If you are an NDIS participant, you may have recently heard that big changes are coming to the way NDIS plans are created. The Australian Government is introducing a “new framework planning” process, and it is natural to feel a mix of curiosity, hope, and perhaps some anxiety about what this will mean for you and your support. Change can be unsettling, especially when it relates to something as important as your NDIS plan. The good news is that these changes are designed to make the NDIS fairer, more consistent, and easier to use, based on extensive feedback from the disability community.

At Lanara, our first priority is to ensure that the participants and families we work with feel informed, empowered, and supported, especially during times of change. This guide is designed to do just that. We have reviewed the information released by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to provide you with a clear, simple, and reassuring overview of what is happening. We will explain what the new planning framework involves, what a “support needs assessment” is, what a “flexible budget” might look like, and most importantly, what you need to know right now.

This article is your starting point for understanding the new NDIS. Our goal is to cut through the jargon, reduce any confusion or anxiety, and give you the confidence that comes from being well-informed. Please know that these changes will be rolled out slowly over several years, and you will be given plenty of information before anything changes for you. For now, let’s explore what the future of NDIS planning looks like.

What is the “New Framework Planning” and Why is it Happening?

The “new framework planning” is the name the government has given to the new process for creating and approving NDIS plans. It is a direct response to the findings of the independent NDIS Review, which heard from thousands of people with disability, their families, and providers about what was working and what was not. A key message from the review was that the current planning process can be inconsistent, confusing, and stressful for participants. People reported having very different experiences and outcomes depending on which planner they spoke to, and many found the process of justifying their support needs to be difficult and disempowering.

The new framework aims to address these issues by creating a more structured, consistent, and transparent process for everyone. The stated goals of the new framework are to make NDIS plans:

• Fairer and more consistent: So that people with similar needs receive similar levels of support, regardless of where they live or who their planner is.
• Simpler and easier to understand: With clearer plans and more flexible budgets.
• More focused on participants’ needs and goals: Through a more in-depth assessment process.
• More empowering: By giving participants more time and support to explain their needs.

Essentially, the government is trying to create a system that is less of a lottery and more of a reliable, predictable process that participants can trust.

The Support Needs Assessment: A New Conversation

A key feature of the new planning framework will be the introduction of a Support Needs Assessment. This will replace the current planning meetings that participants have with NDIS planners or Local Area Coordinators (LACs).

So, what is a support needs assessment? The NDIA describes it as a “guided conversation with a trained NDIS assessor to understand a participant’s disability support needs.” This conversation will be more in-depth and structured than current planning meetings. The idea is to give you more time and a clearer framework to explain how your disability impacts your life and what supports you need to live a good life and achieve your goals.

Key things to know about the Support Needs Assessment:

• It will be a conversation, not a test. The goal is for the assessor to listen and understand your life and your needs.
• It will be conducted by a trained NDIS assessor. These assessors will have specific training in disability and in conducting these assessments in a respectful and person-centred way.
• It will use standardised tools. The assessor will use specific tools and questionnaires to guide the conversation. This is to ensure that they ask about all relevant areas of your life and that the process is consistent for everyone.
• It will focus on your whole life. The assessment will look at your needs across different areas, such as daily living, social participation, health and wellbeing, and employment.
• You can have support people with you. You can have family members, support workers, or advocates with you during the assessment to help you explain your needs.

One of the main goals of this new assessment process is to build a more complete and accurate picture of your support needs. This information will then be used to create your NDIS budget.

It is important to know that the final NDIS plan will still be approved by trained NDIS staff, not by an automated system. The assessment is a tool to gather information, not to make the final decision.

Flexible Budgets: More Choice and Control?

Another key promise of the new framework is that participants will have a more flexible budget. The details of what this will look like are still being developed, but the intention is to move away from the current system where funding is often rigidly allocated to specific line items. A more flexible budget would give you more choice and control over how you use your funding to achieve your goals.

For example, instead of having separate, fixed amounts for things like “Assistance with Daily Living” and “Social and Community Participation,” you might have a single, more flexible pool of funding that you can use across a wider range of supports. This would make it easier to adjust your supports as your needs and priorities change throughout your plan.

This increased flexibility is something the disability community has been asking for for a long time. It reflects the reality that life is not always predictable, and that participants are the experts in their own lives and know best how to use their funding to meet their needs. However, it will also be important to have clear guidance and support to help participants manage these more flexible budgets effectively.

What Stays the Same?

Whilst there are some big changes coming, it is also important to know what is staying the same. The core principles of the NDIS are not changing. You will still have:

• Choice and control: You will still have the right to choose your providers and to decide how your supports are delivered.
• A focus on your goals: Your goals will continue to be the foundation of your NDIS plan.
• The right to a review: You will still have the right to ask for a review of your plan if you are not happy with it, including the right to an external review through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).
• Support from providers like Lanara: The role of support providers in helping you to achieve your goals and live a good life will remain as important as ever.

