What Is the New NDIS Support Needs Assessment and How Could It Affect Your Plan?

If you're an NDIS participant, parent, carer or family member, you may have heard terms such as:

“Support needs assessment”

“New way of planning”

“New framework planning”

But what do these actually mean?

And perhaps the biggest question:

Will this assessment affect my NDIS funding?

Let's break it down in plain English.

First, what is a support needs assessment?

A support needs assessment is a new assessment that the NDIS is developing to better understand a participant's disability-related support needs.

The assessment will form part of the NDIS's new way of planning, which is currently scheduled to start rolling out from April 2027.

Rather than relying on participants to organise large amounts of supporting evidence for every aspect of their planning, the new approach is intended to provide the NDIA with a more consistent way of understanding the support a person needs.

The NDIS says the assessment will look at different areas of a person's everyday life and identify the type, amount and frequency of support they need.

Why is the NDIS introducing this?

This change is being introduced because participants and the disability community have told the NDIS that the current planning process can sometimes be:

The NDIS says the new assessment is intended to make planning fairer and more consistent. It may also reduce some of the burden associated with obtaining supporting evidence.

The idea is simple:

Instead of asking:

“How many therapy reports can you provide?”

the new approach aims to better understand:

“What support does this person actually need to live their life?”

What will the assessment actually look at?

The new support needs assessment will be a guided conversation with a trained assessor.

The assessor will talk with the participant about their daily life and disability-related support needs.

The information collected will help identify:

The assessment is intended to be appropriate for people with a range of disability types and to be culturally appropriate, trauma-informed and inclusive of LGBTIQASB+ diversity.

Think about your everyday life

A support needs assessment isn't just about a diagnosis.

It's about how your disability affects your everyday life.

For example, someone may have difficulty with:

Personal care

Daily living

Getting around

Social participation

Work and education

The purpose is to build a clearer picture of what support a participant needs because of their disability.

Will the assessment determine my NDIS funding?

This is an important point.

The assessment itself is not simply a test that produces a funding amount.

Instead, the information in the support needs assessment will be used as part of the new planning process to help determine a participant's budget based on their disability-related support needs.

Under the new framework, plans are expected to include a flexible budget, while some supports may be specifically stated and need to be used for that purpose.

So think of the process as:

Your circumstances → Support needs assessment → Understanding your support needs → Planning and budget

What about my OT, physiotherapy and other reports?

This is one of the most interesting aspects of the reform.

The NDIS says the new support needs assessment is intended to reduce some of the burden participants experience when gathering supporting evidence.

The aim is that participants can spend more of their NDIS funding on supports that help them work towards their goals, rather than spending as much on reports. Allied health professionals can also spend more time delivering supports rather than producing reports.

But don't throw your reports away.

Existing professional reports can still be important.

The NDIS has also indicated that some participants with more complex support needs may be asked to provide reports from their treating health professionals.

So the future is unlikely to be:

“No more reports ever.”

It is more about reducing unnecessary evidence requirements while ensuring the NDIA has the information it needs.

Who is developing the assessment?

The NDIA is working with:

University of Melbourne

and

Centre for Disability Studies

to develop the new support needs assessment.

The assessment is being developed using the Instrument for the Classification and Assessment of Support Needs (I-CAN) version 6 as a foundation.

The NDIS describes I-CAN as a strengths-based, validated support-needs assessment tool developed in the Australian context over more than 20 years.

Is the new assessment already being used?

Not as the standard planning process for everyone.

The NDIA is currently testing and refining the new approach before wider implementation.

In 2026, participants have been invited to take part in simulated support needs assessments. Testing is designed to help identify what works, what doesn't and how the process can be improved for people with different disabilities and support needs.

Testing is voluntary and does not change a participant's current plan, funding, supports or eligibility.

When will support needs assessments start?

This is where you may see older information online.

The original NDIS announcement from September 2025 said support needs assessments would be introduced from mid-2026.

However, the NDIS has since updated the implementation timeline.

Current NDIS information:

The new way of planning, including support needs assessments, is scheduled to begin rolling out from April 2027.

The rollout will occur progressively.

So if you are reading older articles saying the assessment was starting in 2026, be aware that the current NDIS information now points to April 2027 for rollout.

Does this mean my current NDIS plan will suddenly change?

No.

The new way of planning will be introduced progressively.

The NDIS states that there is no immediate change for participants as a result of the new framework planning arrangements. Participants will move to the new way of planning over time.

So you don't need to panic if you currently have an NDIS plan.

Continue using your current plan according to the rules that apply to you unless the NDIS tells you otherwise.

What should participants do now?

You don't need to prepare for a support needs assessment as though you have an appointment tomorrow.

But there are some useful things you can do.

1. Understand your own support needs

Think beyond your diagnosis.

Ask:

What do I struggle with because of my disability?

2. Keep your important evidence organised

Keep relevant:

3. Keep track of changes

If your circumstances change, document what has changed and how it affects your everyday life.

For example:

“I used to shower independently but now require assistance due to reduced balance and fatigue.”

This type of information helps explain functional impact, rather than simply stating a diagnosis.

4. Know your goals

Your NDIS plan should connect with what you want to achieve.

Think about:

Where do I want to live?

What activities do I want to participate in?

Do I want to work or study?

What would greater independence look like for me?

What support would help me achieve these things?

Where Can a Support Coordinator Help?

As the NDIS planning system evolves, understanding your own support needs will become increasingly important.

A Support Coordinator can help you prepare by working alongside you to understand:

Your current situation

What is working well?

What isn't?

Your disability-related needs

How does your disability affect your everyday life?

Your goals

What are you trying to achieve?

Your existing supports

Are your current providers and services helping you achieve those goals?

Changes in your circumstances

Have your needs, living arrangements or informal supports changed?

How Openhearted Support Can Help

At Openhearted Support, we believe that understanding your NDIS plan starts with understanding you.

Our Support Coordinators can help participants prepare for changes to the NDIS by helping them:

✔️ Understand their current NDIS plan

✔️ Identify their support needs and goals

✔️ Coordinate allied health and other providers

✔️ Keep relevant information organised

✔️ Understand NDIS planning changes

✔️ Prepare for planning conversations

✔️ Coordinate supports around their individual circumstances

We don't make decisions for you.

We help you understand your choices so you can make informed decisions.

The Bigger Picture

The new support needs assessment is part of a much broader change to the way NDIS plans will eventually be developed.

The NDIS says the new approach is intended to make planning:

Fairer.

More consistent.

More focused on individual support needs.

Easier to navigate.

But as with any major reform, the details matter.

The assessment is still being tested and refined, and the NDIS has indicated that the new planning approach will continue to develop before and during rollout.

The Question Participants Should Be Asking

Instead of only asking:

“How much NDIS funding will I get?”

a more useful question may be:

“How does the NDIS understand the support I need to live the life I want?”

That's ultimately what the new support needs assessment is intended to help answer.

Openhearted Support

Registered NDIS Provider

Supporting NDIS participants and families across Melbourne.

📞 1800 976 186

📧 admin@ohsupport.com.au

🌐 www.openheartedsupport.com.au

Understand the changes. Prepare with confidence. Keep your goals at the centre.