The New NDIS Laws: What Changes From 1 October, and What Stays the Same
If you have heard the NDIS is changing and felt your stomach tighten, start with one sentence from the NDIA itself: right now, you can continue using your plan and supports as usual.
We’re not softening the news; that’s the official position, and it is the most useful thing to hold onto as you read the rest.
The new law is now in place. We would rather you hear what it means plainly, from a provider who works with Western Sydney families every day, than piece it together from headlines and group chats. So here is what changes, what does not, and what, if anything, you need to do.
What has happened
The NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill passed Parliament on 19 August 2026 and received Royal Assent the next day. It is now the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Act 2026.
Some parts apply already, some from 1 October, and some roll out over the next few years. The NDIA has said it will let you know if a change affects you.
Start with what’s not changing
We are putting this first because it’s the part that matters most to most families.
A set of critical supports is not changing. These are:
supports in employment
disability-related health supports
supports in your home, including help with eating, drinking, dressing, toileting, laundry, cleaning, community nursing care and help with medication
home and vehicle modifications
personal mobility equipment and transport
consumables for incontinence and menstruation
Specialist Disability Accommodation
People with high support needs who require continuous 24-hour care will continue to receive it at all times.
A few more things are worth knowing. You will not see changes to your funding until your plan is reassessed or renewed, and changes to funding are not backdated. There are no immediate changes to NDIS pricing. Participants are not expected to pay a gap fee, and there are no changes to how people access the NDIS until 1 January 2028.
What changes from 1 October
The main change this month is to two budget areas: social, civic and community participation supports, and capacity building daily activities.
These budgets will be reset to lower levels when a plan comes up for renewal or reassessment. From 1 October 2026, that applies to new plans and reassessments. For all other participants, it applies from 1 February 2027, as part of plan renewal. The change happens progressively over 12 months, and the reset is designed so that spending is, on average, in line with 2023 levels.
Two details are easy to miss.
First, a reduction in your budget may not mean the same reduction in what you spend, because you may not currently be using your full allocation.
Second, you can keep working with your providers on how you use your budget. You will also be supported to take part in group-based activities where they are right for you, and those may have lower prices. An Inclusive Communities Fund is being set up as well.
If you have high support needs and require continuous 24-hour care, there is a new pathway too: you can apply for a plan variation within 90 days of a support determination applying to you.
Why we’re telling you this
Freedom Quality Care delivers social and community participation supports. This change touches services we provide, and we’d rather say that plainly than leave you wondering why a provider is writing about it.
We cannot tell you what your next plan will look like. Nobody can, until it’s reassessed or renewed. What we can do is help you understand the rules, and sit down with you and your family when the time comes.
Other dates now on the calendar
Since 27 August 2026: only you, your plan nominee or your guardian can request an unscheduled plan reassessment, and only when there’s been a significant and ongoing change in your support needs or circumstances.
Coming soon: participants and plan managers will need to keep records of NDIS support payments for three years. The NDIA has said more information is coming on what to keep and how.
From 1 December 2026: claims must be made within 90 days of the support being delivered. We will explain what that means for self-managed and plan-managed participants later this month.
From 1 February 2027: plan renewals begin for other participants, and unspent funds will not roll over.
From 1 April 2027: new framework planning begins, including a support needs assessment with a trained assessor.
From 1 July 2027: mandatory registration expands to providers of higher-risk supports, such as personal care and daily living supports, with the rollout finalised by December 2030.
The SIL deadline has now arrived
In August, we wrote about registration for supported independent living. That deadline, 1 October 2026, has now arrived.
Providers delivering SIL who did not apply for registration by 1 October need to stop providing SIL. If you use SIL supports and you are unsure where your provider stands, you can call the NDIA on 1800 800 110, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm.
So, what do you need to do?
For most people, nothing today. Keep using your plan. Keep your records in order. The NDIA will let you know if a change affects you.
If you want to understand how this applies to your situation, speak with your Local Area Coordinator, your support coordinator, the NDIA, or with us. The NDIS website also has an Easy Read document and an Auslan video explaining the new laws.
If English is not your first language, call TIS on 131 450 and ask for the NDIS. If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment, the National Relay Service is on 1800 555 727.
Informed, not alarmed. That is our hope for you this month.
If you’re in Sydney and would like someone to walk through this with you in plain language and cultural sensitivity, with your family at your side, we’d love to hear from you. You’re a Boss, a King, a Queen, and you deserve to understand the rules that shape your support.
Warmly,
Ruby Akron, COO
▸ Phone: +61 450 449 362
▸ Email: [email protected]
▸ Website: https://freedomqualitycare.com.au/
Freedom Quality Care is an NDIS registered service provider based in Western Sydney. This article is for general information purposes only and is based on official Australian Government and NDIS sources current as of May 2026. For advice specific to your plan, please speak with your planner, Local Area Coordinator, or support coordinator.
