NDIS Changes 2026: A Complete Guide for Melbourne Participants and Families
2026 is the biggest year of change the National Disability Insurance Scheme has seen since it began. New laws have passed federal parliament, the way plans are funded and priced has been restructured, a whole new category of support has started rolling out, and the rules for who qualifies are being rewritten for future applicants. If you are an NDIS participant in Melbourne, a family member, or a carer, it is completely reasonable to feel unsure about what actually applies to you.
This guide breaks down every major 2026 change in plain English, with the dates that matter, and explains what each one means specifically for people living in Melbourne and Victoria. It is written and maintained by Sky Care Solutions, a registered NDIS provider based in Narre Warren serving participants right across greater Melbourne.
Quick answer: what are the main NDIS changes in 2026?
The main NDIS changes in 2026 are: new integrity and safeguarding laws that took effect from 8 April 2026; a restructured NDIS Pricing Schedule from 1 July 2026 that lifted the standard support worker rate to about $70.23 per hour and unbundled Short Term Accommodation; the start of Foundational Supports and the Thriving Kids program from 1 October 2026; mandatory registration for Supported Independent Living providers from 1 July 2026; a move to New Framework Planning from 2027; and new eligibility rules based on functional capacity rather than diagnosis for applicants from 2028. Importantly, if you are a current participant, nothing changes automatically. Your existing plan continues until the NDIA personally notifies you.
Why is the NDIS changing in 2026?
The NDIS has grown far faster than anyone predicted when it launched. It now supports more than 700,000 Australians and has become one of the largest social programs in the country. Governments across the political spectrum agreed that the scheme needed reform to remain financially sustainable for the long term, to reduce fraud and poor-quality providers, and to make sure funding reaches the people who need it most.
The reforms flow from the 2023 Independent Review of the NDIS and a National Cabinet agreement between the Commonwealth and the states, including Victoria. The overall goal, as the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing describes it, is to secure the NDIS for future generations while building a broader disability support system around it so that not everyone has to rely on an individual NDIS plan.
The 2026 NDIS reform timeline at a glance
| Date | Change | Who it affects |
|---|---|---|
| 8 April 2026 | Integrity and Safeguarding Act receives Royal Assent, strengthening NDIS Commission powers | All providers and participants |
| 1 July 2026 | New NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026-27; SIL provider registration becomes mandatory | All participants and providers |
| 1 October 2026 | Thriving Kids and Foundational Supports begin; some participation and daily activity budgets adjusted | Children under 9, some existing participants |
| From 2027 | New Framework Planning begins to replace the current planning approach | New and reassessed participants |
| From 2028 | New eligibility rules based on functional capacity, not diagnosis | New applicants |
1. New NDIS laws: integrity and safeguarding
The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Integrity and Safeguarding) Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 8 April 2026. It expanded the powers of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission to investigate and act against providers who do the wrong thing, and introduced a new digital payment system that gives the NDIA real-time visibility over claims to reduce fraud.
For participants in Melbourne, this is mostly good news. It means tighter oversight of the providers you rely on, and stronger consequences for the small number of operators who overcharge, deliver poor care, or make fraudulent claims. It also reinforces why choosing a registered NDIS provider in Melbourne matters, because registered providers are the ones subject to this independent audit and oversight.
2. The 2026-27 NDIS Pricing Schedule
From 1 July 2026, the NDIA restructured how it publishes and sets prices. Instead of one combined document, pricing now comes as three separate publications: the Annual Pricing Review, the NDIS Pricing Schedule, and the NDIS Support Catalogue. The full detail is on our NDIS Price Guide page, but here are the headline changes.
Support worker rates increased
The standard Level 1 support worker weekday daytime rate rose by roughly 3.95% to about $70.23 per hour. This reflects the Fair Work Commission’s 2026 wage decision, the increase in superannuation from 11.5% to 12%, and the SCHADS Award wage rise that applied from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Evening, weekend and public holiday rates were adjusted in line with the base rate.
