Plan Management is Changing
Unless you have your head in the clouds, you have probably heard that plan management is changing. Those changes are now law.
In August 2026, Parliament passed the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Act 2026.
The Act moves plan management from an open market to a smaller, NDIA-selected group of NDIS plan managers or a "panel" as they are referring to it now.
The short version: nothing changes for you today.
You can keep using your current plan manager and your supports as usual. The NDIA will launch the panel by 1 October 2027, followed by a six-month transition period that ends in April 2028.
Our resource will help you understand what the governent are proposing and what this means for me, when the changes are taking place, and if you need to do anything. Being prepared is the most important thing when you have an NDIS plan.
Plan management by numbers
Plan management has grown massively over the last couple of years, and is the most popular way to manage NDIS funding. Not just because of the numbers involved but also because of the cost and the risk to the NDIS, they have decided its time to have more control over what plan managers do and how it impacts the running of the scheme.
Our article sticks to the facts, using government sources are references in most cases.
- Over 515,000 participants used a plan manager during the December 2025 quarter (Explanatory Memorandum).
- This means almost 70% of NDIS participants plan manage some or all of their NDIS funds (DSC).
- And as a result around 60% of all NDIS funding is paid through plan managers (Explanatory Memorandum). That is a BIG number.
- In the second quarter of 2025-26, 1,455 plan management providers received a payment, and many of them are very small only support 20 participants or fewer (Explanatory Memorandum).
- The 10 largest plan managers support almost half of all plan-managed participants (DSC). That equates to a lot of market concentration
- Plan management fees made up $646 million in NDIS payments in the 12 months to 31 December 2025 (Explanatory Memorandum).
With this much funding, that many people and providers relying on plan managers to make payments, getting the quality and safety of the service right matters.
In the current market, the range of practices and quality of service delivery amongst plan managers from those managing 20 participants to the larger ones managing 20,000 participants, varies wildly (withouth exaggerating)
What is the NDIS plan manager panel?
Under the new law, a business can only be a registered plan manager if it holds a deed of arrangement with the NDIA.
The NDIA will run an open tender (any registered plan manager can apply) and select the sucessful plan manager against set requirements.
Successful plan managers will form the panel. The NDIA has said it is also changing how plan management services are priced, designed and delivered.
So what do they mean by a "deed"?
The deed sets the legal standards that every panel member must meet, including:
- Strong governance, risk management and regular reporting to the NDIA
- Key staff suitability checks, including criminal history and bankruptcy checks
- Claim verification, including checking identity and confirming supports were actually delivered
- Technology and systems that meet NDIA technical specifications
- Clear conflict of interest policies and mandatory notification of any new conflicts
The NDIA will keep a public "register" of panel or approved plan managers, so families can easily check who is approved.
Why this is a positive step for families
The biggest benefit of the panel is simple: plan managers with enough scale can invest properly in safeguards and fraud detection.
The NDIA have made it clear that they want to improve service quality, lift integrity standards and reduce fraud.
Today, the market is made up of a small number of large providers and a long tail of very small ones.
The NDIA's own analysis, set out in the Explanatory Memorandum, found that smaller providers are more likely to show risk factors such as:
- conflicts of interest
- poor record keeping and
- weak claim checks
A smaller panel changes the economics. Panel members will support more participants each, which means they can afford technology and systems that flag unusual claiming and stop problems before they impact you or your funding.
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission will also be able to regulate a smaller group of providers far more closely than 1,400-plus businesses.
Families keep their choice. You still get to choose your plan manager; you will just choose from a list of providers who have been checked against much higher and consistent standards. This matches what participants have told the NDIA they value most: accurate invoice processing and reliable budget support.
You should not expect this to impact your NDIS budget or funding. Plan management will still be paid by the NDIA, without it impacting other supports.
Those big plan managers that are part of the panel will be expected to spend much more on compliance cost. These costs will not be passed on to you as a participant. The Government believe that with the volume of customers that the big plan managers will have, they will be able to afford investing in good systems and fraud detection. The NDIA will continue to set the price of plan management, which remains $104.45 per month per participant for now.
