Huge Proposed Changes to Our NDIS Explained and What You Can Do to Have Your Say | Plans to action | Flexibility | Choice and control | NDIS
| Policy and Advocacy | News | Know your rights
| Text only
| Plans to action | Flexibility | Choice and control | NDIS
| Policy and Advocacy | News | Know your rights
| Text only
The Government has introduced a major new NDIS Bill called the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026. Self Manager Hub has been working hard to help our community to understand the new Bill and what it could mean for people who depend on the NDIS.
At our Self Manager Hub workshop on Saturday 16 May, Dr George Taleporos and Sam Paior talked through what the proposed changes could mean for people who self-manage or self-direct their supports.
It is important that our community takes action to prevent any changes to NDIS that will harm NDIS participants and take away our choice and control. But we need to act quickly as we only have until 1 June to have our say.
What is being proposed?
The Government says the Bill is about protecting the future of the NDIS, making eligibility clearer, reducing fraud, and slowing cost growth.
But many people with disability and our families are worried that the practical impact will be cuts, less control over plans, fewer appeal rights, and less choice over supports.
Some of the biggest proposed changes include:
- fewer people on the NDIS over time,
- cuts to social and community participation funding,
- tougher rules for unscheduled reassessments,
- new functional capacity assessments from 2028,
- restrictions on who we can use for plan management and support coordination,
- mandatory registration requirements that will restrict the services we can use,
- tighter record keeping and claim rules,
- new powers for the Minister to reduce some types of funding.
Check out this podcast to understand the serious consequences of the bill.
Cuts to social and community participation
One of the biggest concerns is the proposed cut to social and community participation funding.
The Government is proposing a 50 per cent cut to social, civic, and community participation funding, and a 10 per cent cut to some capacity building daily activity funding. This would start from 1 October 2026 and be phased in as plans are renewed or reassessed.
For some people, this funding is what helps us leave the house, see friends, take part in the community, learn skills, volunteer, work, study, or stay connected.
For people with high support needs, a 50 per cent cut could mean fewer hours in the community. It could also place more pressure on families and informal supports.
What about self-management and registration?
The Bill proposes changes to the way NDIS providers are defined and regulated. It would treat a person or organisation as an NDIS provider if they receive NDIS funding or NDIS amounts, other than as a participant. It also leaves important exclusions to future NDIS Rules, which we still have not seen.
Many people in our community are worried that mandatory registration could stop us from using our own workers and force us to use registered providers.
This is a serious concern. People who self-manage or self-direct their supports must not have our choice and control taken away. We must be able to keep using the trusted workers, sole traders, direct employees, and service-for-one arrangements that help us live safely, independently, and with dignity.
We need to advocate strongly to ensure that self-managed and self-directed arrangements will not be caught by mandatory registration.
The Self Manager Hub believes participant and nominee-led arrangements must be protected, including the use of direct employment, sole traders, independent workers, and service-for-one models.
This is why we need to speak up now. People who self-direct our supports must be able to continue using trusted supports and must not be forced into registered provider arrangements against our will.
New assessments and eligibility rules
The Bill also proposes new rules about functional capacity and eligibility.
From 1 January 2028, new applicants and existing participants are expected to be assessed under new functional capacity rules. Existing participants would be reassessed over several years.
We do not yet know exactly what the assessment tool will look like, who will do the assessments, what evidence people can provide, or what appeal rights people will have if the assessment is wrong.
This is a major concern. Decisions about NDIS access and support must be fair, transparent, and based on real life support needs.
Record keeping and claims
The proposed changes also include stronger rules about record keeping.
Self-managed participants may need to keep records for three years. Nominees may need to keep records for five years.
Another proposed change is a 90-day claim rule. This could mean claims need to be made within 90 days of the support being delivered. People who currently claim every few months may need to change their systems.
How you can have your say
These proposed changes are serious. They could affect how people access the NDIS, what supports are funded, and how much control we have over our own lives.
You can make a submission to the Senate Inquiry and write a letter to members of Parliament explaining how you self-direct your supports and why this matters in your life.
The Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee is looking at the Bill. Submissions close on 29 May 2026.
You might want to describe how self-management, direct employment, sole traders, independent workers or service-for-one arrangements help you live safely, independently and with choice and control.
You can also explain what would happen if you were forced to use registered providers. This could include risks to your safety, trust, flexibility, cultural safety, continuity of support, independence or family life.
Ask MPs and Senators to amend the Bill and Rules so people who self direct our supports can continue using trusted workers. You can also ask them to support a specific self-directed registration category, so participant-led arrangements are visible without forcing us into provider-controlled models.
You do not need to write a long submission. Half a page is enough.
You can also write about:
- who you are and why the NDIS matters to you;
- whether you support the Bill, oppose it, or want changes;
- the issue that worries you most;
- a short story from your own life;
- whatever else you want the committee to recommend.
Use your own words. Personal stories matter.
When sending your letters, send one email to each person, rather than putting everyone in the same email. Ask them to support changes to the Bill, speak in Parliament, meet with you, or write back with their position.
The Self Manager Hub will keep sharing information and supporting our community through these changes.
Now is the time to stay informed, support each other, and make sure Parliament hears directly from people with disability and our families.
Help to get you started
We’ve put together two documents to help with your submission.
How to prepare your message and who to send it to.
Questions from our recent workshop about these proposed changes.
Need support?
The conversations around NDIS changes are stressful and exhausting. Please reach out for support if you need it. You are not alone.
You can join one of our Peer Support Groups for Participants or Nominees. Register your interest here.
For urgent support:
Lifeline: https://www.lifeline.org.au/ 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ 1300 22 3646
13 Yarn for First Nations people: https://www.13yarn.org.au/ 13 92 76