NDIS Ahead: A Guide for Families Seeking Autism Support

Understanding Recent NDIS Changes: What Families of Children With Autism Need to Know

Recent changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) are affecting how supports are funded, priced and delivered. For families of children with autism, understanding these NDIS reforms can help make it easier to navigate current support options and prepare for changes that are still being introduced.

The NDIS is continuing to evolve, with reforms focused on improving long-term sustainability, strengthening participant safeguards, making funding more transparent and ensuring supports provide value for money. Some changes are already in effect, while others are being developed or phased in over the coming years.

A Snapshot of the Current NDIS

Several important NDIS reforms have been introduced since 2024. These changes affect areas including NDIS funding, eligible supports, pricing, therapy services and access arrangements.

Getting the NDIS Back on Track Act

The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Act 2024 introduced significant changes to the NDIS from 3 October 2024.

One important change is the clearer definition of what NDIS funding can and cannot be used for. Participants can generally only use their NDIS funding for supports included on the approved NDIS supports list, subject to specific replacement rules.

New and reviewed plans can also include clearer information about total budgets, funding components and funding periods. These reforms are intended to improve transparency and help participants understand how their NDIS funding can be used.

NDIS Pricing Reforms

NDIS pricing continues to be reviewed through the Agency’s Annual Pricing Review and broader pricing reform program. From 1 July 2025, the NDIA introduced pricing changes designed to bring some NDIS prices more closely into line with comparable markets, including Medicare and private health insurance.

For 2026–27, the NDIA has released a new NDIS Pricing Schedule and Annual Pricing Review. The current pricing approach uses evidence and market data to assess appropriate and reasonable maximum prices for NDIS supports.

Importantly, NDIS pricing is not simply a fixed fee that applies in every situation. Participants and providers can negotiate appropriate prices, and participants must agree to changes to existing service agreements before those changes are made.

Therapy Pricing and Evidence-Based Funding

Therapy supports remain an important area of NDIS reform. The NDIA is increasingly using evidence, market data and participant outcomes when reviewing therapy pricing and service models.

The NDIA’s 2026 Annual Pricing Review used more than 16 million therapy transactions from private health insurance and similar government schemes to help inform its pricing recommendations.

A national therapy pilot is also being used to gather information about service delivery, workforce skills and participant outcomes. This work is intended to help develop future approaches to pricing high-quality therapy while maintaining participant access and provider sustainability.

For families, this means keeping clear records of your child’s goals, progress and therapy outcomes remains important when preparing for plan reviews and discussing support needs.

Foundational Supports and Thriving Kids

Foundational Supports are another major part of Australia’s disability and early childhood reform agenda. The Thriving Kids program is being developed to provide supports for children aged eight and under with developmental delay and autism who have lower to moderate support needs.

Thriving Kids services are expected to begin rolling out across states and territories by 1 October 2026, with the program expected to be operating at scale from 1 January 2028.

During the transition, the NDIS and Thriving Kids will operate alongside each other. Children with permanent and significant disability and children with developmental delay or autism who have substantially reduced functional capacity are expected to remain eligible for the NDIS.

Families should continue using their current NDIS supports while transition arrangements are being implemented rather than delaying therapy while waiting for future programs.

Integrity, Quality and Safeguard Reforms

The Australian Government is also strengthening NDIS integrity measures to reduce fraud, inappropriate claiming and exploitation while improving the quality and safety of services.

Current reforms include clearer eligibility requirements, evidence-based assessment processes and stronger measures designed to protect participants and improve the sustainability of the Scheme.

What Do the NDIS Changes Mean for Families of Children With Autism?