How the panel will affect families
If your plan manager joins the panel, you will likely notice very little change beyond improved checks and reporting.
If your plan manager is not selected, you will have six months from the panel launch to choose a new provider from the panel. During that time, your current plan manager can keep supporting you. The NDIA has committed to helping participants move to a new provider, and support coordinators are expected to assist as part of their usual role. The government estimates the switch will take up to three hours of effort per participant.
Two other changes from the same Act are worth knowing about now:
- Providers must make claims within 90 days of delivering a support, starting 1 December 2026 (Explanatory Memorandum).
- Participants and plan managers must keep records relating to NDIS claims for three years (Department of Health, Disability and Ageing).
How the panel will affect plan managers
The plan management market will become much smaller. The government expects most current plan managers to leave plan management, although many will keep delivering other disability services.
Plan managers will face an either/or choice. A registered plan manager cannot deliver any other NDIS supports, such as support coordination or therapy, and the same rule applies to related parties. Key personnel of a plan manager also cannot be key personnel of another NDIS provider.
Plan managers who want to join the panel will need to apply through a formal tender on AusTender. Before that, the NDIA will seek their feedback on the panel's design through a request for information, open from October 2026 for five weeks.
Panel members will take on additional reporting, including regular contract meetings and performance and integrity reports. In return, they gain clearer expectations and the scale to run a strong, sustainable service. Panel members will get six months to divest any related businesses that deliver other NDIS supports.
Plan managers who are not on the panel can keep supporting their existing participants for the six-month transition, but cannot take on new participants.
Key dates for the NDIS plan manager panel
The NDIA has published a confirmed timeline for changes to plan management:
- 20 August 2026: The Act received Royal Assent and became law.
- From October 2026: The NDIA explains the expected changes to participants, plan managers and other providers. It also opens a five-week request for information on AusTender, asking plan managers for feedback on the panel's design.
- From April 2027: The NDIA publishes the request for tender. Plan managers who want to join the panel must apply through this process.
- From June 2027: The tender closes. The NDIA assesses applications and tells providers whether they have been selected.
- From October 2027: The panel launches and the six-month transition begins. Participants whose plan manager is not on the panel will be supported to move.
- From April 2028: The transition ends. Participants must use a panel plan manager, and plan managers outside the panel can no longer provide plan management.
The NDIA has said it will contact participants before any change affects them.
How to get your family ready
- Check your plan manager's services. If they also offer support coordination or other supports, they will need to choose one line of business. Ask them what their plans are.
- Keep your records in order. Hold on to invoices, statements and service agreements for at least three years.
- Watch for official updates. Rely on the NDIS website, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, and your plan manager for accurate information.
- Take your time. Panel results won't be known until after the tender closes in mid-2027. If anyone pressures you to switch with promises about the panel before then, check the facts first. You can report suspected fraud to the NDIS.
- Consider your options now if you are unhappy. You can change plan managers at any time. Look for a provider that focuses only on plan management, has strong claim-checking systems, and communicates clearly.
Thinking about changing plan managers? MyCareSpace can help you compare plan management providers and find one that suits your family. Connect with a plan manager through MyCareSpace.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to change plan managers now?
No. You can keep using your current plan manager. The panel launches in October 2027, with a transition period until April 2028.
Will I still be able to choose my plan manager?
Yes. You will choose from the providers on the NDIA-approved panel.
Will plan management cost more?
The NDIA will continue to set plan management prices, and panel compliance costs are not expected to be passed on to participants.
What happens if my plan manager is not on the panel?
You will have six months to move to a panel provider, with support from the NDIA.
When will I know if my plan manager is on the panel?
The NDIA expects to tell providers the outcome after the tender closes from June 2027. Your plan manager should be able to update you after that.
Where can I find the list of panel plan managers?
The NDIA will publish a public register of approved plan managers once the panel is in place.
