New NDIS Laws Pass Parliament: What the Changes Mean

The Australian Parliament has passed new legislation that will introduce important changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The reforms are intended to secure the NDIS for the long term and will affect different parts of the scheme over the coming years.

The new laws were passed on 19 August 2026. However, the changes are not being introduced all at once. Instead, they will be implemented progressively, giving participants, providers and the wider disability community time to understand and prepare for the reforms.

What Is Changing?

The new legislation will gradually affect several important areas of the NDIS, including:

• How people access the NDIS
• How participant plans are created
• How NDIS funding can be used
• How providers deliver supports
• How the NDIA addresses fraud
• How NDIS prices are set

Some changes are being introduced sooner than others. Updates relating to plan reassessments and record keeping are among the changes beginning during 2026, while changes to social and community participation funding will begin phasing in from October 2026.

What Does This Mean for Current Participants?

For people who are already participants, there is no immediate need to stop or change their usual supports simply because the legislation has passed.

The NDIS has confirmed that participants can continue using their current plans and supports as usual while the reforms are introduced.

It is also important to distinguish between the new reforms and ordinary changes that can happen during the normal planning process. A participant’s plan may increase or decrease because their individual needs change over time, and the NDIS states that these ordinary plan changes should not automatically be considered part of the new reforms.

When Will Eligibility Change?

Changes to NDIS eligibility are not scheduled to begin until 1 January 2028.

Until then, people with permanent and significant disability will continue to be able to access the NDIS under the existing arrangements. The later eligibility changes will be introduced as part of the broader implementation of the new legislation.

What About NDIS Providers?

Providers will also need to understand how the reforms affect the way they operate.

The legislation includes changes relating to provider delivery of supports, record keeping, fraud prevention and NDIS pricing. The NDIA has said it will provide providers with further information about what the changes mean for them as implementation continues.

For care providers, staying informed about official updates will be important so that services, documentation and processes can continue to meet NDIS requirements.

A Gradual Transition

The NDIS reforms represent a multi-year transition rather than an immediate change to the entire scheme.

Some changes will take effect during 2026, while other reforms will be introduced over the following years. The NDIA has also stated that there will be ongoing consultation with the disability community during the implementation process.

Participants will be notified when a particular change affects them, including information about what is changing, when it will happen and what information or support is available.

Staying Informed

With several reforms being introduced at different times, participants, families and providers should follow official NDIS announcements for the latest information.

Understanding the difference between changes already in effect, upcoming reforms and ordinary plan changes can help people better understand what is happening with the scheme.

The NDIS will continue to provide updates as each stage of the reforms is implemented.

Source: National Disability Insurance Agency, New NDIS laws pass, 19 August 2026.