The NDIS Reform Bill has passed: questions and answers for adults with cerebral palsy 

Updated August 2026 

The NDIS Reform Bill has passed Parliament and become law. 

We know many adults with cerebral palsy have questions about what this means for their NDIS supports, funding and future plan reviews. 

A number of amendments were made before the Bill passed. Some of these changes relate to concerns raised by people with disability, families and disability organisations. Many of the practical details are still being worked out, so the full impact will become clearer over time.  

Has my current NDIS plan changed? 

No. The Bill passing does not automatically change your current NDIS plan. 

Most people will continue using their current supports until their plan is reviewed, reassessed or renewed. The Government has said changes will be introduced over time. [health.gov.au], [aph.gov.au] 

What changed before the Bill passed? 

The Government made a number of amendments before the Bill passed. These included changes about: 

• reassessments and review rights 
• safeguards for some people with very high support needs 
• how impacts on families and informal supports are considered 
• provider behaviour and fraud 
• debt recovery safeguards. [health.gov.au] 

What changed about reassessments? 

The Bill clarifies when a person can ask for an unscheduled reassessment. 

This may be possible where there are significant and ongoing changes to: 

• functional capacity 
• support needs 
• living arrangements 
• education 
• work 
• informal supports. [health.gov.au] 

The amendments also say that if the NDIA does not decide a reassessment request within 90 days, the request is treated as refused. This gives the person review rights. This means a person can seek a review rather than waiting indefinitely for a response to their reassessment request. 

The change in circumstances does not need to be unexpected. A planned or foreseeable change may still be relevant if it is significant and ongoing. [health.gov.au] 

Why does this matter for people with cerebral palsy? 

Cerebral palsy is lifelong, but support needs can change over time. 

You may need different supports if: 

• your living situation changes 
• you start or leave study 
• you start or change work 
• your family or informal supports change 
• your health or mobility changes 
• you develop secondary conditions 
• your support needs increase as you get older. 

The reassessment changes may be relevant when these changes are significant and ongoing. 

What changed for people with very high support needs? 

Several amendments were made before the Bill passed that may be relevant for some people with cerebral palsy who have higher support needs. The Government's fact sheet says these amendments were intended to provide additional safeguards for participants who require continuous 24-hour disability-related care. 

The amendments create a new plan variation pathway for participants who need continuous 24-hour disability-related support. If a support determination applies after a plan is reassessed or renewed, eligible participants may be able to request a plan variation within 90 days. The Government says the NDIA will be able to vary a participant's plan where necessary to help maintain their 24-hour disability-related supports. 

Some supports have also been excluded from support determinations, including: 

• high intensity supports 
• complex behaviour supports 
• customised and wearable technology 
• hearing supports. 

For some people with cerebral palsy, this may include high intensity supports or customised technology that falls within the categories excluded from support determinations. 

At this stage, many details about how the reforms will operate in practice are still being developed. However, the amendments mean these types of supports are excluded from support determinations established under the Bill. 

What is a support determination? 

A support determination is a legal instrument that can set funding limits or maximum amounts for some types of NDIS supports. 

The Government fact sheet says support determinations are intended to reset funding for community participation and capacity building supports.  

The amendments clarify how support determinations work and who they apply to.  

What changed for families and informal supporters? 

The amendments include changes about how family and informal supports are considered when support decisions are made. 

For children with disability, the Government says the changes clarify what may be considered ordinary parental responsibility, such as supervision, personal care, transport, emotional support and behavioural support. The Government also states that this does not include the additional support a child needs because of their disability compared with other children of the same age without disability. 

The amendments also say the NDIA must consider the risk of harm to family members, informal supports and support networks if a disability support is not funded. 

Informal supports may include parents, partners, siblings, grandparents, friends or other people who provide unpaid support. For example, this might include a parent helping with personal care, a partner providing daily assistance, a grandparent helping with transport to appointments, or a friend supporting community participation. 

For parents of children with cerebral palsy, these amendments are intended to make clearer that ordinary parenting responsibilities are different from the additional disability-related supports a child may need because of their cerebral palsy. This may be relevant when the NDIA decides what supports will be funded and what support can reasonably be expected from parents.

Could my funding be reduced? 

The Bill includes changes that may affect how some types of supports are funded in the future. 

This does not mean everyone’s funding will automatically be reduced. Most people will not see immediate changes to their current plan simply because the Bill has passed. 

Funding decisions will continue to depend on your individual circumstances, your plan and the rules that apply at the time of review, reassessment or renewal. 

What is still being worked out? 

Some important details are still to be developed, including: 

• how functional capacity assessments will work 
• how new framework planning will operate 
• how foundational supports will be delivered 
• how support determinations will operate in practice 
• what information participants may need to provide when requesting future reassessments 
• how some other support decisions will be made in practice. 

As more information becomes available, My CP Guide will continue to provide plain language updates. 

What can I do now? 

For most people, there is no immediate action required. 

It may help to: 

• keep notes about your support needs 
• keep reports or evidence that explain how your supports help 
• prepare for future plan reviews 
• make sure your NDIS goals clearly reflect your needs 
• talk to your support coordinator, advocate or trusted provider if you are worried. 

Has Cerebral Palsy Australia been involved? 

Cerebral Palsy Australia has been actively involved throughout the reform process. In addition to making a submission to the Senate inquiry, people with lived experience of cerebral palsy, including members of the CPA Board, Advisory Panel and wider community, have met with parliamentarians and policymakers to share their experiences and perspectives. 

Cerebral Palsy Australia will continue to monitor the NDIS reforms and advocate for people with cerebral palsy as the changes are implemented. 

Need more help?
Preparing well for your NDIS plan review can make a real difference.

Read our practical guide: NDIS goal setting for adults with cerebral palsy

You may also find these resources helpful: 

• Timeline for key dates related to securing the NDIS for future generations 
• Cerebral Palsy Australia submission to the NDIS reform inquiry
• NDIS Reform Bill passes Parliament: what changed and what it means for people with cerebral palsy