In Australia, the next stage of changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme — NDIS — has begun. The first new rules came into force on 27 August 2026 after the relevant law was approved on 20 August.
The changes affect the procedure for an unscheduled review of individual support for NDIS participants.
A participant in the scheme, or a representative provided for by the rules, may request such a review if there has been a significant and lasting change in the person’s needs or life circumstances.
A decision on whether to carry out an unscheduled review must be made within 90 days.
If no decision is made within the set period, the request is treated as refused. This allows the participant to proceed to an appeal.
The option of an urgent change to support, in situations where assistance is needed without a long wait, remains in place.
For people with disabilities, these changes matter because they directly determine how individual support plans are reviewed, the timeframes for decisions and the possibility of appealing them.
People with Disability Australia (PWDA) notes that the changes need to be assessed in terms of their practical impact on NDIS participants, and is collecting information about the experience of people with disabilities in order to continue defending their rights.
It is important to bear in mind that this is only one stage of NDIS reform. Some other changes to the system are due to take effect later, so the reform as a whole should not be presented as already fully in force.