The proposed NDIS reforms represent some of the most significant changes to the Scheme since its introduction. While implementation timeframes may vary, the direction is clear: greater scrutiny of funding decisions, increased emphasis on functional evidence, and stronger accountability for both participants and providers.

For Support Coordinators, Behaviour Support Practitioners, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, and families, these changes may influence how participants prepare for reviews, how evidence is presented, and how supports are justified.

A Shift Towards Functional Evidence

One of the most significant themes emerging from the reforms is the increasing reliance on functional assessments and documented outcomes.

Historically, many funding decisions have relied on a combination of diagnosis, reports, and support recommendations. Moving forward, there is likely to be a greater focus on how a person’s disability impacts their day-to-day functioning and participation.

This places increased importance on:

• Functional Capacity Assessments
• Occupational Therapy reports
• Behaviour Support reporting
• Progress tracking
• Outcome measurement
• Daily support documentation

Professionals who can clearly demonstrate the relationship between support needs and functional impact will play a critical role in future plan reviews.

Annual Plan Reviews May Increase the Need for Proactive Planning

The proposed move toward annual plan renewals means stakeholders may have less time to prepare evidence once a review process begins.

Rather than gathering documentation in the final weeks before a review, service providers and support teams may need to adopt a continuous evidence collection model throughout the year.

Questions stakeholders should consider include:

• Are participant goals being actively measured?
• Is progress documented regularly?
• Can support outcomes be demonstrated clearly?
• Are reports aligned to participant goals and functional needs?

Potential Funding Adjustments

Several proposed reforms may affect funding categories commonly accessed by participants.

Areas receiving significant industry attention include:

• Community participation supports
• Capacity Building supports
• Support Coordination services

While the final implementation of reforms will determine the full impact, stakeholders should begin reviewing participant reliance on these funding categories and consider how outcomes are being measured and demonstrated.

Collaboration Will Become More Important

No single provider can prepare participants for these changes alone.

The strongest outcomes are likely to come from collaborative teams that include:

• Families and carers
• Support Coordinators
• Allied Health professionals
• Behaviour Support Practitioners
• Support providers

The ability to present consistent evidence from multiple sources may become increasingly important in demonstrating reasonable and necessary support needs.

Preparing Now Rather Than Reacting Later

The organisations and stakeholders that prepare early are likely to be in a stronger position as reforms are implemented.

This preparation is not just about compliance. It is about ensuring participants continue to receive the supports they need by providing clear evidence of outcomes, progress and ongoing support requirements.

In our next article, we explore practical strategies Support Coordinators, Allied Health professionals, providers and families can implement now to prepare participants for future plan reviews and funding changes.

Thank you.