NDIS: What changes should we expect for 2026?
The NDIS is continuing to evolve, with several important changes scheduled to begin in 2026. These changes are designed to provide greater clarity around eligibility, streamline the planning process, and ensure children and families receive the right level of support.
For providers and participants alike, understanding what’s coming will be key to navigating the year ahead.
What’s Changing in the NDIS in 2026?
The NDIS is entering the next stage of the new legislation. From 2026, several significant changes will come into effect that providers and participants should be aware of.
Impairment Notices
From 2026, the NDIA will ramp up their rollout of Impairment Notices for new and existing participants to the scheme. These notices will provide greater clarity about the eligibility criteria that a person meets to access the NDIS. Participants who joined the scheme from 2025 onward will automatically have this information included in their record, while existing participants may see updated notices in future plan reviews. This aims to reduce uncertainty about eligibility and ensure more consistent decision-making.
New Planning Framework
A new Planning Framework will be introduced in mid-2026. This framework will simplify the planning process and make funding periods clearer. Participants will have plans that set out supports more transparently, with stronger links between their budget and the approved supports. For providers, this means better visibility of the services you can deliver under each plan and less ambiguity when making claims.
Thriving Kids Program
From July 2026, the Thriving Kids program will begin rolling out. This program is designed to provide foundational supports for children with mild to moderate developmental delay or autism. Over time, children who previously accessed the NDIS for these needs will transition into Thriving Kids, ensuring they still receive support but outside the full NDIS pathway. The program is expected to be fully implemented by mid-2027.
Defining NDIS Supports
The new legal definition of NDIS supports was introduced in October 2023 in the form of three lists:
approved supports
replacement supports
non-approved supports
This detailed what the NDIS can and cannot fund. The NDIS and Department of Social Services have been engaged with the community regarding these lists and it is likely that a revised version will be released. This aims to provide greater certainty for participants and providers alike, particularly around items that fall in the grey areas of support. Aligning services with this definition will be essential to ensure claims are valid and compliant.