Timeline: When Will These Changes Affect You?

This is a very important question, and the answer for most people is: not for a while yet.

The NDIA has been very clear that these changes will be rolled out slowly and carefully over a number of years. Here is the current timeline:

• From mid-2026: The NDIA will start testing the new framework planning process with a small number of participants.
• Over the next few years: The new process will be gradually rolled out to more participants across the country.

Key things to know about the timeline:

• You do not need to do anything right now. Your current NDIS plan will stay in place until it is time for you to move to the new planning process.
• You will be given plenty of notice. The NDIA will contact you well before any changes affect you.
• Children under 18 will not be part of the initial changes. The government is working on a separate approach for children and families.

It is understandable to feel uncertain when you hear about big changes, but for now, the message from the NDIA is to continue with your current plan and supports as usual.

How You Can Have Your Say

One of the most positive aspects of this process is that the government is actively seeking feedback from the disability community as it develops the new rules. This is your opportunity to help shape the future of the NDIS.

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing is currently holding a public consultation on the new NDIS Rules that will govern the new planning process. These rules are the detailed documents that explain exactly how things will work.

You can share your views until 6 March 2026.

This is a chance to say what you think is important in a planning process, what makes a good assessment, and how flexible budgets should work. You can find more information and submit your feedback on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s consultation website.

You can also sign up to participate in workshops and other activities to help test the new way of planning by joining the New Framework Planning Pool on the NDIS Engage website.

Having your voice heard is crucial. The more participants and families who share their experiences and ideas, the more likely it is that the new system will genuinely meet the needs of the people it is designed to support.

How Lanara is Preparing to Support You

At Lanara, we are closely following all the updates and announcements about the new NDIS framework. We see these changes as an opportunity to move towards a fairer and more person-centred system, and we are committed to supporting the participants we work with through this transition.

Here is our commitment to you:

• We will stay informed: We will continue to monitor all new information from the NDIA and the government, and we will share clear, simple updates with you as they become available.
• We will help you prepare: When it is your turn to move to the new planning process, we will be there to help you prepare. We will help you think about your goals, gather the information you need, and feel confident going into your support needs assessment.
• We will advocate for you: We will continue to advocate for your needs and to ensure that your voice is heard. We can support you in your assessment and help you to articulate the supports you need to live a good life.
• We will adapt our support: We will adapt our services to work seamlessly with the new flexible budgets, helping you to make the most of your funding and to achieve your goals.

A Message of Reassurance

Change can be daunting, but it can also be an opportunity for positive improvement. The new NDIS planning framework has the potential to create a fairer, more consistent, and more empowering experience for participants. It is a response to the voices of the disability community who have called for a better NDIS.

For now, the most important thing to remember is that you do not need to do anything. Your current plan and supports remain in place. The changes will be slow and gradual, and you will be supported through the process.

At Lanara, we are here to walk alongside you on this journey. We are here to answer your questions, to listen to your concerns, and to provide you with the consistent, well-managed support you can rely on, no matter what changes are happening at a system level.

If you have any questions or concerns about these upcoming changes, please do not hesitate to talk to your support worker or to contact our team. We are here to help.

Stay informed, stay engaged, and know that you have a community of support around you. Together, we can help shape an NDIS that works better for everyone.

Official NDIS & Government Links

1. NDIS Announcement — New Way of Planning

https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/11083-update-new-way-planning-ndis

This is the latest official announcement (9 February 2026 ) from the NDIA explaining the new framework planning, including Easy Read and Auslan versions.

2. Public Consultation on New NDIS Rules (Open until 6 March 2026)

https://consultations.health.gov.au/ndis/nfp-public-consultation

This is where participants, families, and providers can submit their feedback on the new planning rules.

3. New Framework Planning Pool — NDIS Engage (Expressions of interest close 28 February 2026 )

https://engage.ndis.gov.au/projects/new-framework-planning-pool

Participants can sign up to help test the new planning process through workshops and activities.

4. Department of Health — New Framework Planning Overview

https://www.health.gov.au/topics/disability-and-carers/reforms-and-reviews/new-framework-planning

The government’s detailed overview page with the full timeline and consultation documents.

5. Improving the NDIS — General Updates Hub

https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/improving-ndis

The NDIA’s central page for all updates and improvements to the NDIS.

6. Changes to NDIS Legislation

https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/improving-ndis/changes-ndis-legislation

Background on the legislative changes that enable the new framework.

7. Earlier Update on New Framework Planning (September 2025 )

https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/10864-update-changes-ndis-new-framework-planning-starting-mid-2026

An earlier announcement with additional context on the changes.