunities to have your say
As the NDIS changes are developed, there will be opportunities for you to share your feedback through NDIS consultations. Your input is important in helping to ensure changes are informed by lived experience, practical experience and an understanding of how they may affect people who use the NDIS.
We'll share opportunities to participate in NDIS consultations here as they become available.
Key NDIS changes and what they could mean for you
The NDIS changes will be introduced gradually between now and 2030. This overview highlights the key dates, what's changing, and what it could mean for you and your supports.
Changes now in effect
The change: The Minister for Disability and the NDIS will have the power to make a pricing determination for NDIS supports. The determination will set out the maximum amounts for NDIS supports
The change: Requests for plan reassessment before their scheduled reassessment date, need to be made by:
- the participant
- the plan nominee
- if the participant is a child, the child representative
- the participant’s legal guardian.
The requestor will also need to complete a plan reassessment request form.
Participants will still be able to ask for a plan reassessment before their reassessment date when there's a significant and ongoing change to their daily functioning and support needs, or their living, education, work or informal support arrangements.
More information: Learn more about plan reassessments and download the request form here
The change: Therapeutic assessments and reports now need to be less than four months old to be considered current supporting evidence for your NDIS plan review.
What this could mean for you: Without current and relevant therapeutic evidence, you may be less likely to receive funding that accurately reflects your needs and goals. You should prepare in advance of your plan review date to arrange an updated assessment to help demonstrate your disability-related support needs.
How genU will support you: genU’s Allied Health team can assist with therapeutic assessments and reports, and we can provide other guidance on the supporting evidence for your NDIS plan review.
More information: Learn more about plan reassessments and how to gather evidence
The change: New rules will change how long participants, providers and nominees need to keep records of supports, claims and payments.
Those periods are:
- 3 years for participants
- 5 years for nominees
- 7 years for providers.
What this could mean for you: You will need to keep documents and records related to your NDIS supports for three years. This includes receipts, invoices, dates and any notes you have about the NDIS supports you receive.
The change: The NDIA will have stronger compliance, enforcement and information gathering powers. These powers will mean they can better tackle fraud and non-compliance and respond faster to suspected misuse of NDIS funding. This helps protect the participants and make sure NDIS funding is used correctly.
Changes being introduced in 2026
What’s changing: From 1 July 2026, registration became mandatory for providers of Supported Independent Living (SIL).
SIL is funding for a support worker to help or support you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You may share a support worker or have an individual support worker, depending on how much help you need. The support worker will help or supervise day-to-day tasks within your home.
By 1 October 2026, your SIL provider must be registered, or have applied to register, to keep delivering your supports. Registration means your provider is held to national quality and safety standards. Your plan and funding will not change.
What this could mean for you: genU is a registered provider. You can check our registration status on the NDIS Commission website.
If your SIL supports are provided by genU, nothing changes and your supports stay the same.
More information: Learn more about SIL on the NDIS website
What’s changing: From 1 October 2026 budgets for Social, Civic and Community Participation (SCCP), and for Capacity Building daily activities, will be reduced.
Based on the information available now, SCCP funding will reduce by 50%, while Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living funding will reduce by 10%.
The budget reductions will be applied as plans are created or reassessed from 1 October 2026 or renewed from 1 February 2027.
What this could mean for you: If you use funding for social and community activities, you will notice a change to that part of your budget when your plan is next renewed.
Please be assured that essential daily living supports, personal care, disability-related health supports and complex behaviour supports are not expected to be affected by these SCCP funding changes.
How genU will support you: genU will contact you before your next plan review to discuss how this change might affect you and how we can assist you to prepare for your review. This may include looking at different ways to keep you connected to your community or changes to your current schedule. Any discussion about changes will be focused on supporting your safety, wellbeing, choice and participation.
More information: NDIS news article - Changes to support budgets from 1 October
What’s changing: A new program called Thriving Kids will commence. It supports children aged eight and under who have developmental delay and/or autism with lower support needs, through local state-based services rather than the NDIS.