This does not reduce your funding. If a support is in your plan, you still pay nothing out of pocket. It simply means each hour of support draws a little more from your Core budget than it did last year, so it is worth reviewing how many hours your plan realistically covers.
Short Term Accommodation was unbundled
One of the biggest structural changes is to Short Term Accommodation, sometimes called respite. STA is now split into two parts. The support hours are billed under standard support worker line items at the normal hourly rate, while the accommodation component, covering the bed, meals and utilities, is billed separately as a flat national day rate of $162.85 per day. The old bundled ratio items (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4) have been removed entirely. If you use respite care, this changes how your claims appear, so ask your provider or plan manager to walk you through it.
Therapy rates moved in different directions
Most allied health pricing stayed the same for 2026-27. Psychology and specialist behaviour support rates increased, while dietetics, exercise physiology and some other professional rates were reduced. If you use allied health services, check whether your therapy line items changed at your next plan review.
3. Foundational Supports and Thriving Kids
This is one of the most significant long-term reforms. The National Agreement on Foundational Supports 2026-31 commenced on 2 February 2026. It is a five-year agreement between the Commonwealth and the states, including Victoria, that builds a layer of disability support sitting outside the individual NDIS. Governments have committed around $10 billion over five years, split evenly between the Commonwealth and the states.
The first component to roll out is Thriving Kids. From 1 October 2026, children aged 8 and under with developmental delay or autism and low to moderate support needs will begin accessing support through Thriving Kids rather than through individual NDIS plans, with full rollout by 1 January 2028. The idea is that many children do not need a full NDIS plan and are better served by early, mainstream support through schools, maternal and child health, and community services.
For Victorian families, the exact phasing depends on bilateral agreements between Victoria and the Commonwealth, which were still being finalised through 2026. If your child is currently on an NDIS plan, nothing changes automatically. You can read the government’s Thriving Kids information for the latest detail. Older Australians and disability-related aged care needs continue to be met separately through the Support at Home program.
4. Mandatory registration for SIL providers
From 1 July 2026, providers delivering Supported Independent Living must be registered with the NDIS Commission. This was one of the first recommendations from the review to take effect, because SIL involves some of the most vulnerable participants living in supported housing around the clock. For Melbourne participants in or considering SIL, it means every legitimate SIL provider must now meet the Practice Standards and be independently audited. Always confirm a SIL provider’s registration on the Commission’s public register before signing anything.
5. New Framework Planning from 2027
From 2027, the NDIA will begin moving to New Framework Planning. Under the current system, plans are built around individual line items and can feel unpredictable at review time. The new framework is designed to give participants clearer, more consistent budgets based on their needs, with more flexibility in how funding is used across categories. Current participants stay on their existing plans until they are personally transitioned, so there is no need to do anything right now.
6. Eligibility changes from 2028
From 2028, new applicants will be assessed on their functional capacity, meaning the actual impact of their disability on everyday life, rather than primarily on their diagnosis. The goal is fairer, more consistent access decisions. This affects future applicants, not people already on the scheme. If you are already an NDIS participant in Melbourne, your access is not being re-tested under these rules.
What the 2026 changes mean for Melbourne participants specifically
Melbourne and Victoria sit within the NDIS national standard geographic area, so standard price limits apply with no remote loading, even in outer-growth suburbs and the Yarra Valley. Practically, the 2026 changes mean four things for local participants:
- Your buying power per hour changed slightly. With support worker rates up around 4%, the same plan funds marginally fewer hours. Review your utilisation before your plan runs low.
- Respite claims look different. If you use STA, the new split billing changes your statements. It is not less support, just a different structure.
- Provider quality oversight is stronger. The new Commission powers and SIL registration rules make registered providers a safer choice than ever.
- Younger children may move to Thriving Kids. Victorian families with children under 9 should watch for state rollout news, but nothing changes automatically.
What you should do now: a practical checklist
- Do not panic. If you are a current participant, your plan continues unchanged until the NDIA contacts you directly.
- Check your plan utilisation. With higher hourly rates, make sure your Core budget still covers the hours you rely on. Your plan manager or support coordinator can run this for you.
- Confirm your providers are registered. Verify any provider on the NDIS Commission register, especially for SIL.
- Review therapy and respite line items. Ask whether the 2026-27 pricing changes affected any supports you use regularly.
- Prepare for your next plan review. Bring current reports and clear goals. Good preparation matters even more under the incoming planning framework.
- Ask questions. A good provider will explain all of this in plain language. If yours will not, that tells you something.
How the 2026 changes affect choosing an NDIS provider
The clear theme running through every 2026 reform is quality and accountability. Tighter Commission powers, mandatory SIL registration, and real-time payment monitoring all reward participants who choose registered, well-run providers, and squeeze out the operators who cut corners. When you compare providers in Melbourne, prioritise registration status, transparent pricing, and a team that can explain the changes clearly.
Sky Care Solutions is a registered NDIS provider (registration number 4050172644), approved across 11 registration groups and independently audited under the NDIS Practice Standards. We support participants across every Melbourne region with 12 NDIS services, from personal care and Supported Independent Living to support coordination, and we take the time to explain exactly how each 2026 change affects your plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the 2026 NDIS changes affect my current plan?
No, not automatically. If you are a current NDIS participant, your existing plan continues under its current terms until the NDIA personally notifies you of any transition. Nothing changes immediately or without you being told.
How much is the NDIS support worker rate in 2026-27?
The standard Level 1 support worker weekday daytime rate is about $70.23 per hour under the NDIS Pricing Schedule that took effect on 1 July 2026, an increase of roughly 3.95% on the previous year. Evening, weekend and public holiday rates are loaded above this base rate.
What are Foundational Supports?
Foundational Supports are a new layer of disability support that sits outside the individual NDIS, funded jointly by the Commonwealth and the states under a five-year agreement that began in February 2026. The first component, Thriving Kids, supports children aged 8 and under with developmental delay or autism and low to moderate needs from 1 October 2026.
Is my child being removed from the NDIS because of Thriving Kids?
No. Children currently on an NDIS plan are not removed automatically. Thriving Kids is a new pathway that will support many children who might otherwise have needed an individual plan, and its rollout in Victoria depends on agreements between the state and the Commonwealth. Any change to an existing plan would be communicated to you directly.
Do I need a registered NDIS provider in 2026?
For Supported Independent Living, yes, your SIL provider must be registered from 1 July 2026. For other supports, registered providers can support NDIA-managed, plan-managed and self-managed participants and are independently audited, which the 2026 integrity reforms make more important than ever. Unregistered providers can only support plan-managed and self-managed participants.
What is New Framework Planning?
New Framework Planning is a redesigned way of building NDIS plans, beginning from 2027, intended to give participants clearer and more consistent budgets with more flexibility across categories. Current participants transition over time and do not need to take any action now.
Will NDIS eligibility get harder in 2026?
Not for current participants. New eligibility rules based on functional capacity rather than diagnosis apply to new applicants from 2028. If you are already on the scheme, your access is not being re-tested under these rules.
Where can I get help understanding my plan under the 2026 changes?
A registered provider or support coordinator can review your plan and explain how the 2026 changes affect you. Sky Care Solutions offers a free, no-obligation consultation for Melbourne participants. Call 03 7047 9499 or book online.
Talk to a registered NDIS provider in Melbourne
The 2026 changes are significant, but you do not have to navigate them alone. Sky Care Solutions is a registered, locally based NDIS provider that supports participants across all of Melbourne and regional Victoria. We will review your plan, explain what the 2026 reforms mean for your funding, and match you with support workers in your area, with no pressure and no cost for the consultation.
Call us on 03 7047 9499 or book a free consultation today. Registered NDIS provider 4050172644, serving Melbourne and Victoria.
This article was last updated in July 2026 and reflects NDIS reforms announced up to that date. For official information, always refer to ndis.gov.au and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. This is general information, not personal advice.
