Change 1: The NDIS Review and Its RecommendationsÂ
The NDIS Review was the most comprehensive evaluation of the scheme since its launch in 2013. It was conducted to make recommendations for major change to address rising costs and the challenges faced by people with disabilities within the system. The review focused on restoring trust, ensuring sustainability, and placing people with disabilities back at the centre of the NDIS. The resulting report proposed 26 recommendations and 139 supporting actions, including to:
1. Develop a Unified System of Support
The NDIS will integrate better with other services to provide holistic support for people with disability. Key actions include:
- The introduction of ‘Navigators’, who will be replacing support coordinators and local area coordinators with broader roles to simplify system navigation. This is a huge change to the future of how participants connect to providers and plan for reviews within the NDIS system.
- Simplified Access: Clearer rules and forms to make applying easier.
- Better Decision-Making: Tools and training for participants and nominees.
- Individualised Planning: Tailored support focused on personal needs and goals.
- Improved Housing Options: Fairer and more flexible choices for living arrangements.
- Enhanced Mental Health Support: Better integration with other systems for holistic care.
2. Empowering Markets and Support Systems
Participants will have more choice and control with stronger market systems. Key actions include:
- Central online platform for NDIS and community service information.
- Fair and transparent pricing for providers.
- Stronger checks to ensure safety and service quality.
- Culturally appropriate services for First Nations people.
- Recruitment and retention of skilled, diverse disability support workers.
- Elimination of unnecessary restrictive practices.
3. Stewardship of the Unified System
Governments and agencies will work together to build and oversee a unified system. Key actions include:
- National agreements for shared funding and goals.
- Clear roles to improve coordination and avoid duplication.
- Training for high-quality, person-centred care.
- Data sharing to enhance decision-making and identify best practices.
4. A Five-Year Transition
The changes will be introduced gradually to minimise disruption. Key actions include:
- Testing ideas with participants to ensure they work well before full implementation.
- Updating laws to support a modernised NDIS.
- Stronger provider oversight to improve quality and reduce fraud.
These recommendations lay the groundwork for significant changes, shaping how the scheme functions and how participants interact with their support. You can read the full list of the 26 recommendations here.
What does this mean for NDIS Participants?
Although the 26 recommendations are yet to be formally responded to or accepted by the government, they have started to implement several changes in response to many of the recommendations.
Given the number and extent of some of the recommendations, it is fair to say that these changes will impact each and every NDIS participant in some way or another. We believe it is important that participants are kept informed of what changes are happening over the next five year period, which is what we are aiming to do with this webpage. The very first of these changes rolled out was preceded by the NDIS Act, which you can read more about here.
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