NDIS rules: Public consultation on new framework planning

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing is making changes to NDIS planning. This will make sure the process is easier, more consistent and fairer for participants. We are working with state and territory governments and the disability community to plan for how these changes will work.

To put the changes into action, some existing rules will be updated and new NDIS rules will be made. The rules set out how the NDIS Act works in practice.

The new way of planning has four steps in the participant journey.

Step one is preparing for a support needs assessment. This is when the NDIA contacts a participant and gives them information to help them prepare for their support needs assessment.

Step two is the support needs assessment. This is where a participant meets with an NDIA assessor to discuss their daily life support needs and plan preferences. The assessor then submits the support needs assessment report to the NDIA.

Step three is building a plan. This is when the NDIA uses the support needs assessment report to develop a participant's plan and create a total funding amount. Participants receive the report and their NDIS plan with an explanation on how the budget was created.

Step four is using a plan. At this step, participants have the option of an implementation meeting with the NDIA. Participants use the NDIS supports list to choose, purchase and claim for their support with the new plan.

The department wants to hear from NDIS participants and the disability community about these rules to make sure we get them right.

For more information and to share your thoughts on the rules, visit the consultation page.

Fill out the online survey 

The survey has:

• questions where you can select a response
• questions where you can  type in a response in your own words.

Upload a submission

You will have the option to:

• upload a submission as a standalone response or
• at the end of the survey.

This can be written in a text box or attached as a file.

Talk to us

You can contact us at: NDISConsultations@health.gov.au

You can email NDISConsultations@health.gov.au if you:

• Require help accessing the survey (including word document version or paper copies)
• Need more information about other ways to engage in this consultation
• Have any other questions or concerns.

If you require translation services, you can visit Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) National.

Factsheets

A shorter summary of the content within the discussion paper and explanatory documents.

• Factsheet – Step 1: Preparing for a support needs assessment (Word)  

• Factsheet – Step 1: Preparing for a support needs assessment (PDF) 

• Factsheet – Step 2: The support needs assessment (Word) 

• Factsheet – Step 2: The support needs assessment (PDF) 

• Factsheet – Step 3: Building a plan (Word) 

• Factsheet – Step 3: Building a plan (PDF) 

• Factsheet – Step 4: Using a plan (Word) 

• Factsheet – Step 4: Using a plan (PDF) 

• Factsheet – Reviews and appeals under the new way of planning (Word) 

• Factsheet – Reviews and appeals under the new way of planning (PDF) 

Discussion paper

Outlines the rules and the proposed new four step process.

• Discussion paper on new framework planning (Word)

• Discussion paper on new framework planning (PDF)

• Discussion paper on new framework planning (Easy Read) (PDF) 

• Discussion paper on new framework planning (Text only Easy Read) (Word) 

• Auslan - Summary of discussion paper on new framework planning (Video below)

Explanatory documents

These are more technical documents explaining some of the rules that are being developed.

• Explanatory document – Notice of impairments (Word) 

• Explanatory document – Notice of impairments (PDF) 

• Explanatory document – Transition to new framework plan (Word) 

• Explanatory document – Transition to new framework plan (PDF) 

• Explanatory document – New framework plan spending rules (Word) 

• Explanatory document – New framework plan spending rules (PDF) 

• Explanatory document – Stated supports (Word) 

• Explanatory document – Stated supports (PDF) 

What we heard summary report

A summary report of disability sector feedback between September and December 2025.

New framework planning webpage

The Department's webpage on new framework planning, which contains resources and is updated regularly.

• New framework planning | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing