Independent Review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS Review)

The NDIS Review commenced in October 2022. It examined the design, operation and sustainability of the scheme, and ways to build a more responsive, supportive and sustainable market and workforce.

NDIS Review Final Report

On 7 December 2023, the NDIS Review final report was released.

The NDIS Review final report makes 26 recommendations with 139 supporting actions to improve the NDIS within the broader disability ecosystem. The recommendations and actions are directed to all governments and National Cabinet.

Three key areas of reform were identified:

• development of a unified system of supports for all people with disability, including foundational supports outside the NDIS and inclusive mainstream services coordinated with the NDIS
• reforms to NDIS market and support systems to improve their functioning and quality
• a new stewardship model for the unified ecosystem, with clear governance and accountability responsibilities.

National Response to the NDIS Review

As an initial response to the NDIS Review, on 6 December 2023, National Cabinet agreed to work together to:

• implement legislative and other changes to the NDIS to improve the experience of participants and restore the original intent of the Scheme to support people with permanent and significant disability, within a broader ecosystem of supports
• jointly design additional foundational supports to be jointly commissioned by the Commonwealth and the states
• adjust state and territory NDIS contribution escalation rates, commencing from 1 July 2028.

In January 2026, National Cabinet agreed additional reforms, including:

• adjusting state and territory NDIS contribution escalation rates to be in line with actual scheme growth, capped at 8 per cent, from 1 July 2028.
• working together to target annual cost increases to 5 to 6 per cent.
• $2 billion, matched by states, to deliver Thriving Kids, the first phase of foundational supports.

The National Agreement on Foundational Supports commenced on 2 February 2026 and is a five-year agreement between the Commonwealth and states that strengthens the broader disability support system outside of the NDIS.

The Commonwealth Government is progressing NDIS reforms in response to the NDIS Review.