Securing the NDIS for future generations timeline

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is one of Australia’s most important social reforms. The NDIS needs to be protected for people with permanent and significant disability and for future generations who will rely on it.

This timeline outlines the key dates for implementing the Government’s plan to secure the future of the NDIS. This includes when legislation will be introduced, when consultation will occur and when changes for participants and providers will begin.

This timeline will be updated as further dates are confirmed following consultation and design work.

Bold = Key changes commence for participants and providers

2026

Mid-May

• NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill introduced to Parliament.

1 July

• Rollout of mandatory registration begins for Supported Independent Living (SIL) and platform providers.
• Consultation begins on:
  • Design of a commissioning approach for home and living supports for SIL participants who need 24/7 support.
  • Expanding differentiated pricing for unregistered providers.
  • Design of the Inclusive Communities Fund and market reforms for social and community participation and capacity building activities.

Early July

• Technical Advisory Group established to provide advice on new eligibility assessment process to determine access to the Scheme based on functional capacity.

14 August

• Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs Legislation Committee report tabled, recommending the Bill be passed through Parliament. 

19 August 

• The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 passed by the Parliament.  
• Consultation begins on: 
  • Updated new framework planning rules. 

20 August  

• The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Act 2026 received Royal Assent. Some measures commenced 7 days after Royal Assent.  

27 August  

• Tighter criteria for unscheduled plan reassessments begin. Participants are still able to request unscheduled reassessments when there have been significant and ongoing changes to support needs. Only participants, plan nominees or guardians can request unscheduled reassessments. 
• Participants and providers begin to have new requirements to retain records relating to NDIS claims. Participants and plan managers will need to keep records for 3 years and providers for 7 years.  
• NDIA, NDIS Commission and other relevant authorities begin to have stronger compliance, enforcement and information gathering powers to tackle fraud and non-compliance, respond faster to poor provider behaviour, and tackle serious and organised crime operating within the NDIS. 
• Stronger penalties for fraud and other serious wrongdoing begin. New offences cover things like providing false or misleading information, obtaining NDIS funds by deception, abuse of position as a participant’s nominee, and intentionally destroying records. 
• The Minister for Disability and the NDIS becomes the decision-maker on NDIS pricing. 

31 August

• Consultation concludes for:
  • Design of the Inclusive Communities Fund.
• Consultation begins on:  
  • New eligibility assessment process to determine access to the Scheme. 

7 September  

• Consultation begins on:  
  • Support coordination and connection. 

13 September  

• Consultation concludes for: 
  • Commissioning Supported Independent Living. 

30 September

• Consultation concludes for:
  • Expanding differentiated pricing for unregistered providers.

1 October

• Phased rollout of Thriving Kids supports begins, with children aged 8 and under with development delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs and their families able to access supports outside the NDIS.
• Participant support budgets for social, civic and community participation supports and capacity building daily activities are progressively reset as plans are reassessed or renewed.
• New plan variation pathway opens for high support needs participants who require continuous 24-hour care to meet their disability-related care needs. 

2 October  

• Consultation concludes for:  
  • New eligibility assessment process to determine access to the Scheme. 
  • Support coordination and connection. 

14 October

• Consultation concludes for:
  • Updated new framework planning rules.

 31 October

• Consultation concludes for:
  • Market reforms for social and community participation and capacity building activities.

27 November 

• Ban on providers offering kickbacks and inducements begins.  

2027

1 February

• Changes to plan rollovers begin for all participants. As plans reach their scheduled reassessment dates, a renewed plan will be created and unspent funds from the previous plan will not be carried over.
• Tighter assessment of reasonable and necessary support for new entrants begins, with new criteria the NDIA must consider in determining what supports are funded. This will be progressively applied to current participants as they go through usual reassessments.

27 February 

• New rules about debt recovery begin to make sure powers to recover debts are administered fairly.  

1 April

• Participants start to transition to new framework planning.

1 July

• Rollout of expanded mandatory registration requirements for providers of higher risk activities like personal care, daily living supports and supports provided in closed settings begins, with all providers in scope to be registered by December 2030.
• Rollout of new enrolment system with a minimum basic level of identifiable information on most NDIS providers begins, with all providers in scope to be enrolled by December 2027.
• New whistleblower protections begin for people who report wrongdoing in the NDIS.  

1 October

• New panel of plan management providers begins with 6-month transition period.

2028

1 January

• Access changes begin for new applicants, with existing participants reassessed over 3 years:
  • Eligibility determined based on a new standardised, evidence-based assessment of functional capacity as informed by the Technical Advisory Group.
  • More consistent assessment of permanence and whether an impairment can be alleviated or treated.
  • More consistent assessment of access to other compensation schemes.
• Thriving Kids services are fully operational nationally.
• Access changes for new applicants aged 0-8 eligible for Thriving Kids begin:
  • Children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs will be supported by Thriving Kids instead of the NDIS.
  • Children aged 8 and under enrolled in the NDIS prior to 1 January 2028 with developmental delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs will be subject to reassessment under the eligibility criteria in place prior to 1 January 2028.
  • Children with permanent and significant disability and children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism who have substantially reduced functional capacity (high support needs) will remain eligible for the NDIS, subject to usual arrangements.

1 July

• New support coordination and connection funding begins.

2030

31 December

• New framework planning transition period ends. All participants will have been transitioned to new framework plans.