changes to NDIS plan reviews

12 August 2025

From 1 July 2025, the way your child’s NDIS plan is created, reviewed and funded has significantly changed.This means that you can no longer use flexible Capacity Building budgets across multiple therapies. Now, each therapy type must be justified in advance and pre-planning is essential.

What Has Changed About NDIS Plan Reviews?

Previously, many families received a single, flexible annual budget under Capacity Building, which could be used across various therapy types as needed (as per the example below).

Under the new Section 33 changes, NDIS plans will be structured into quarterly funding periods, with specific funding amounts released incrementally across the plan duration.

This means that your child’s plan review isn’t just about updating goals anymore – it’s about proving what support they need, how often and why.

If you anticipate needing more support early in the plan (such as during a transition to school or when re-engaging after a break) you can ask for your plan to be frontloaded. This means a larger share of the funding is made available at the beginning of the plan. Any unspent funds from a funding period will roll over into the next, so nothing is lost.

When Should You Start Preparing?

We recommend starting your plan review preparation at least 6 – 8 weeks before your scheduled meeting. This gives you time to collaborate with your Therapy Team, Support Coordinator and Plan Manager.

You may receive a reminder from the NDIA or your Support Coordinator – but don’t wait for it. Starting early ensures no services are missed due to rushed planning.

What You Need for Your Child’s Plan Review

Updated Therapy Goals

Make sure your child’s goals reflect their current strengths, challenges and focus areas
If your child has grown or circumstances have changed (e.g. school transition), goals should be adjusted

Service Estimate Document (provided by your therapy team)

This outlines:

- Type of therapy (e.g. early intervention, OT, SP, psych)
- Number of sessions recommended
- Non-face-to-face time involved
- Travel fees (if applicable)

All of the above is essential evidence for the NDIA to allocate the right funding for each therapy

Progress Summary or Reports

These may include brief notes or formal reports outlining:

- Achievements over the past plan
- Areas still requiring support
- Observations from therapy sessions

Spreadsheet your Desired Plan

This will help you visualise:

- How many sessions you may need
- Associated costs
- Breakdown the face-to-face and non-face-to-face time

Team Collaboration

Involve the key people who support your child:

Therapists: For documentation and insight
Support Coordinators: To facilitate the process and communicate with the NDIA
Plan Managers: To confirm how your current budget has been used
You: Your perspective is essential

What Happens If You Don’t Prepare?

If you go into your plan review without this preparation:

Funding may be reduced or delayed
Therapy types may not receive enough allocation
Travel, report writing and collaboration time may be left out
You may need to request a plan variation later (which can take weeks or months)

Final Tips