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April 2026

NDIA Sector Update – 17/04/26

Tough new laws to protect the NDIS

The Government’s National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Integrity and Safeguarding) Bill 2025 will become law after it passed the Parliament on 1 April 2026.

It delivers tough new laws to protect people with a disability and safeguard the NDIS from exploitation.

Learn more about the new laws on the NDIS website.

Evaluation of changes to NDIS supports and funding

We are evaluating recent changes to NDIS supports lists, total funding amounts, funding component amounts and funding periods.

This evaluation is part of our ongoing commitment to improving the NDIS through evidence and insights.

You can read the report on the NDIS data and research website.

NDIS news

Latest school leaver employment report now available

We are focused on improving employment outcomes for participants, especially young people transitioning from school to work. A key part of this is making sure participants get the right support to build work skills and find and keep a job.

The latest Provider Quarterly Report – School Leaver Employment is now available.

Key findings include:

  • Participation was highest in NSW (33%), Victoria (23%) and Queensland (18%).
  • Almost half of training time (47%) focused on building core work‑readiness skills.
  • 614 participants moved into paid employment, mostly working up to 21 hours per week in areas such as retail, hospitality, trades and manufacturing.

Read the latest report on the NDIS website.

Feedback on the report can be sent to participant.employment@ndis.gov.au.

Update to the NDIS participant newsletter

We’ve updated the NDIS participant newsletter. It’s now clearer and more accessible. These changes are based on participant feedback.

All participants and nominees who are not already subscribed will start getting the newsletter, unless they choose to unsubscribe.

The newsletter helps people better understand the NDIS. It’s one of the main ways we share updates directly with participants and nominees. This includes information about the new way of planning.

The NDIS website is the main source of information about the NDIS.

What’s happening:

Participants and nominees who are not already subscribed to the NDIS participant newsletter will receive a welcome email.

The welcome email explains:

    • what the newsletter is
    • how often it’s sent
    • how to unsubscribe.

After the welcome email, they will start getting the newsletter.

If someone is already subscribed nothing will change.

Getting the newsletter won’t affect a participant’s NDIS plan or supports.

Please share this information with your members and networks.

Have your say

Help us test support needs assessments

We are inviting NDIS participants to help us test parts of the new NDIS planning process.

In this engagement, you will take part in the new NDIS Support Needs Assessment in a safe practice environment.

A simulation Support Needs Assessment interview is a structured conversation about your life and the supports you use.

Feedback from testing will help us:

  •  improve the design and usability of the assessment and planning tools
  • make sure the new planning process is clear, fair, and works well for participants
  • understand how the budget model might work
  • find problems early and improve accuracy
  • support better decision making for assessors.

Important:

  • You will not receive a personal plan or budget outcome from this activity.
  • This will not affect your current NDIS plan or funding.
  • Engagement activities will run from April to June 2026.
  • Expressions of interest close Sunday, 3 June 2026.

To learn more and share your feedback, visit NDIS Engage.

Improving the Disability Sector Update

There is still time to provide your feedback on the Disability Sector Update newsletter.

We want to hear your thoughts on the information we provide in this newsletter, to help us make improvements and better support you and your members.

Our survey is open until Monday, 27 April 2026.

To learn more and share your feedback, visit NDIS Engage.

Your experience with NDIS Engage

We’ve extended our survey seeking your feedback on NDIS Engage.

This survey is now open until Thursday, 30 April 2026.

We want to understand how well the site works for different people, and where it can be improved.

To learn more and share your feedback, visit NDIS Engage.

Engagement reminders

Disability sector news

National Disability Data Asset Council: First Annual Report now available

The National Disability Data Asset Council has released its first Annual Report to Disability Ministers.

It outlines progress from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.

To learn more visit the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website.

People with disability appointed to advise the NDIS regulator

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission have announced a refreshed Advisory Council comprised of disability advocates and reformers.

Advisory Council members include people with disability, or people who have lived experience of disability, selected through a national Expressions of Interest process.

To learn more visit the NDIS Commission website.

Co-design updates

Assessments and Budgeting Working Group

The Assessments and Budgeting Working Group met on 2 April 2026. They discussed three support needs assessment resources. These included 1 resource for participants and 2 conversation guides for assessors.

Members appreciated how mindfully the resources were put together and offered feedback to further improve these resources.

The next focus will be on evaluation to help improve future work.

Participant Pathway Experience Working Group

The Participant Pathway Experience Working Group met on 9 April 2026.

They discussed Service Guidance materials to support the new way of planning, including possible new resources to help participants and assessors prepare for an assessment meeting. The group shared their ideas and feedback.

The group talked about how safe, strengths-based conversations are important for support needs assessment outcomes.

They also talked through how documents could help participants prepare for the support needs assessment.

Upcoming Co-design Working Group meetings

First Nations Participant and Carer Consultation Group – 21 May 2026

You can learn more about the meetings we’ve held recently and the work we’ve progressed with the disability community by visiting our Co-design NDIS Engage project pages:

Independent Advisory Council updates

Independent Advisory Council Equity and Inclusion Reference Group

The bulletin from the Independent Advisory Council (IAC) Equity and Inclusion Reference Group meeting, held 11 March 2026, is now available in Easy Read.

To download the Easy Read bulletin, visit the IAC website.

Advisory and reference group updates

Supported Decision Making Advisory Group meeting summary

The summary of the 13 February 2026 meeting of the Supported Decision Making Advisory Group is now available.

The focus of the February meeting was:

  • a review of the 2026 Workplan
  • an update on the Supported Decision Making pathway.

Find the full meeting summary on the NDIS website.

Self-Management Advisory Group meeting summary

The summary of the 19 March 2026 meeting of the Self-Management Advisory Group (SMAG) is now available.

The focus of the March meeting was:

  • NDIA fraud and integrity update
  • new NDIS support needs assessment.

Find the full meeting summary on the NDIS website.

NDIS events

Understanding the NDIS webinar: Pathways to Post School Life

When an NDIS participant leaves school, there are a range of pathways and supports that can help them transition smoothly into employment and adult life.

In this session we will talk about:

  • the types of NDIS supports that can assist with employment preparation
  • how to build skills and independence during the final years of school
  • pathways available after school
  • how to choose options that align with a young person’s aspirations, abilities, and interests.

Session dates:

  • Tuesday, 21 April 2026

To register, visit our Humanitix page.

New videos

Community and Stakeholder Update – April 2026

Our video of the April Community and Stakeholder Update is now available.

This video includes Auslan interpretation and captioning.

Our Community and Stakeholder Updates recap news, consultations, and updates from across the NDIS.

Information in the Community and Stakeholder Update includes:

  • NDIS announcements, changes, policies, updates, and media coverage
  • other disability related updates and inclusive and accessible programs operating locally or nationally
  • local events, good news stories, consultations, and engagements
  • challenges and achievements with the wider disability network.