More than 10,000 assessments are planned as the NDIA tests New Framework Planning, but the government's reform advisers have raised questions about funding levels, budget assumptions, and whether participants' needs will be met.
The methodology that will determine participant budgets as part of the redesigned NDIS is undergoing independent review, as the government’s reform advisers raise concerns about whether new budgets will be sufficient to meet participants’ needs.
The NDIS Reform Advisory Committee was briefed by Department of Health, Disability and Ageing officials on the proposed budget method and other New Framework Planning rules at its August meeting.
The committee’s newly released meeting summary says members raised questions about “funding levels, budget assumptions, and how participants would understand the relationship between assessment outcomes and budget decisions”.
“They emphasised the importance of transparency and raised questions about the treatment of informal supports, specialist disability supports, benchmarking and pricing, whether budgets would meet participant needs, and the information available to help participants understand and use their budgets,” the summary says.
“Members commented that flexibility is meaningful only if funding levels are sufficient to meet participant needs.”
DoHDA told the committee further work on the model was underway.
Related
“DoHDA officials advised further work is underway, including independent review of the budget methodology and continued testing of how assessment outcomes translate into participant budgets,” the summary says.
Public consultation on proposed New Framework Planning rules covering the Support Needs Assessment, Budget Method, NDIS Supports, and Plan Variations is expected to begin this month.
More than 10,000 assessments
The NDIA also briefed the committee on testing of New Framework Planning, with more than 10,000 assessments planned in the current phase and further testing to continue before implementation.
Testing covers three key areas: the validity and reliability of the Support Needs Assessment and budget model; participant and workforce experience; and operational readiness including systems, processes, and service delivery.
Methods include simulated assessments, participant surveys, focus groups, and workforce testing.
But committee members reported community concerns about participants’ understanding of and confidence in the testing process.
“The RAC emphasised the importance of clear communication that testing is iterative and will not affect current NDIS plans or future funding decisions,” the summary says.
Members also called for testing to reflect the diversity of NDIS participants, specifically including autistic people, those in rural and remote communities and people with complex support needs.
The committee said the participant experience and the “likely or indicative outcomes” of the Support Needs Assessment needed to be tested together.
Thriving Kids uncertainty
The committee also reported broader anxiety about the government’s disability reforms.
“Members shared feedback from jurisdictions and stakeholder networks, reporting significant concern and uncertainty across the disability community regarding NDIS reforms, the Thriving Kids interface with the NDIS, eligibility changes, and future support pathways,” the summary says.
The discussion also identified concerns about workforce impacts, continuity of services, implementation readiness, and the need for clearer communication as the reforms progress.
Future committee work will include New Framework Planning, access and eligibility reforms, and the interaction between the NDIS and foundational supports.
Consultation opens on proposed NDIS access changes
Meanwhile, the government has now opened consultation on NDIS changes including how a person’s functional capacity is assessed, what evidence should be used to support access decisions, and how future access decision-making processes could be designed.
The views and experiences of people with disability, families, carers, advocates, disability service providers and health professionals will inform the work of the Technical Advisory Group for NDIS functional capacity (TAG).
According to Minister for Disability and NDIS Mark Butler, the feedback will guide the TAG’s independent, evidence-based advice to governments.
“This consultation is an opportunity for people with disability and the broader community to help shape a more transparent and consistent NDIS access process,” he said.
Minister for the NDIS Senator Jenny McAllister said the consultation is an opportunity to shape the reforms.
“I want to hear from people with disability on how they want the proposed changes to look and operate. Their input is invaluable.
“I am particularly keen to hear from people from a diverse range of backgrounds and communities,” she said.
Consultation is open from 31 August to 2 October 2026 at consultations.health.gov.au.