What Participants, Families and Support Coordinators Need to Know

There are important NDIS changes beginning from 1 October 2026, but this does not mean everyone’s plan suddenly changes on that date.

Changes will be introduced progressively, and participants will not see the relevant funding changes until their plan is reassessed, renewed or a new plan is approved.

Changes to Some Support Budgets

From 1 October 2026, when a participant receives a new plan or their plan is reassessed, the NDIA will progressively apply new support determinations to funding for:

Social, civic and community participation supports
Capacity-building daily activities

These changes are not backdated.

The NDIA says these particular changes will not affect funding for:

Help with eating and drinking
Education supports
Employment supports
Disability-related health supports

For plan renewals, the new process begins from 1 February 2027.

Read the NDIA’s official explanation of the NDIS reforms

What About Participants With 24-Hour Support Needs?

A new plan variation pathway will be available for participants who require continuous 24-hour disability-related care after a support determination applies.

Eligible participants will be able to apply for a plan variation within 90 days of the support determination applying to them.

Where necessary, the NDIA may increase funding through the plan variation process to ensure essential 24-hour disability supports can continue.

Plan Reassessments Have Already Changed

Since 27 August 2026, only the participant, their nominee or child representative can request a plan reassessment.

Requests need to use the appropriate process, explain what has changed and why a reassessment is required, with supporting evidence provided where necessary.

Participants can still request a change to their plan when there has been a significant change in their functional capacity or circumstances.

What Should Participants Do Now?

There is no need to panic or stop using existing supports.

Instead, this is a good time to make sure the information and evidence relating to your support needs is current.

Useful information may include:

Changes in functional capacity
How frequently assistance is required
Risks if assistance is unavailable
Overnight support requirements
Sustainability of informal supports
Health and disability-related needs
Relevant professional evidence

If your circumstances or support needs have significantly changed, speak with your nominee, Support Coordinator or my NDIS contact about whether a plan variation or reassessment may be appropriate.

Changing SIL Providers?

There is also a separate regulatory change affecting Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers.

Mandatory registration arrangements for SIL commenced on 1 July 2026. Existing unregistered providers who were delivering SIL before 1 July 2026 and want to continue providing SIL must submit a valid registration application for 0138 – Assistance with Supported Independent Living by 1 October 2026.

For participants, the NDIA says your plan and funding will not change because of the SIL registration requirement. If your existing SIL provider registers or applies to register by the deadline, you do not need to change providers for this reason. If they do not register, you may need to move to a registered provider.

Participants should not feel pressured into making a rushed decision. Where a provider change is required or desired, the transition should be carefully considered around the participant’s preferences, safety, continuity of support and individual circumstances.

Read the official SIL registration information

Planning a Safe SIL Transition

Bright Journey Care Solutions has developed a Safe SIL Transition Pack to help participants, families and Support Coordinators plan these transitions carefully.

The pack is designed to help make the process more structured and ensure important considerations are not overlooked when exploring or changing SIL arrangements.

Download the Free Safe SIL Transition Pack | Speak with Bright Journey Intake