Quick Summary
The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 proposes changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013. The Australian Government says the Bill aims to protect the NDIS for people with permanent and significant disability, and for future generations who may rely on it.
The proposed reforms focus on several key areas, including NDIS access and planning, fraud and integrity measures, governance arrangements, provider regulation and new framework planning. The Government says these changes aim to address concerns about Scheme sustainability and fraud risks within the NDIS.
Importantly, the Bill has not yet passed Parliament. Many of the changes described below would only apply if the legislation passes and related rules are made or implemented.
This article is based on official Government fact sheets, the Explanatory Memorandum, Australian Parliament information, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, the NDIS website, and selected professional commentary.
What Is the NDIS Amendment Bill 2026?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 proposes changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013. The Bill would change how the NDIS operates, including how people access the Scheme, how the NDIA reviews plans, how supports are funded, and how some providers are regulated.
The Australian Government says the Bill is intended to address two major issues:
- The long-term sustainability of the NDIS
- Fraud and integrity risks affecting participants and the Scheme
The Bill also draws on recommendations from major reviews and inquiries, including the NDIS Review, the Disability Royal Commission, and the NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce.
The proposed changes cover several key areas:
- Access and planning
- Fraud and integrity measures
- Governance arrangements
- New framework planning
- Transitional arrangements
For participants, families and providers, these proposed changes may feel significant. That is why it is important to remember that the Bill has not yet passed Parliament, and many details would depend on future rules, consultation and implementation guidance.
Has the NDIS Amendment Bill 2026 Passed Yet?
No. The NDIS Amendment Bill 2026 has not yet passed Parliament.The Bill was introduced into the House of Representatives on 14 May 2026 and is still progressing through the parliamentary process. This means we should not treat the proposed changes as final or already implemented.
Parliament also referred the Bill to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry. Submissions closed on 29 May 2026, and the committee is scheduled to report on 16 June 2026.
For participants, families, providers and allied health professionals, this is an important point: the Bill may lead to significant changes, but many details will depend on whether the legislation passes and how the Government and NDIA implement the changes afterwards.
Why Is the Government Proposing These Changes?
The Australian Government says the Bill is intended to support the long-term sustainability of the NDIS and strengthen protections against fraud and misuse of Scheme funds.
The NDIS has grown significantly since it was established in 2013. The Government has stated that, without reform, this growth may place pressure on the Scheme’s ability to continue supporting people with permanent and significant disability into the future. Fraud and exploitation are also key concerns. The Government has said that fraudulent activity can harm participants and families by reducing service quality, creating opportunities for exploitation, and affecting trust in the Scheme.
The proposed reforms aim to:
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- improve consistency in access decisions
- strengthen safeguards and oversight
- reduce fraud and misuse of NDIS funds
- support the long-term sustainability of the Scheme
- create clearer and more structured planning arrangements
These proposed changes may understandably feel uncertain for participants, families, providers and workers. Some changes are expected to happen gradually, with further consultation, communication and implementation guidance before major reforms take effect.
Key Proposed Changes for Participants
Functional Capacity and NDIS Access
One of the biggest proposed changes relates to how people may access the NDIS in the future.
The Bill proposes a legal framework for access based on substantially reduced functional capacity. This means future access decisions may focus more clearly on how a person’s disability affects their ability to do everyday activities, rather than relying only on diagnosis or condition-based criteria.
The Government says this approach aims to make access decisions more consistent, objective and evidence-based. A Technical Advisory Group, along with consultation with the disability community, states and territories, would help shape the thresholds and assessment process.
There are no expected changes to how people access the NDIS until 1 January 2028. Until then, people will continue applying to the NDIS in the current way. From 1 January 2028, access is expected to involve changes based on functional capacity assessment.
Unscheduled Plan Reassessments
The Bill proposes tighter rules for unscheduled plan reassessments requested by participants or their representatives.
Under the proposed changes, reassessments would generally be limited to situations where there has been a significant and ongoing change in a participant’s support needs. This could include changes related to functional capacity, living arrangements, education, work, or informal supports.
Only the participant, their plan nominee, guardian or authorised representative would be able to request an unscheduled reassessment. This is intended to make sure reassessment requests are based on genuine participant needs, rather than being driven by other parties.
This does not remove the NDIA’s ability to initiate a plan reassessment where appropriate.
