Why Testing Matters
Published by Bridges Alliance | NDIS Information and Updates
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is preparing for an important change to the way participant plans are developed. With the new way of planning scheduled to begin rolling out from April 2027, testing the proposed process is an important step towards identifying what works, what needs improvement and how participants can be better supported through the transition.
For people with disability, their families, nominees and support networks, understanding these changes early can help reduce uncertainty and support informed decision-making.
At Bridges Alliance, we believe that people with disability should be treated with dignity, listened to and supported to exercise choice and control over their lives. Clear information and accessible communication are essential when changes to the NDIS planning process are being introduced.
Why is the NDIS testing its new planning approach?
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is testing the new way of planning before its planned rollout from April 2027. The purpose is to identify issues early, improve resources and refine the planning experience before the new process is introduced more widely.
Testing provides an opportunity to hear directly from people with disability about their experiences. Their feedback can help the NDIA understand whether information is clear, whether assessment processes are accessible and whether participants feel comfortable explaining their individual support needs.
The NDIA has reported that feedback from participants is helping identify improvements to the testing process and the information provided before, during and after sessions.
This matters because a planning process should be understandable and respectful. Participants need opportunities to communicate their circumstances, explain what matters to them and understand what to expect at each stage.
What is changing under the new way of NDIS planning?
The new planning approach is intended to make NDIS planning clearer, more consistent and easier to navigate.
A key component will be a support needs assessment. This is intended to help the NDIA understand a participant's disability-related support needs through a guided conversation with a trained assessor.
The assessment is expected to consider the support a person needs across different areas of everyday life. Information gathered through the process will help inform the development of the participant's plan and funding.
The proposed new approach also includes a different budget structure, with a flexible budget alongside a limited number of stated supports. The applicable rules and detailed arrangements remain important to monitor as further information is released.
The aim is to better understand individual support requirements and develop plans using a more consistent approach.
However, it is important to remember that testing is not the same as implementing the new planning system. The NDIA is using testing to refine the process before its wider introduction.
For official information about the proposed changes, visit the NDIS website's New Way of Planning page.
How is participant feedback improving the testing process?
Participant feedback is central to understanding how the proposed planning approach works in practice.
The NDIA has identified a need for clearer information about what happens before, during and after testing sessions. In response, it is developing clearer resources to help participants understand the process and know what to expect.
This is an important step towards making information more accessible and helping participants feel better prepared.
Feedback can help identify areas where instructions need clarification, where additional explanations may be helpful and where the overall experience could be improved.
For participants with different disabilities, communication preferences, cultural backgrounds and support requirements, accessible information can make a meaningful difference.
The process also highlights why people with lived experience should be involved in shaping systems that affect their lives. Their perspectives can help identify practical issues that may not be apparent from policy documents alone.
What happens during NDIS planning testing?
The NDIA's testing activities may include a simulated support needs assessment and activities to help train and accredit assessors who may conduct these assessments in the future.
A simulated assessment may resemble a real assessment, but its purpose is to test and improve the process.
According to the NDIA's published guidance, participation in this testing is voluntary. Taking part does not change a participant's current NDIS plan, funding, supports or eligibility. Testing results are used to improve the process rather than determine an individual's plan or budget.
Participants may also be eligible for payment for their time, with arrangements for necessary participation supports, such as interpreters, live captioning or a support worker, described in the NDIA's guidance.
Participants and plan nominees should review the official information carefully before deciding whether to take part.
To learn more, visit Help Test the New Way of Planning.
How can families, nominees and support coordinators help?
Families, nominees, support coordinators and other trusted members of a participant's support network can help make information about NDIS changes easier to understand.
Here are five practical ways to provide support.
1. Share reliable information
Use official NDIA resources to explain what is known about the new planning approach. Avoid relying on rumours, unverified social media posts or assumptions about how an individual's future plan will be affected.
2. Explain the difference between testing and rollout
Help participants understand that taking part in testing is voluntary and is intended to improve the process. It does not replace their current plan or determine their future funding.
3. Support individual communication preferences
Some participants may prefer written information, Easy Read resources, visual explanations, interpreters or assistance from a trusted person. Ask what works best for the individual rather than assuming one approach will suit everyone.
4. Encourage questions and feedback
Give participants time to consider information and ask questions. Where appropriate, help them identify what they would like clarified and locate the relevant official guidance.
5. Respect choice and control
Participation in testing is voluntary. Participants should have the opportunity to make an informed decision without pressure and to decide who they would like involved in discussions, subject to applicable arrangements.
Support should be guided by the participant's wishes, communication needs and individual circumstances.
What should NDIS participants do before April 2027?
The planned rollout does not mean that every participant will move to the new planning approach at the same time.
The NDIA has advised that the new way of planning will be introduced progressively. Participants should receive information before they transition, and existing plans remain in place until a participant moves to the new process, subject to any other applicable changes to their circumstances or plan.
For now, participants and their support networks can take sensible steps to stay informed:
Continue using the current NDIS plan and following its applicable requirements.
Keep relevant information about support needs, goals and everyday assistance organised.
