1. NDIS Eligibility and Access
The NDIS will continue to support people with a permanent disability and significantly reduced functional capacity; however, the way eligibility and access are assessed is changing.
Key updates:
- Diagnosis-based lists will no longer be used as a pathway into the NDIS. However, individuals will still need to provide evidence confirming the permanency of their disability.
- Greater emphasis will be placed on a person’s functional capacity, specifically how their disability significantly impacts their ability to manage everyday activities, rather than relying on diagnosis alone.
- Standardised Functional Capacity Assessments will be introduced to support more consistent and evidence-based access decisions.
- Clearer boundaries will be established between NDIS-funded supports and those that should be delivered through mainstream systems such as health, education, and community services.
2. Changes to Planning and Budgets
Planning processes are being redesigned to improve consistency and strengthen control over Scheme spending. Over time, variation in budgeting, support interpretation, and plan reviews has contributed to rising costs and inconsistent decision-making.
Key updates:
- The new planning framework, will begin rolling out from April 2027, following further consultation, testing, and refinement of the approach
- Participant budgets will be more closely aligned to assessed support needs, using more structured and evidence-based methods
- Unspent funds will no longer automatically roll over into new plans ensuring funding reflects current needs
- There will be stricter rules around when plans can be reassessed, reducing unnecessary changes while allowing flexibility for significant changes in support needs.
3. Changes to Social and Community Participation Funding
The Government is shifting toward genuine community inclusion in response to an over-reliance on paid supports and declining community-based opportunities.
Key updates:
- A $200 million Inclusive Communities Fund will invest in rebuilding the capacity of community organisations to provide inclusive programs and activities
- Adjustments to participant budgets will be progressively implemented from October 2026, with adjustments to social and community participation supports and capacity building activities.
- The Government has stated these changes will not impact on supports that are essential to the critical care and daily living needs of participants on the NDIS
4. Reforms to Providers and Service Delivery
These changes respond to concerns about inconsistent service quality, pricing variability, and market sustainability.
Key updates:
- Increased government oversight of pricing, to ensure pricing is fair, transparent, and aligned with quality outcomes
- The introduction of commissioning approaches for key service areas, including plan management, support coordination, and home and living supports
- Changes to support coordination services are recommended from July 2028, which is expected to reshape how these services are delivered, with increased expectations around quality and outcomes
- Exploration of differentiated pricing models, where pricing may vary depending on provider type, service complexity, or delivery model
5. Stronger Fraud and Compliance Measures
The Government is strengthening fraud and compliance measures in response to misuse of funds and gaps in oversight.
Key updates:
- Expanding mandatory provider registration arrangements
- Introducing stronger checks on claims and payments, with increased evidence requirements of service delivery
- Increasing the NDIS’s ability to investigate, monitor, and respond to fraud and non-compliance, with enhanced enforcement powers
- Improving data monitoring to identify risks earlier and respond more effectively
What Do
These Changes Mean for Support Coordinators?
As the NDIS continues to evolve, the importance of skilled,
high-quality Support Coordinators is becoming increasingly evident. These
reforms reinforce the need for strong professional capability, including the
ability to understand and evidence complexity, manage risk effectively, and
produce clear, well-structured, evidence-based reports.
The role is shifting beyond basic coordination, requiring
a higher standard of practice grounded in professionalism, critical
thinking, and the ability to translate complex participant needs into clear,
defensible recommendations.
Greater Emphasis on Evidence and Outcomes
Decisions will increasingly rely on functional assessments,
clear justification of need, and alignment with “reasonable and necessary”
criteria.
This means Support Coordinators will need to place greater focus on:
- Detailed and evidence-based documentation
- Stronger preparation for plan reviews and reassessments
- Demonstrating outcomes and impact, not just facilitating access to services
A More Complex and Navigational Role
As eligibility tightens and boundaries with mainstream systems become clearer, some participants may no longer receive the same level or type of supports from the NDIS.
As a result, Support Coordinators will increasingly need to:
- Navigate and connect participants to mainstream services such as health, education, and community supports
- Advocate for participants within a more structured and rules-based system
- Support participants to understand what the NDIS can and cannot fund
Changes to the Support Coordination Model
The proposed move toward a commissioned model for support coordination (expected from July 2028) signals the structure of the role may change.
This could include:
- Different approaches to how services are funded and delivered
- Increased expectations around quality, consistency, and outcomes
- A shift toward more formalised quality providers and possibly less providers
Increased Focus on Compliance and Accountability
With stronger fraud and compliance measures being introduced, Support Coordinators will need to work within tighter regulatory expectations.
This includes:
- Maintaining thorough records and evidence-based reporting
- Ensuring providers involved in a participant’s plan meet registration and quality requirements
- Applying greater care in how supports are justified and implemented
Help
Is at Hand
Navigating the complexities
of professional Support Coordination requires confidence, knowledge and
professional judgement.
If you want to explore how
you can increase your skills and confidence in evidence-based practice, look
at our Professional
Skills series workshops.
Sign up to our newsletter to become part of our Support Coordination Academy Community.
