On 25 September 2025, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) announced a major change to the way support needs will be assessed under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). A new tool — the I-CAN v6 (Instrument for Classification and Assessment of Support Needs) — will be introduced to make access to disability supports simpler, fairer, and more consistent.

This reform responds to key recommendations from the NDIS Review and aims to reduce administrative burden, increase transparency, and ensure funding decisions are based on real support needs rather than just medical or functional assessments.

Why the NDIS Is Introducing a New Tool

Addressing Current Limitations

Under the current system, NDIS planning and assessments often depend on medical reports and functional impairment measures. Many participants have found this process confusing, inconsistent, and time-consuming. Some of the main issues include:

• Inconsistent decision-making: Assessment outcomes often vary depending on the region or the planner involved.

• High evidence burden: Participants frequently have to pay for specialist assessments to justify their needs.

• Limited focus on lived experience: The system often prioritizes clinical reports over a participant’s personal circumstances or goals.

• Lack of transparency: Many participants struggle to understand how their supports and budgets are determined.

The NDIS Review highlighted the need for a more transparent and fair approach that focuses on what support people actually need to live well and participate in their communities. I-CAN v6 is designed to deliver exactly that.

What Is I-CAN v6?

I-CAN v6 stands for the Instrument for Classification and Assessment of Support Needs, version 6. It’s a validated, evidence-based tool that has been developed and refined over more than two decades. The tool has already been used successfully in other support programs, including the Disability Support for Older Australians program.

Instead of concentrating solely on functional limitations, I-CAN v6 looks at the whole person — their support needs, living environment, social situation, and personal circumstances. This shift will allow NDIS planning decisions to be more person-centred and consistent across the country.

How the New Assessment Framework Will Work

1. Accredited Assessors

Only trained and accredited assessors will administer I-CAN v6. This ensures the tool is applied consistently and accurately for all participants.

2. Participants Aged 16 and Over

I-CAN v6 will be used for NDIS participants aged 16 years and older. Different approaches may continue to apply to children and young people under 16, to ensure age-appropriate assessments.

3. Questionnaires About Personal Circumstances

Alongside the main I-CAN assessment, participants will complete questionnaires designed to capture their personal circumstances and environmental factors, such as:

• The accessibility of their home or community

• Support they receive from family or informal networks

• Personal goals and preferences

This information will give planners a more complete picture of each person’s unique situation.

4. Layered Assessments for Complex Needs

For participants with more complex support needs, the NDIA may use additional, targeted assessments on top of I-CAN v6 to ensure nothing is overlooked. This layered approach ensures that people with unique or intensive support needs are fully and fairly assessed.

5. Partnerships With Experts

The NDIA is working with the University of Melbourne and the Centre for Disability Studies to adapt I-CAN v6 for the NDIS. A lived experience expert advisory group will also provide input to make sure the tool reflects real experiences of people with disability.

6. Phased Rollout From Mid-2026

The new assessment tool will be rolled out gradually from mid-2026. This phased approach will allow the NDIA to collect feedback, make refinements, and ensure the system works well before it is fully implemented across the scheme.

Key Differences: Old vs. New Framework

This represents a fundamental shift in how the NDIS approaches planning — moving away from a medicalised model toward a support-needs model.

Benefits of the New I-CAN v6 Approach

1. Greater Fairness and Consistency

Using a single, validated tool across the scheme will help reduce disparities between different planners and regions. Participants will have more confidence that their support needs are being assessed fairly.

2. Less Administrative Burden

Many participants currently spend time and money gathering medical reports. I-CAN v6 will reduce that need for most participants, making the process more accessible and affordable.

3. More Participant Voice

By incorporating personal and environmental questionnaires, the tool ensures that each person’s lived experience plays a central role in decision-making.

4. Stronger Evidence Base

The I-CAN tool has been developed over many years and is backed by academic institutions. This gives the assessment process a strong foundation of reliability and transparency.

5. Room for Complexity

The layered assessment model ensures that people with unusual or intensive support needs are not disadvantaged. Additional assessments will be used where needed.

6. Continuous Improvement

Because the rollout is phased, the NDIA can adjust the tool and processes based on real feedback from participants, providers, and assessors before the framework is fully rolled out.

Potential Challenges and How They’ll Be Managed

While the new tool promises significant benefits, some challenges will need careful management:

• Training and change management: Assessors and planners will need comprehensive training to apply the tool consistently.

• Stakeholder adaptation: Providers and advocates may need time to adjust their approaches to align with the new framework.

• Complexity for rare cases: Some participants with rare conditions may still require additional assessments to capture their needs fully.

• Transparency and reviews: Clear pathways will be needed for participants to review or challenge outcomes they believe are incorrect.

• Maintaining trust: Early rollout stages will be critical. If not managed well, early issues could undermine confidence in the tool.

The NDIA has committed to transparency, co-design, and consultation with people with disability throughout the rollout to address these challenges.

What This Means for Participants

For participants and families, the introduction of I-CAN v6 will bring several practical changes:

• Planning meetings may feel different — with a stronger focus on support needs, goals, and environment rather than medical evidence.

• Less need for external assessments — though some complex cases may still require them.

• More opportunities to shape your plan — your personal circumstances and goals will play a bigger role in planning.

• Review processes remain — participants will still be able to seek reviews if they disagree with decisions.

Participants are encouraged to stay informed, ask questions, and provide feedback during the rollout.

What This Means for Providers and Advocates

Providers, support coordinators, and advocates will also need to adapt:

• Training and awareness: Understanding how I-CAN works will help providers support participants more effectively.

• Shifting focus: Support proposals should be framed in terms of support needs, not just diagnoses.

• Engaging in feedback: Providers can help identify practical issues and improvements during rollout.

• Advocacy: Advocates will continue to play an important role in ensuring participants’ voices are heard.

Implementation Timeline

• September 2025 – Announcement of I-CAN v6 adoption

• Mid-2026 – Start of phased rollout

• Pilot and early adopter sites – Initial use in select planning meetings and reassessments

• Feedback and refinement period – Continuous improvement based on real-world experiences

• Full implementation – Gradual expansion across all NDIS participants aged 16 and over

A Simpler, Fairer Future for NDIS Participants

Senator Jenny McAllister, Minister for the NDIS, described the introduction of I-CAN v6 as “a better way to make the NDIS fairer, simpler, and just plain easier for people to use.” She highlighted that participants currently spend considerable time and money sourcing evidence for planning meetings, and that this new approach will help reduce that burden.

Professor Jason Thompson from the University of Melbourne added that the partnership “helps the NDIA develop an assessment process grounded in evidence and lived experience,” while Mary-Ann O’Donovan from the Centre for Disability Studies emphasized that the tool is “evidence-based and person-centred,” developed in close collaboration with the disability community.

Conclusion

The adoption of I-CAN v6 represents one of the most significant reforms to the NDIS planning process since the scheme began. By shifting the focus from medical evidence to support needs, and by embedding a structured, transparent, and evidence-based tool, the NDIA aims to make the NDIS simpler, fairer, and more consistent for everyone.

The success of this reform will depend on careful rollout, ongoing feedback, and strong participant engagement. For participants, providers, and advocates alike, this marks an important step toward a more person-centred NDIS.