Participants in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will soon undergo a new assessment process, eliminating the need for personal medical evidence from family doctors or allied health professionals. Starting in March 2026, individuals aged 16 and older will engage in a comprehensive interview lasting up to three hours with agency assessors. This change aims to enhance the consistency and fairness of the $48 billion scheme.
The new assessment, termed a disability “needs assessment,” will shift focus from the nature of impairments to the specific support requirements of participants. Conducted in person by trained assessors, the interview will cover 12 essential areas of life, including mobility, communication, self-care, physical health, and domestic life. For those with complex needs, targeted assessments will also be available.
Jenny McAllister, the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, announced the initiative, emphasizing that the assessment tool, known as I-CAN, has been developed in Australia over two decades. This tool, created in collaboration with the University of Melbourne and the Centre for Disability Studies, aims to simplify the program for its approximately 740,000 participants.
McAllister noted the challenges faced by individuals who lack the resources to obtain extensive medical documentation, which can disadvantage them during the planning process. “It can take a long time and cost a lot of money for people to source supporting evidence to have a planning meeting. There is a better way,” McAllister stated. She described the new process as a crucial advancement towards utilizing the latest technology to address the needs of Australians with disabilities.
Despite the government’s assurances, the announcement has faced criticism from segments of the disability community. The advocacy group Every Australian Counts has launched a parliamentary petition urging the retention of the right for NDIS participants to submit their own professional reports. The group expressed concerns that the new internal assessments may not accurately reflect real-world needs, stating, “The NDIA no longer has to consider the evidence you provide… decisions will be based on internal assessments that might not reflect your real-world needs.”
The introduction of this new assessment process follows the recommendations from the NDIS review, which suggested significant reforms aimed at improving the scheme by the end of 2023. The upcoming changes will be complemented by a new planning framework intended to offer longer-term plans and release funding in blocks.
The government aims to address the NDIS’s rising annual growth rate, enhance equity within the scheme, and preserve its social license. Public opinion remains divided, with a recent Resolve poll indicating that 27 percent of Australians believe the scheme is too expensive and should be scaled back, while the same proportion advocates for increased funding to broaden its reach. Additionally, 23 percent consider the NDIS essential and deserving of maintenance at its current level.
The proposed assessment framework draws parallels to previous attempts by the former Morrison government to implement “independent assessments.” These assessments sought to alleviate the burden on individuals to collect voluminous medical reports while providing consistent outcomes. However, they were met with fierce opposition from the disability community, the Greens, and the then-Labor opposition.
Former NDIA chief executive Rebecca Falkingham highlighted earlier this year that allied health professionals should focus on delivering services rather than compiling reports. She acknowledged the limitations of agency staff in processing extensive documentation, stating, “To be really frank about it, my [agency] staff can’t read the 280-page reports that they get.”
Falkingham defended the new approach, asserting that the support needs assessment will involve active participation from individuals with disabilities. “They’ll be actively involved in understanding the budget, and they’ll be actively involved in the implementation of that plan,” she explained.
To ensure the assessment tool remains effective, the University of Melbourne and the Centre for Disability Studies will collaborate with the agency over the next five years to refine the process. Professor Jason Thompson from the University of Melbourne emphasized the importance of developing an assessment grounded in evidence and lived experience, upholding values of validity, fairness, and transparency.
As the NDIS transitions to this new framework, the focus will be on enhancing user experience and ensuring that the voices of those with disabilities are heard in the assessment and planning processes. The government aims to strike a balance between accountability and accessibility, fostering a system that better serves the diverse needs of the Australian population.
