NDIS Reform Updates: What Support Coordinators Need to Know Right Now

Combined from:

• Will the NDIS consider sole traders in the new SC model?
• Will SCs need certification?
• What are providers looking for when hiring Support Coordinators?
• What skills should I develop to be a stronger SC?
• Are Support Coordinators becoming more like case managers?

At this stage, Support Coordination will continue to be a service within the NDIS, but it is expected to change significantly over the coming years. The Australian Government has indicated that a new commissioned Support Coordination and connection service is planned to commence from 1 July 2028. The detail of how this model will operate is still being developed.

While there has been discussion about certification, registration and professional standards, no final decisions have been made regarding mandatory certification for all Support Coordinators. However, the direction of reform suggests greater expectations around quality, consistency, evidence-based practice and accountability.

The skills likely to become increasingly important include:

• identifying and managing complexity
• risk assessment and safeguarding
• evidencing participant needs and outcomes
• writing clear, evidence-based reports
• understanding mainstream, community and foundational supports
• professional judgement and decision making
• navigating multiple service systems
• stakeholder engagement and conflict resolution

Support Coordinators are not becoming case managers in the traditional sense, but the role is increasingly focused on understanding and managing complex situations rather than simply coordinating services.  The role will still have a capacity building focus.

Further information:

• NDIS Reform Information
• NDIS Reform Timeline
• NDIS New Way of Planning

Combined from:

• SC funding is being slashed.
• How can we help participants if we are not adequately funded?
• What happens when plans direct handover to an LAC?

Many Support Coordinators are experiencing reduced funding allocations and increased pressure to demonstrate the value of their role.

The key is to focus on activities that create the greatest impact for the participant. This means prioritising:

• addressing risks and safeguarding concerns
• building sustainable support networks
• strengthening participant capacity
• improving provider coordination
• connecting participants with mainstream and community supports
• documenting outcomes and evidence-based practice

Where funding is limited, it becomes even more important to work strategically and ensure participants understand what can realistically be achieved within available funding.

If a participant's circumstances become more complex, the Support Coordinator needs to gather evidence of the impact, and work with stakeholders to put safeguards in place.  As well, consider whether a change of circumstances or review request may be appropriate.

Further information:

• NDIS Changes Explained
• NDIS New Planning Framework

Combined from:

• Plans directing handover to LACs.
• LACs advising they cannot accept complex participants.
• Concerns about LAC capacity.

The decision to transition a participant away from funded Support Coordination should always be considered against the participant's actual support needs and circumstances.

If significant complexity remains, Support Coordinators should clearly document and evidence:

• ongoing barriers
• functional impacts
• risks and safeguarding concerns
• service system involvement
• inability to coordinate supports independently or participate in NDIS processes
• consequences if Support Coordination is withdrawn

If an LAC advises they are unable to effectively support the participant due to high complexity, then work collaboratively to gather evidence of the above and complete a request for additional Support Coordinator funding. 

The focus should remain on demonstrating why the participant continues to require Support Coordination rather than simply stating that Support Coordination is the preferred support.

Combined from:

• What are the qualities of a strong evidence-based report?
• How do we escalate urgent situations when evidence has been submitted but no decision has been made?
• How can SCs effectively advocate for participants under the new framework?

Strong evidence focuses on demonstrating impact rather than simply describing diagnoses.

The most effective submissions clearly explain:

• what has changed
• why the change has occurred
• how it affects the participant's daily life e.g. significantly reduces their functional capacity and ability to access appropriate supports
• how a participant has been supported e.g. safeguards put in place, including how a Support Coordinator has worked with the stakeholders connected to a participant
• what risks or barriers now exist
• what supports are required to overcome barriers and reduce risk
• what may happen if additional supports are not provided

Evidence is strongest when information is consistent across multiple sources such as:

• allied health reports
• risk assessments
• incident reports
• provider feedback
• hospital or health information
• participant and family information / carer impact statements

Advocacy is most effective when it is evidence-based, objective and focused on functional impact rather than emotion alone.

Combined from:

• Questions about Support Needs Assessments.
• Professional standards.
• Human representation of participant needs.

A new Support Needs Assessment process is expected to become a central part of future NDIS planning. The aim is to create more consistent planning decisions across the Scheme. Participants will complete a structured assessment with a trained assessor to identify disability support needs via a Support Needs Assessment Report.

While many details are still being refined, Support Coordinators will likely play an important role in helping participants prepare for assessments and ensuring important information about complexity, risks and support needs is understood.

Professional judgement and participant representation will remain important because no assessment tool can fully capture every aspect of a person's lived experience, especially if a participant/their support network does not have the capacity to self-advocate their support needs effectively.

Further information:

• NDIS New Way of Planning
• NDIS Changes to Planning

Combined from:

• Questions about rollover funding.
• Confusion about which participants are affected.
• Hospitalisation and unused budgets.

Under the proposed reforms, participants may see more flexibility in how they can utilise their funding.  The Government has also indicated that unused funds may no longer automatically roll over into future plans.

The intention is to ensure funding is more closely aligned to assessed and current support needs.

Participants who experience events such as hospitalisation or temporary interruptions to supports should ensure these circumstances are documented, as individual situations and support needs will need to be considered during future planning discussions.

Further information:

• NDIS New Framework Planning Information
• NDIS Changes Explained

Combined from:

• Can you explain the Plan Management changes again?
• What is the proposed Plan Management panel arrangement?

The Government has announced its intention to move toward a commissioned Plan Management model, with implementation expected to commence from 1 October 2027 and transition over time.

The proposal is that participants would continue to have choice, but not from an open market, from a government-approved panel of providers.

At this stage, many operational details are still being developed, including how providers will be selected and how participant choice will be maintained.

Further information:

• NDIS Reform Timeline
• Securing the NDIS for Future Generations

Combined from:

• SIL registration requirements from 1 July.
• Independent support workers.
• Registered vs unregistered providers.
• Small providers questioning whether registration remains worthwhile.

The registration reforms are being introduced gradually.

From 1 July 2026, Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers and NDIS digital platform providers are required to register with the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Commission.

For many other support types, independent and unregistered providers can still operate at this time, depending on the support being delivered and participant plan management arrangements e.g. plan managed and self-managed NDIS Plans.

The broader registration reforms will be implemented progressively over several years, so providers should continue to monitor updates from the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Commission.

Further information:

• NDIS Commission Mandatory Registration Information
• NDIS Commission Reform Hub

Combined from:

• Is the ART process changing?
• What review mechanisms will remain?
• How will participants challenge decisions in the future?

Participants will continue to have rights to challenge decisions.

The review and appeal process remains available, including internal NDIA reviews and external review pathways through the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART).

While planning processes may change, participants will still have mechanisms available if they disagree with decisions relating to access, supports or funding.

Support Coordinators can assist participants by ensuring evidence is comprehensive, current and clearly linked to functional impact and support needs.

Further information:

• Administrative Review Tribunal (ART)

Combined from:

• Concerns about participants being exited from the Scheme.
• Questions relating to autism eligibility.
• Anxiety about future access decisions.

This is one of the most common concerns being raised by participants and families.

Currently, there has been no announcement that existing participants will automatically lose access to the NDIS. However, eligibility rules are expected to become more clearly defined over time, and future access decisions may be assessed differently under the new framework.

For existing participants, the most important focus should be on ensuring there is clear evidence of:

• permanent impairment
• significantly reduced functional impact
• ongoing disability-related support needs requiring support from the NDIS

Participants should avoid making decisions based on speculation and instead focus on confirmed information as reforms continue to develop.

Further information:

• NDIS Eligibility Information
• NDIS Reform Information Hub