Australian Disability Association

DISABILITY advocates are demanding the Federal Government explain how new National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) assessments will work, warning the proposed overhaul could be distressing and disempowering for participants if they lose control over how their needs are measured.

From mid-2026, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) will begin phasing in a new planning and funding model that replaces professional reports with structured interviews and a digital assessment tool known as I-CAN.

The system, already used in aged care, is intended to make the process fairer and more consistent.

NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister announced the change in September, describing it as a shift toward simpler, faster and more equitable decision-making.

But

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