The Disability Sector Brief, December 2025
- ARC Disability Services inc.
- Dec 16
- 2 min read
The new planning framework is being introduced from mid-2026 for NDIS participants aged 16 and over
The changes to the planning process remains the big news this month as the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) co-design the process and then share developments. Making the planning process fairer, more transparent and more flexible is the aim.
You can read more about the assessment process, the tool that will be used to create a plan and how budgets will be more flexible here: Update - A new way of planning | NDIS
Legislation amendments introduced
Legislative amendments were introduced into parliament on the 26 November 2025. These changes were mainly administrative however they also strengthened the regulatory capabilities of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
A more detailed overview of the changes and other legislative matters are available here:
Thriving Kids
The commitment by the Federal Government to contribute $2bn over 5 years from 1 July 2026 has already been announced. The negotiations with State Governments continue.
Official updates will be available as they are announced on the following website:
Have your say on NDIS pricing
Each year the NDIA set price limits and this year for the first time the NDIA are identifying areas of focus for their review of prices. NDIS participants, providers and the wider disability community are invited to have their say. The 2025-26 pricing review will look at disability support worker supports, therapy supports, support coordination, plan management and social, community and civic participation. Consultation is open until February 8, 2026.
More information is available here:
Misleading promotion of “NDIS approved” products
ARC strongly supports the announcement made by the Australian Government on December 4 that it wanted to protect people with disability and their families by cracking down on misleading and deceptive advertising. The NDIA does not endorse or approve any products or services it said. Only registered NDIS providers such as ARC are permitted to use NDIS logos with the tagline “Registered Provider”.
The Minister for the NDIS, Senator Jenny McAllister said, “If a business is purposefully deceiving NDIS participants to make a quick buck, then it will be held accountable.”
Further detail about this announcement is available on the NDIS website:
Image credit: <a href="https://storyset.com/people">People illustrations by Storyset</a>