NDIS changes: What this means for Workpower customers
New NDIS laws passed in August 2026 will change some funding and planning arrangements.
The changes started on 1 October 2026 and will take effect when you receive a new NDIS plan, have a plan reassessment or your plan is renewed.
What is changing?
The Government has announced reductions to funding for some NDIS supports.
For affected supports, budget allocations will be reduced by:
50% for Social, Economic and Community Participation.
10% for Improved Daily Living Skills.
These reductions do not apply to your whole plan. Some supports within these categories are excluded from the reductions, including employment supports, disability-related health supports, high intensity supports and intensive and complex behaviour supports.
READ MORE: Find more information, and links to easy read documents here.
When will my funding change?
The reductions apply to:
New and reassessed plans from 1 October 2026.
Renewed plans from 1 February 2027.
Your funding will not necessarily change on 1 October. The NDIA will notify you about your plan.
By 30 September 2027, all affected participants will have moved through the processes for applying the funding reductions.
How will this affect my Workpower services?
The announced funding reductions do not apply to your NDIS employment supports at Workpower. This is because employment supports have been protected.
However, depending on your NDIS plan and the supports you use, you may have less funding available for some other Workpower services, including Learn and Life programs.
When your plan changes, we will discuss what it means for your services. We will look at your priorities, support needs and budget before recommending any changes.
What is Workpower doing to help?
Workpower has been developing group programs for community access and skills building, including through Learn and Life.
These programs are intended to give you more options to develop skills, spend time with others and participate in your community.
Where suitable, shared support may also help your funding go further.
We can discuss whether these programs suit your needs, goals and budget, including options to combine group programs with individual support.
What do I need to do?
Please tell your Customer Service Manager when the NDIA contacts you about a new plan, reassessment or renewal.
We will work with you to understand what the changes mean for your Workpower services.
If you receive employment supports, we can also check your employment support funding with you to ensure any errors are identified.
What if I use another provider?
If you receive other NDIS services, please contact your other providers to ask whether the changes affect those services.
Who can I speak to?
Please contact your Customer Service Manager if you have any questions about your NDIS funding or Workpower services.
Our team can help you understand the changes and discuss the options available to you.
Workpower customer FAQs
NDIS changes, employment and community programs
As at 16 October 2026
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The Government has announced reductions of 50% to affected social, economic and community participation funding, and 10% to affected improved daily living skills funding.
These reductions do not apply to your whole plan. Some supports are excluded.
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The reductions apply to new and reassessed plans from 1 October 2026, and renewed plans from 1 February 2027.
April 2027 New Framework plans begin to be introduced
Your funding will not necessarily change on 1 October. The NDIA will notify you about your plan.
By the 30th of September 2027 all affected participants will have moved through the processes have having reductions to Social, Economic and Community Participation budgets and or their improved daily living budgets
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Supports in employment are excluded from this funding reset. If you receive a new plan or notice of funding changes, we can check your employment support funding with you to ensure any errors are identified.
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Yes. Exclusions include disability-related health supports, high intensity supports, and intensive and complex behaviour supports.
We can help check which of your supports are affected. Having complex needs does not automatically mean every support in your plan is excluded.
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You can continue using your current plan within its available funding and conditions.
When your plan changes, we will discuss what it means for your services. We will look at your priorities, support needs and budget before recommending any changes.
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Not necessarily. This will depend on your available funding, the services you use and their cost.
We can work through the options with you. These may include a different schedule, suitable group programs, or a combination of group and individual support.
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Workpower has been developing group programs for community access and skills building, including through Learn and Life.
These programs are intended to give you more options to develop skills, spend time with others and participate in your community. Where suitable, shared support may also help your funding go further.
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Depending on the program available in your area, activities may focus on building everyday skills, developing confidence and independence, connecting with others or taking part in community activities.
We can explain the available programs and help you consider how they fit your interests and goals.
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In a group program, some staff support is shared between participants. This may reduce your support cost compared with having a worker supporting only you.
We will explain your individual price and any transport, activity or other charges before you decide. The saving will depend on the program and the support you need.
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Joining a group is an option to discuss with you, not an automatic change.
We will consider your preferences, needs and available funding. If a group does not suit you, we can explore other options and explain any funding limits.
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Tell us what assistance you need and when you need it. We will consider whether a program can provide that support safely.
A group program will not suit everyone. Some people may need individual support for particular activities or throughout their service.
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We will discuss your goals, interests and support needs with you.
We will also consider the activity, environment, group size and staffing arrangements.
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We can explore that with you. A combination may suit your goals and needs, depending on your funding and the services available.
We will explain the proposed schedule and costs before you agree.
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The program name does not determine whether funding is protected. What matters is the type of support being funded.
We need to check the relevant supports in your plan before confirming how the changes affect your Learn or Life services.
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Contact your Customer Service Manager, particularly if the letter includes a deadline.
With your permission, we can review the relevant information, check the funding for your Workpower services and discuss the next steps with you.
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Please tell us as soon as possible. We can help document the support you need and discuss the available options with you and your NDIS contact.
If your needs or circumstances have changed significantly, a reassessment or variation may be appropriate. The funding reduction alone does not qualify as a change in circumstances.
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Speak with each provider about how your new plan affects their services.
When planning your Workpower supports, we should also account for funding committed to other services, so your overall budget is considered.