22nd of April NDIS Updates and what they mean?

NDIS Alert: What the 22 April announcement could mean for participants

On 22 April, Health Minister Mark Butler announced a package of proposed reforms to the NDIS.

These changes are **not law yet**. They must pass both houses of Parliament before anything takes effect. The legislation is expected to be introduced in **May 2026** and may be passed in **June 2026**, which means some changes *could* start from **June 2026**.

Eligibility and access

The way people access the NDIS is expected to change over time. The announcement indicates that:
- **Standardised functional capacity assessments** may be introduced (rather than relying on diagnosis lists), and
- The boundary between **NDIS supports and mainstream services** may be clarified.

These access changes are expected to be introduced progressively from **early 2027**.

If you’re currently on the NDIS, **your plan continues under the current arrangements** for now.

Plan budgets
Two proposed changes may affect how plan budgets work:

- **Unspent funds may no longer roll over** from one plan to the next.
- Funding for **social, civic and community participation** and **capacity building daily activities** may be progressively adjusted from **1 October 2026**.

The government has stated that these changes are **not intended to impact supports that are essential for critical care and daily living needs**.

If your plan includes **social and community participation** funding, it’s worth keeping an eye on these updates. We’ll share more information as clearer details are released.

Plan reassessments (reviews)

The criteria for requesting an **unscheduled plan reassessment** is also expected to tighten. People who experience a **significant change in support needs** should still be able to request a plan variation.

This change may take effect shortly after the legislation passes (expected after the May budget).

Provider quality and fraud measures

The announcement also includes steps aimed at improving provider quality and reducing fraud, including:
- Expanded **mandatory provider registration**, and
- A new **provider enrolment system**, requiring identifiable information before providers can be paid.

These measures are expected to roll out progressively from **July 2027**.

What’s still unknown

Because the reforms are still proposed, many details are not yet confirmed. We’ll update this page as more information becomes available and as legislation progresses.

You can read the government fact sheet here: https://www.health.gov.au/securingtheNDIS

Questions about your plan?

If you’d like help understanding how these proposed changes may affect your situation, we recommend speaking with your support coordinator, plan manager, or the NDIS directly.