What this could mean for you: If your child is already in the NDIS and is part of this group, they will be assessed before 1 January 2028. If Thriving Kids is considered appropriate for your child, they may transition to the new program. Children with permanent and significant disability, including children with developmental delay and/or autism who have high support needs, will continue to be eligible for the NDIS under the current arrangements.
More information: NDIS news article – Thriving Kids
What’s changing: The timeframe for providers to claim payment for supports will reduce from two years to 90 days. Any support delivered from 1 December 2026 must be claimed within 90 days.
What this could mean for you: Your plan will not change. This change encourages providers to submit claims promptly, giving you a more accurate and up-to-date view of your remaining plan budget. If you are plan managed, your plan manager and providers will simply need to submit invoices sooner.
Changes being introduced in 2027
What’s changing: The way plan renewals work is changing. When your plan reaches its scheduled reassessment date and a new plan is approved, any unspent funds from your previous plan will not carry over into the new one. Each new plan will have its own budget.
What this could mean for you: It's important to use the supports you're funded for throughout your plan, rather than allowing funding to build up, as any unspent funds will not carry over if your plan is renewed after 1 February 2027.
If you're unsure whether you're making the most of your plan, your plan manager, support coordinator or our team can help you understand your options and plan ahead.
What’s changing: There will be new rules about what counts as a reasonable and necessary support under the NDIS. People who are new to the NDIS will be assessed under these rules first. For people already on the NDIS, the new rules will be introduced gradually through the plan reassessment process.
What this could mean for you: If you're already an NDIS participant, nothing will change straight away. When your plan is next reassessed, the NDIA will consider the new criteria when deciding which supports can be funded. Keeping simple records of the supports you use and how they help you can make it easier to discuss your needs and goals when that time comes.
What’s changing: A new approach to planning, called new framework planning, will begin rolling out. It uses an assessment of your support needs to help decide what supports and funding are included in your plan. Planning conversations will focus on goals, strengths and preferences, and explore how you want to live, learn, work and connect with your community.
Current NDIS participants will move across to the new approach gradually over time.
What this could mean for you: You don't need to do anything right now. Your current plan will continue until it's your turn to move to the new approach. This will happen gradually through to 31 December 2030, rather than all at once. When the time comes, your planner will explain what the changes mean for you and your supports.
What’s changing: Requirements for providers to be registered will be expanded, starting with those delivering higher risk supports such as personal care, daily living supports, and supports provided in closed settings, such as supported accommodation.
What this could mean for you: This change is designed to strengthen safety and quality across the NDIS. It means more providers delivering hands-on and personal supports will be required to meet national standards, giving participants and their families greater confidence in the services they receive.
genU is a registered provider. You can check our registration status on the NDIS Commission website. If your supports are provided by genU, nothing changes and your supports stay the same.
What’s changing: A new panel of plan management providers will be introduced. Participants will be supported to transition to a provider on the panel over a six-months transition period.
What this could mean for you: If your plan is plan managed, you may need to move to a provider on the new panel during the transition period. If you do, your plan manager will explain what you need to do and help make the change as smooth as possible.
If your plan is not plan managed, this change will not affect you.
Changes being introduced in 2028
What’s changing: For new applicants, access to the NDIS will be determined using a new standardised assessment of a person's functional capacity and support needs. Current NDIS participants will move to the new approach gradually over several years.
What this could mean for you: If you're already an NDIS participant, you won't be reassessed straight away. From 2028, participants will be reassessed against the new criteria as part of a gradual transition. The outcome of a reassessment may vary depending on individual circumstances. However, people with permanent and significant disability will continue to receive support. The NDIA will provide information well in advance of any reassessment.
What’s changing: A new model for support coordination begins, where coordinators are selected from a government-approved list.
What this could mean for you: If you have funded support coordination, your coordinator may change as part of the new model. The aim is to provide more consistent, high-quality support coordination for participants.
NDIS
At genU, we’ve worked with the NDIS since 2013 and are one of the largest disability service providers in Australia.