Supports Must Relate to Eligible Impairments
The Bill proposes clearer rules about the connection between a participant’s funded supports and the impairment or impairments that made them eligible for the NDIS.
Supports would need to relate directly to the eligible impairment that allowed the participant to access the Scheme.
For participants and families, this may make evidence and documentation even more important. Reports, assessments and support requests may need to clearly explain how a person’s disability affects their daily function and why a recommended support is directly connected to their disability-related needs.
Plan Renewals and Unspent Funds
The Bill also proposes changes to how plans are renewed.
Under the proposed framework, participant plans would have formal end dates. When a participant reaches their plan reassessment date, that date would become the end date of the current plan, and a renewed plan would be created immediately after.
Unspent funds from the previous plan would not carry over into the renewed plan.
This may be important for participants, families and support teams to understand when planning service bookings, therapy hours and support use across the life of a plan.
Reasonable and Necessary Supports
The Bill proposes changes to how the NDIA considers whether supports are reasonable and necessary.
Under the proposed changes, the NDIA would need to consider factors such as:
- Scheme sustainability
- equity across NDIS participants
- consistency for participants with similar needs and circumstances
These factors would become part of the legislative decision-making framework.
For participants and providers, this may mean support requests need to be clearly justified, evidence-based and linked to disability-related functional needs, safety, independence and participation.
Key Proposed Changes for Providers
Expanded Provider Registration
The Bill proposes changes to the legal definition of an NDIS provider. This would support expanded mandatory registration requirements for some providers, particularly those delivering supports to participants considered at higher risk of abuse or exploitation.
The Government says these changes aim to improve quality, strengthen oversight, and help providers deliver supports more safely.
For providers, this may mean new or expanded compliance requirements over time, depending on the type of supports they deliver and whether they fall within future registration rules.
90-Day Claims Timeframe
The Bill proposes a shorter timeframe for making claims for NDIS supports.
Under the proposed change, participants or plan managers would need to make claims for NDIS supports within 90 days of service delivery. The Department expects this change to begin from 1 December 2026. This may affect providers, participants and plan managers, particularly when invoicing or claiming processes are delayed. For providers, this makes accurate and timely invoicing even more important.
Plan Management Changes
The Bill also proposes changes to plan management arrangements.
The proposed reforms would clarify registration requirements for plan management providers and allow the Government to commission a panel of plan management providers. The Explanatory Memorandum also describes a proposed transition to a panel arrangement for plan managers.
If the legislation progresses, the Government is expected to release further operational details. For now, readers should treat this as a proposed change, not a final or already implemented process.
Important Dates
| Proposed change | Date / status |
| Bill introduced into Parliament | 14 May 2026 |
| Current Parliament status | Before Reps |
| Second reading debate | 26 May 2026 |
| Senate inquiry submissions close | 29 May 2026 |
| Senate committee reporting date | 16 June 2026 |
| Some planning-related changes | From 1 October 2026 |
| 90-day claim timeframe | From 1 December 2026 |
| Reasonable and necessary changes | From 1 February 2027 |
| New framework planning | From 1 April 2027 |
| Functional capacity access changes | From 1 January 2028 |
Why This Matters for Occupational Therapy
These proposed reforms matter for occupational therapists because many NDIS decisions rely on clear evidence of functional capacity, daily living needs, assistive technology, home modifications, and reasonable and necessary supports.
For sole traders and small OT providers, this uncertainty is significant. Changes to assessment pathways may affect referrals, report-writing work, business planning, and the way the NDIA uses OT evidence in NDIS decisions.
At this stage, these are sector concerns and advocacy positions, not confirmed legal outcomes. OTs should continue monitoring official updates and keep their reports clear, functional, and evidence-based.
Reference:
- https://www.ndis.gov.au/
- https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/ndis-legislation-changes/amendments/ndis-amendment-securing-the-ndis-for-future-generations-bill-2026/about-the-changes-to-the-ndis?language=en
- https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-05/ndis-amendment-securing-the-ndis-for-future-generations-bill-2026—fact-sheet.pdf
- https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-05/ndis-amendment-securing-the-ndis-for-future-generations-bill-2026—fact-sheet-easy-read.pdf
- https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/ndis-amendment-securing-the-ndis-for-future-generations-bill-2026-fact-sheet?language=en
- https://www.otaus.com.au/news/policy-and-advocacy-update-21-may-2026
