NDIS Planning is Changing: What New Framework Planning Means for You from Mid-2026
NDIS Planning is Changing: What New Framework Planning Means for You from Mid-2026
- December 18, 2025
If you’ve ever felt confused, overwhelmed or even frustrated by the NDIS planning process, you’re not alone. Many participants, families and carers have shared that planning can feel stressful, inconsistent and hard to navigate — especially when it seems to focus more on paperwork than on people.
The good news? Change is coming.
From mid-2026, the NDIS will begin rolling out a new way of planning that aims to make things fairer, simpler and more focused on what really matters — your life, your goals and the support you actually need.
This new approach is called New Framework Planning, and it’s been shaped by the voices of thousands of people with disability, families, carers and providers across Australia.
Why is planning changing?
People told the NDIS Review loud and clear that the current system isn’t always working as it should. Too often, plans can depend on expensive reports, unclear decisions or last-minute reviews that leave people feeling uncertain.
The new planning framework is designed to change that by:
- focusing on support needs, not just diagnoses
- making budgets fairer and more consistent
- reducing the need for endless reports
- creating plans that are simpler and more flexible.
At its heart, this change is about making planning feel more human — and less like a box-ticking exercise.
What will planning look like under the new framework?
The biggest shift is that planning will start with a support needs assessment.
This isn’t an exam, and it’s not about proving what you can’t do. Instead, it’s a guided conversation with a trained assessor who takes the time to understand:
- your daily life
- what’s important to you
- the supports that make your daily life easier and more fulfilling
You’ll be able to choose a time and place that suits you, and you can have family members, carers or support people with you if that feels right.
The goal is simple: to build a clearer picture of your support needs so your plan reflects your real life — not just what’s written in a report.
Who does the assessment?
Assessments will be completed by trained and accredited professionals who’ve gone through a national training program developed with the University of Melbourne and the Centre for Disability Studies.
Once the assessment is finished, the assessor prepares a report that helps guide your budget. Importantly, real NDIS staff — not a computer — will still approve plans, and they’ll spend more time getting to know participants than they do now.
What is I-CAN v6 (and should I worry about it)?
You might hear the term I-CAN v6 mentioned as part of the new system. It’s simply a well-established, strengths-based tool that helps identify the kinds of supports people may need.
It’s been used in the care sector for over 20 years and will be combined with questions about your personal situation and environment. For some people with more complex needs, extra information from health professionals may still be helpful — but the aim is to rely less on costly, repeated reports.
How will funding work?
Under the new framework, plans will be built using clear rules based on your support needs assessment.
Your funding may include:
- stated supports (for specific supports that need to be used in a particular way), and
- flexible funding, which gives you more choice about how you use your supports.
Plans are also expected to last longer, which means:
- fewer scheduled reviews
- more stability
more time focusing on living your life, not managing paperwork.
What if things change?
Life doesn’t stand still — and the NDIS understands that.
You’ll still be able to:
- ask for your plan to be changed if your circumstances change
- request an internal review
- seek an external review through the Administrative Review Tribunal if needed.
Your rights don’t go away under the new system.
Designed with the disability community, not just on behalf of it
One of the most important parts of this change is co-design.
People with disability, families and carers have been deeply involved through workshops, forums and testing sessions. Thousands of voices have already shaped how this new planning approach works — and that collaboration will continue.
This means lived experience stays at the centre, where it belongs.
What happens now?
While the new planning framework will start rolling out from mid-2026, most participants won’t see changes straight away. For now, you can continue using your current plan as normal.
In the meantime, the NDIS has already introduced:
- clearer guidance about what funding can be used for
- longer funding periods to help with budgeting
- better transparency around eligibility information.
More updates and support will be shared as the transition gets closer, so no one is left in the dark.
A final thought
These changes are about more than policy — they’re about trust, fairness and recognising that people with disability are experts in their own lives.
If planning has ever felt overwhelming, know that this new approach is designed to listen more, simplify the process, and support you to focus on what matters most to you.
And as always, you don’t have to navigate it alone.
Get the Most Out of Your NDIS Plan
Whether you’re new to the NDIS or feeling unsure about your plan, Concept Care can help. Concept Care is a trusted NDIS provider in Sydney, offering a comprehensive range of in-home and community support services. Our friendly team of Support Coordinators works alongside you to understand your goals, guide you through the planning process, and make sure you get the most out of your NDIS supports.
Concept Care is dedicated to providing professional, compassionate care, with highly experienced Support Workers backed by a responsive care management team available around the clock. We’re committed to helping clients live their lives to the fullest and maximise the benefits of NDIS.
Get in touch with Concept Care today — and let us walk beside you on your journey.