The Australian Government and the NDIA have announced that I-CAN v6 has been selected as the base for developing the new NDIS Support Needs Assessment process for some participants aged 16 and over.The NDIA expects to introduce new framework planning from mid-2026 through a phased rollout, while the Government continues to develop the rules and consult with stakeholders. This marks the beginning of a gradual shift away from relying on Functional Capacity Assessments (FCAs) for most general plan budgets, with changes starting from mid-2026. The NDIA has emphasised that this assessment model is designed to reduce the burden on participants to supply multiple costly specialist reports and create a more consistent, transparent planning process.
For many OTs, this news is sitting somewhere between “expected” and “unsettling,” and it’s completely valid to feel both. The truth is, the profession is about to change in ways we’ve never experienced before. Before jumping to conclusions, it’s worth unpacking what’s confirmed, what’s not, and where this leaves us.
What Is Confirmed and What Is Still Unclear
What has been announced
The NDIA has procured a licence for I-CAN v6 and says trained, accredited assessors will use it as part of the new planning framework for participants aged 16 and over. The assessment process will also include questionnaires about each participant’s personal and environmental circumstances, along with targeted assessments for people with more complex disability support needs.
The NDIA has also stated that the first participants are expected to begin using the new planning approach from mid-2026, with a phased introduction. This means many participants may not experience changes immediately.
What is still uncertain
Important details are still being developed, including how the assessment will operate in practice, how much weight treating clinician evidence will carry, how complex presentations will be captured, who will complete different parts of the assessment, and what safeguards will apply if a participant disagrees with the outcome.
How This Change Impacts OT Career Stability
This announcement lands at a moment when many OTs are already questioning the long-term sustainability of their careers: rising administrative demands, workforce shortages, years of continuous NDIS reform, and a pricing system that has been effectively frozen while operating costs keep climbing.
With stagnant NDIS price limits and increasing business expenses, many practices are feeling the financial squeeze more than ever. And with what we know so far, this shift could significantly influence how OT careers evolve in the coming years, shaping the stability of certain roles, the viability of existing business models, and even the pathways new graduates choose as they navigate an already pressured sector.
What Occupational Therapists Should Do Now
If you’re an OT reading this, you’ve probably felt the weight of this change already. The shift to I-CAN v6 isn’t just another policy update, it’s a transition that will shape our careers, our businesses, and how we support the people we work with every day.
1. Stay Informed and Stay Involved
Please don’t tune out. This is the time to stay plugged in.
Make sure you’re keeping up with:
- Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA)- for advocacy updates, workforce guidance, and allied-health involvement in the new assessment model.
- NDIA / NDIS Review Implementation Updates – for official changes to assessor roles, training, and the staged rollout of I-CAN v6.
- Centre for Disability Studies (CDS) – the organisation responsible for I-CAN v6 training and accreditation, and the first place assessor training will reopen.
2. Start Shifting Your Clinical Lens Toward Support-Needs
With the NDIS moving toward a support-needs model, the way we document our clinical reasoning will need to evolve too. This doesn’t mean abandoning the fundamentals of OT practice, it simply means framing our observations in ways that align with how the new planning system understands need.
As OTs, this can look like placing more emphasis on:
- how often a person needs support
- how much support is required and under what conditions
- what participation really looks like in their daily routines
- strengths-based, functional descriptions instead of impairment-heavy language
- terminology that aligns with the I-CAN domains
This isn’t about trying to replicate the NDIA’s assessment.
It’s about ensuring our reports remain meaningful, complementary, and grounded in the real-life context that only treating clinicians can provide.
3. Diversify Your Services: Don’t Wait!
If your practice leans heavily on FCAs (and many of ours still do), this is the moment to widen your scope. The truth is, even as the assessment model shifts, there are core OT areas that remain essential because they meet real, everyday needs.
Some of the most reliable and future-proof areas include:
- functional therapy and daily living skill development
- assistive technology trials and prescription
- home modification assessments
- psychosocial and mental health OT
- early childhood and youth capacity building
- workplace functional assessments and ergonomic support
4. Follow the Senate inquiry and consider making a submission
The proposed NDIS changes are still moving through parliamentary and consultation processes. The Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee is currently reviewing the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026, with submissions closing on 29 May 2026.
For OTs, this is important because the final rules may affect how functional capacity, support needs, assessments, participant safeguards, and allied health evidence are recognised within the NDIS. OTs should follow the inquiry, review professional guidance, and consider contributing feedback through formal consultation channels.
You can review the Senate inquiry and make a submission here: NDIS Future Generations Bill 2026 Senate Inquiry
Staying Grounded in What Truly Matters
As an occupational therapist reading this news, I’d remind myself that uncertainty doesn’t diminish our work, it reconnects us to why we’re here. Tools will change, systems will shift, and policies will evolve. But the heart of Occupational Therapy remains the same: supporting people to live with dignity, independence, and confidence. Instead of worrying about the future of FCAs, I choose to see this as a chance to adapt, evolve, and lead with steadiness rather than fear. Our value has never been in the reports we write, but in the people we walk alongside and that purpose has always been stronger than any funding model.
Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA) continues to advocate for OTs. Pushing for fair pricing, manageable workloads, and a stronger role for allied health in the new assessment model. If you have thoughts or concerns about these changes, the best way to be heard is to take part in OTA consultations, join OT forums, and contribute to discussions shaping national reform. And if you’d like updates as this transition unfolds, feel free to follow our social pages. We’ll keep sharing simple, practical insights to help OTs navigate the shift.
Sources
NDIA / NDIS Official Announcements:
https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/10927-new-tool-deliver-simpler-pathway-disability-supports
I-CAN v6 Information (Tool, Domains, Scoring, Training)
https://cds.org.au/clinical-services/i-can/?
Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA) – Advocacy, Pricing & Workforce Evidence