Talk with the support coordinator or other trusted people involved in planning, where appropriate.
Check official NDIA updates as further details become available.
Seek clarification from the NDIA or an appropriate adviser if information about the changes is unclear.
These are general preparation suggestions, not a guarantee of future funding or a substitute for individual advice from the NDIA.
Importantly, participants do not need to assume that they must immediately change their existing supports simply because the new planning approach is being tested.
How Bridges Alliance supports informed choice and control
At Bridges Alliance, we understand that changes to the NDIS can raise questions for participants, families and nominees.
As an NDIS registered service provider in NSW, we provide disability supports that aim to respect each person's individual preferences, goals, dignity and independence.
Our services include Support Coordination, Supported Independent Living (SIL), Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), Short Term Accommodation (STA), personal care, assistance with daily living and community participation, subject to individual service arrangements and eligibility.
When information about the NDIS changes, we encourage participants and their support networks to seek reliable guidance, ask questions and make decisions based on their own circumstances.
We also recognise the importance of clear communication between participants, their chosen representatives and the people supporting them. With the participant's consent and appropriate authority, this communication can help people understand their options and navigate changes with greater confidence.
Our role is to provide support within our service scope, respect participant choice and help people work towards their goals. Decisions about NDIS planning, eligibility and funding remain with the relevant decision-makers.
Where can you find reliable information?
The NDIA is publishing information and resources to help participants and their support networks understand the new way of planning.
Useful resources include:
New Way of Planning: Read about the proposed changes and the support needs assessment at https://www.ndis.gov.au/changes-ndis/new-way-planning
Help Test the New Way of Planning: Find information about testing, participation and how to express interest at https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/11572-help-test-new-way-planning
NDIS News and Updates: Monitor official announcements for further information about implementation and transition arrangements.
The NDIA's published guidance states that expressions of interest in testing are open until 31 December 2026, although not everyone who applies will necessarily be selected. Check the official testing page for current eligibility and application details.
Looking ahead: Better information starts with listening
Testing is an opportunity to identify what needs improvement before the new way of NDIS planning begins its planned rollout in April 2027.
Clear information, accessible resources and meaningful participant feedback are important parts of preparing for change. By listening to people with disability and improving communication, the NDIA can work towards a planning process that is easier to understand and better informed by lived experience.
For participants and families, the most useful step is to stay informed, ask questions and use official resources as further details become available.
Bridges Alliance — Building Bridges. Empowering Lives.
For information about our disability support services in NSW, visit Bridges Alliance or contact our team to discuss your support needs.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and is not legal, financial or individual NDIS planning advice. NDIS arrangements and implementation details may change. Please check the official NDIS website for the latest information relevant to your circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
1. When does the new way of NDIS planning start?
The NDIA plans to begin rolling out the new way of planning from April 2027. The transition is expected to occur progressively rather than moving every participant across at once.
2. Why is the NDIA testing the new planning process?
Testing helps the NDIA identify issues, improve information and refine the assessment experience before wider implementation. Participant feedback helps identify what is working and where improvements may be needed.
3. Will participating in testing affect my current NDIS plan or funding?
According to the NDIA's published testing guidance, participation is voluntary and does not change a participant's current plan, funding, supports or eligibility. Testing information is used to improve the process rather than determine an individual's plan or budget.
4. What is a support needs assessment?
A support needs assessment is a guided conversation intended to help the NDIA understand a person's disability-related support needs. Under the new planning approach, information from this assessment will help inform the participant's plan and funding.
5. Do all NDIS participants need to participate in testing?
No. Participation in the testing activities is voluntary. Participants and eligible plan nominees can review the official information and decide whether to express interest. Not everyone who applies will necessarily be selected.
6. How can families and support coordinators help participants prepare?
They can share official information, explain the difference between testing and rollout, support accessible communication, encourage questions and respect the participant's decisions.
7. Will everyone receive a new NDIS plan in April 2027?
No. April 2027 marks the planned beginning of the rollout, not an automatic transition date for every participant. The NDIA has indicated that implementation will occur progressively and that participants will receive information before transitioning.
8. Where can I find official information about NDIS planning changes?
Visit the NDIA's New Way of Planning page and its testing information page for official updates and resources.
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The NDIA is testing the new way of NDIS planning before its planned rollout from April 2027. Testing allows participants to provide feedback that can help improve the assessment process, accessibility and information provided. Participation is voluntary and, according to current NDIA guidance, does not affect a participant's existing plan, funding, supports or eligibility. Participants, families and support coordinators can prepare by following official NDIS updates and learning about the proposed support needs assessment.
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Bridges Alliance is an NDIS registered service provider in NSW, supporting people with disability through services including Support Coordination, Supported Independent Living (SIL), Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), personal care and community participation. As the new way of NDIS planning approaches its planned April 2027 rollout, Bridges Alliance encourages participants, families, nominees and support coordinators to access reliable information, understand the proposed changes and make informed decisions based on individual circumstances. Official planning and funding decisions remain the responsibility of the relevant NDIS decision-makers.
