In a significant shift for Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), funding and support plans for participants will soon be generated by a computer program, dramatically reducing human involvement. This overhaul, set to be implemented by mid-2026, was detailed in an internal briefing to National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) staff, as revealed by Guardian Australia.
The new model, known as the New Framework Planning model, will also alter participants’ rights to appeal funding decisions. If participants contest their plans, the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) will no longer have the authority to modify or reinstate funding. Instead, it can only refer the plan back to the NDIA for reassessment.
Introduction of the I-CAN Tool
The overhaul follows the government’s September announcement of a new needs assessment tool, the Instrument for Classification and Assessment of Support Needs (I-CAN) version 6. Developed by the University of Melbourne and the Centre for Disability Studies, the I-CAN tool has been utilized in the Australian disability sector for two decades.
An NDIA spokesperson stated, “The NDIS Review received thousands of submissions calling for a simpler and more consistent assessment of the needs of participants.” The I-CAN tool aims to streamline and standardize the assessment process, reducing the need for participants to compile extensive medical evidence.
The government aims to reduce the growth rate of new NDIS participants from 12% to 5-6% annually, according to Health Minister Mark Butler.
Impact on Participants and Staff
The NDIA is conducting information sessions to educate participants and staff about the new model. Desmond Lee, General Manager of Queensland Regional Services for the NDIS, explained that the new system is designed to “provide a better experience for participants” by offering “stronger assessment oversight” and “clearer budget rules.”
Under the new process, an assessor will conduct a “guided semi-structured conversation” to evaluate support needs. This assessment, combined with a questionnaire, will consider personal and environmental circumstances. The data will then be input into the I-CAN tool to generate a support plan.
Lee emphasized the importance of NDIA delegates in ensuring the quality of plans, stating, “As a delegate, you’ll need to be able to say, ‘we’ve got the right quality of plan for the right person here and as the funding authority I’m happy to sign off on that’.”
Changes to Appeal Rights
The changes to appeal rights have raised concerns among disability advocates. Currently, the ART can amend NDIS plans it deems incorrect. Under the new system, the tribunal can only order a reassessment by the NDIA if it finds the initial assessment flawed.
In the year ending June 2025, 7,132 new cases were brought before the tribunal, a 76% increase from the previous year, with 73% of NDIA decisions under review being altered.
Lee explained, “If you’re able to convince the tribunal that the assessment doesn’t truly reflect your circumstances, the tribunal can order the agency to conduct another assessment. They cannot get an external party to conduct our assessment.”
Concerns and Future Implications
While some NDIA staff are optimistic about the changes, others have expressed concerns about potential gaps in the assessment process. One staff member highlighted the risk of “participant wellbeing” being compromised if needs are not fully captured and independent evidence is disregarded.
Additionally, questions have been raised about the NDIA’s ability to engage with participants who may distrust government processes or have psychosocial disabilities. Lee assured that specialized teams would be developed to support these individuals.
The NDIA is also learning from past experiences, such as the failed independent assessments policy proposed in 2020, which faced backlash from disability rights groups and was subsequently scrapped.
An NDIA spokesperson emphasized the agency’s commitment to consulting with the disability community to ensure the successful implementation of the new model, stating, “The rules and policy arrangements to support the new approach are currently being developed in conjunction with the commonwealth and state and territory governments, and the disability community.”
As the NDIA moves forward with these changes, the focus will be on balancing efficiency with the needs and rights of participants, ensuring the NDIS remains a fair and sustainable support system for Australians with disabilities.