1. Access to Early InterventionFamilies should continue to use the current NDIS pathways available to their child. Future programs such as Thriving Kids are being introduced progressively, but families should not delay appropriate early intervention while waiting for future arrangements.
2. Greater Focus on Evidence and OutcomesNDIS reforms are placing greater emphasis on evidence, outcomes and value for money. When requesting or reviewing therapy supports, it can be helpful to clearly explain how each service relates to your child’s functional goals and everyday participation.
3. Changes to Therapy PricingTherapy pricing is undergoing ongoing review. The NDIA is using market data, research and therapy outcomes to inform future pricing approaches. Families should discuss any proposed changes to service prices with their provider and understand how those changes may affect their existing service agreement.
4. Greater Attention to Plan BudgetsFamilies may need to pay closer attention to how their child’s NDIS budget is being used throughout the plan period. Understanding available funding, expected therapy costs and remaining balances can help reduce the risk of unexpected shortfalls.
5. More Changes to NDIS Access and EligibilityNDIS access arrangements are continuing to evolve. Proposed reforms include clearer eligibility requirements and more standardised, evidence-based assessments of functional capacity. Some of these changes require legislative and implementation processes before they take effect.

What NDIS Changes Can Families Expect Next?

NDIS reform is ongoing. Families of children with autism should expect further changes as the Government and the NDIA continue implementing reforms and developing new support arrangements.

1. Continued NDIS Pricing Reviews

The NDIA has established a multi-year pricing work plan covering 2025–26 through 2027–28. This includes annual pricing reviews, therapy pricing reviews, quality support pilots and further evidence-based pricing work.

Families should therefore expect NDIS pricing to continue evolving rather than remaining unchanged from year to year.

2. Development of Foundational Supports

Foundational Supports are being developed to provide assistance outside the NDIS for people who need support but may not meet the Scheme’s access requirements.

For children with developmental delay and autism, the Thriving Kids program forms an important part of this transition. However, implementation will occur progressively, with services and arrangements continuing to develop across states and territories.

3. Stronger Focus on Quality and Safeguards

Quality and participant safety remain important areas of NDIS reform. The Government is working to strengthen provider standards, improve oversight and reduce the risk of fraud, exploitation and poor-quality supports.

For families, this makes choosing appropriately qualified and experienced providers particularly important.

4. Greater Use of Evidence in NDIS Decisions

Future reforms are expected to continue placing greater emphasis on evidence, functional outcomes and value for money.

Keeping your child’s therapy goals, progress information, assessments and provider reports organised can help demonstrate why particular supports are important to your child’s development and everyday participation.

Tips for Navigating the Changing NDIS Landscape

• Focus on functional outcomes: Clearly connect your child’s therapies and supports to meaningful goals, such as improving communication, independence, emotional regulation or participation in everyday activities.
• Keep accurate records: Keep copies of assessments, progress reports, therapy recommendations and other relevant documentation that explains your child’s support needs.
• Monitor your NDIS budget: Regularly review your remaining funding and planned services so you can identify potential shortfalls early.
• Use current supports: Continue accessing appropriate NDIS-funded services while future programs and foundational supports are being developed.
• Communicate with your providers: Ask your therapy provider how current pricing or policy changes may affect your child’s services and discuss any proposed changes before agreeing to them.
• Seek help when needed: A support coordinator, plan manager or other appropriate professional may be able to help you understand funding arrangements and prepare for plan reviews.
• Stay informed: NDIS policies and pricing arrangements continue to change. Check official NDIS information regularly rather than relying on outdated information shared online.

How Can Families Prepare for Future NDIS Changes?

The best approach is to focus on what is confirmed rather than making decisions based on proposed reforms or speculation.

For families of children with autism, this means continuing to focus on your child’s current needs, maintaining clear therapy goals, monitoring NDIS funding and keeping useful documentation up to date.

It is also important to remember that NDIS reforms are being introduced over time. Not every proposed change takes effect immediately, and some reforms require further legislation, consultation or implementation planning.

Final Word: Staying Informed About NDIS Changes

Recent NDIS reforms reflect a continued focus on long-term sustainability, pricing transparency, evidence-based supports, participant outcomes and quality services. For families of children with autism, these changes can feel complex, particularly when some aspects of the future support system are still being developed.

The most practical approach is to stay informed, continue accessing appropriate current supports and keep clear evidence of your child’s needs and progress. By understanding how NDIS funding works today while keeping an eye on confirmed future changes, families can make more informed decisions about their child’s early intervention and disability supports.

Interested in learning more about autism support and early intervention? Lizard Centre provides early intervention and Positive Behaviour Support services to help children build meaningful skills and achieve their goals. Our team can help families understand available supports and make the most of their child’s NDIS plan. Contact Lizard Centre today to learn more.