NDIS Act changes: read the 2024 announcement in context
NDIS set for major overhaul with changes to NDIS Act
By Clickability · Originally published 28 August 2024
Original article and dated context
In case you missed it, the Government passed a Bill last week to make changes to the NDIS Act, after securing the support of states and territories. Putting it mildly, this is a BIG deal.
We know there’s a lot of noise about the Bill, so we’re exploring what this means for you, your NDIS Plan, and the supports you receive. Anxiety about this change is natural; we’re anxious too!
Where did this change come from?
Last year, the NDIS Review was published. We explored this here. The Review itself was essentially the result of a lot of political talk about the scheme being unsustainable.
Following the Review, the Government accepted only some of its recommendations and began working with the states and territories to make changes to the Act.
Well, this has now happened. Some of the changes have upset large portions of the community, with many worried it’s nothing more than a cost-cutting exercise.
What are they changing?
According to the NDIA, participants may see changes in a few different ways.
[Clickability update, October 2026: Diagnosis alone is not the existing access test. Read current access evidence guidance. The 2026 reform guidance distinguishes future access changes from the separate new planning framework.]
How your eligibility is assessed
The NDIA will move away from assessing eligibility based on diagnosis, and instead place a greater emphasis on need. This will be supported by the introduction of functional assessment tools, which will look at someone's overall care needs.
While many people are wary, particularly given the Coalition's mooted independent assessments a few years back, the Government says these changes will make the Scheme more equitable.
This is off the back of the Review recommending the introduction of foundational supports, with more people to be supported outside the scheme by mainstream supports.
[Clickability update, October 2026: The support lists are now in operation. Check what counts as an NDIS support and any applicable replacement-support process, rather than treating the list as a future proposal.]
Which supports can be funded by the NDIS
The NDIA will now have a comprehensive list that outlines what supports you can access using your NDIS funding. Unfortunately, the NDIA only gave a very short consultation window to hear feedback on this list... yep, it's already closed.
But the list will theoretically make it much clearer what you can't use your funds on. The concern is that the new list will remove choice and flexibility, meaning outside-the-box solutions to achieve a goal are no longer possible.
[Clickability update, October 2026: The passage below incorrectly attributes banning powers to an approved quality auditor. The NDIS Commission issues banning orders and other compliance actions. NDIA funding-management decisions and Commission enforcement are different functions.]
How your plans are managed
The NDIA will now have much more power over how you use your Plan, with the NDIA now able to insert itself if it believes someone can’t adequately manage their funding or there's the potential of exploitation from others.
It's an expansion of the NDIS Commission's powers, essentially. For instance, if a support worker has been banned by an approved quality auditor, you also can't use them, even if you're self-managed.
Given the dialogue around the scheme's sustainability, there is a concern that this change continues the narrative of fraud within the NDIS, failing to address other, more pressing issues.
No matter where you land, the truth is that this is just the beginning, with many more changes planned.
It's fast moving, but we'll endeavour to bring these changes to you as they happen. For now, we wait to hear how such changes will work practically.
Clickability editorial update: October 2026
Check the support and the provider separately
Before buying a service, check whether it is an NDIS support and whether your plan can pay for it. A provider’s willingness to invoice your plan does not answer either question. If a proposed purchase is outside the support lists, look at the replacement-support process before spending; do not treat flexibility as permission to fund any purchase.
When choosing a provider, check relevant registration and restrictions as well as fit. A review or recommendation cannot override a banning order. Read the exact conditions of a published compliance action rather than assuming every action prohibits every service.
Questions readers ask
Is this article about the 2026 Act?
No. The original announcement concerns the 2024 amendments; the editorial update separates later changes. Official guidance
Who issues NDIS banning orders?
The NDIS Commission. An approved quality auditor does not issue banning orders. Official guidance
Where are the current support lists?
Use the NDIA’s current NDIS support guidance rather than a historical consultation summary. Official guidance
Find a provider for the support you actually need
Use Clickability to describe your service needs and compare provider profiles and reviews. Confirm the service can be funded through your plan before proceeding.
