New NDIS Act 2026: What Does It Mean for NDIS Providers? 

Summary 

The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 20 August 2026, introducing significant changes for NDIS providers. 

The reforms will progressively expand mandatory NDIS provider registration, introduce a new provider enrolment system, strengthen record-keeping and payment integrity requirements, reduce the timeframe for submitting NDIS claims, and introduce significant changes for plan management providers. 

For providers, the direction is clear: the NDIS is moving towards greater visibility and oversight of who is providing supports, who is receiving NDIS funds and what evidence supports those payments. 

Not every NDIS provider will necessarily need to become registered. However, most providers are expected to become more visible to the NDIA through either registration, enrolment or both. 

Key points

• Mandatory NDIS registration is expanding. Supported Independent Living (SIL) and digital platform providers were the first provider categories brought into the new arrangements from 1 July 2026. 

• Higher-risk supports are next. Expanded mandatory registration is expected to begin from 1 July 2027, including supports such as personal care, daily living supports and supports delivered in closed settings. 

• Most NDIS providers will need to enrol with the NDIA. The new provider enrolment system is expected to commence from 1 July 2027. 

• Enrolment and registration are not the same thing. Some providers may remain unregistered but still need to enrol. 

• Provider visibility will increase. Enrolment will give the NDIA greater visibility of providers receiving NDIS funds. 

• Record keeping will become increasingly important. Providers will need to retain relevant NDIS payment and claim records for seven years. 

• The claiming timeframe is reducing. From 1 December 2026, the maximum timeframe for submitting claims will reduce from two years to 90 days. 

• Plan managers face significant changes, including new arrangements affecting governance, claims verification, conflicts of interest and how plan management businesses operate. 

• Providers should start preparing now. Understanding where your organisation may sit within the new framework will make future transition considerably easier. 

What has changed under the new NDIS Act? 

There is a lot in the new legislation – covering participant access and planning, provider regulation, fraud and payment integrity, record keeping, plan management and stronger regulatory powers. 

For NDIS providers, two of the most significant changes are the continued expansion of mandatory provider registration and the introduction of provider enrolment. 

And importantly, they are not the same thing. 

Will more NDIS providers have to become registered? 

Yes. 

We have already seen the first stage of expanded mandatory NDIS registration, with Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers and NDIS digital platform providers brought into mandatory registration arrangements from 1 July 2026. 

The Australian Government has confirmed that mandatory registration will progressively expand to providers delivering higher-risk supports. 

These are expected to include areas such as: 

• Personal care 

• Daily living supports 

• Supports provided in closed settings 

Expanded registration requirements are scheduled to begin rolling out from 1 July 2027, with implementation continuing progressively through to December 2030. 

Further detail will be important in determining exactly which providers and supports are captured. 

What does expanded mandatory registration mean for unregistered providers? 

If you are currently an unregistered NDIS provider, don’t assume you will necessarily be able to remain unregistered indefinitely. 

Consider: 

• The types of supports you actually deliver; 

• Where and how those supports are delivered; 

• The level of risk associated with those supports; and 

• Whether your services may fall within future mandatory registration categories. 

If your services are likely to be affected, it makes sense to start thinking about NDIS registration readiness now rather than waiting for a deadline. 

What is NDIS provider enrolment? 

One of the most significant changes is the introduction of a new NDIS provider enrolment system from 1 July 2027. 

Importantly, provider enrolment is separate from NDIS registration. 

The Australian Government has advised that most NDIS providers will need to enrol with the NDIA. Providers within scope will be required to provide a minimum basic level of identifiable information and a nominated, validated bank account into which payments can be made. 

There will be exceptions. For example, mainstream retailers that may not know they have supplied goods or services to an NDIS participant are not necessarily expected to enrol. 

For unregistered providers, this is an important shift. 

Remaining unregistered will not necessarily mean remaining outside the NDIS provider oversight system. 

What is the difference between NDIS registration and provider enrolment? 

At its simplest: 

NDIS registration is about quality, safeguarding and regulatory oversight. Registered providers are regulated by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and must meet the requirements applicable to their registration. Depending on their registration scope, this can include compliance with the NDIS Practice Standards, audits and other conditions of registration. 

NDIS provider enrolment is about provider identification and payment integrity. It will give the NDIA greater visibility of the providers receiving NDIS funds, including many providers who may not be required to become registered. 

Over time, we are therefore likely to see an NDIS provider market comprising: 

1. Providers that must be registered and enrolled; 

2. Providers that can remain unregistered but must be enrolled; and 

3. Some businesses that are excluded from enrolment requirements. 

This represents a significant change to the structure and visibility of the NDIS provider market. 

What are the new NDIS record-keeping and claiming requirements? 

Registration and enrolment aren’t occurring in isolation. 

The reforms also strengthen requirements relating to NDIS claims, records, payments and regulatory oversight. 

Providers will be required to retain prescribed records relating to claims for NDIS amounts and the provision of NDIS supports associated with those claims. 

The Government has advised that relevant NDIS payment and receipt records will need to be retained for seven years, with further guidance expected about exactly which records must be retained. 

The timeframe for making NDIS claims is also reducing. 

From 1 December 2026, the maximum timeframe for making a claim will reduce from two years to 90 days. 

For providers, the practical message is straightforward: 

Good documentation, timely claiming and the ability to substantiate what was actually delivered will become even more important. 

Providers should consider whether their current systems allow them to readily connect a claim with evidence of the support that was actually provided. 

What do the NDIS reforms mean for plan managers? 

Plan managers face particularly significant changes under the reforms. 

The new framework introduces additional requirements relating to areas including: 

• Integrity and governance; 

• Staff and key personnel; 

• Handling and submitting claims, including verification requirements; 

• ICT systems; and 

• Related parties and the management of conflicts of interest. 

The reforms also place increased focus on the separation between plan management and the delivery of other NDIS supports. 

For existing plan managers, these changes are not simply another compliance update. They may require consideration of business structures, related entities, conflicts of interest, systems and future operating models. 

What should NDIS providers be doing now? 

There is no need for every unregistered provider to rush out and apply for registration. 

But there is equally no reason to ignore these reforms until 2027. 

Providers should start asking: 

What supports do we actually deliver? 

Are any likely to fall within future mandatory registration requirements? 

If we remain unregistered, will we need to enrol? 

Could our records substantiate the supports we delivered and the claims we made? 

What systems do we have in place to support compliance with our NDIS obligations? 

If we were required to become registered, how ready would we actually be? 

The earlier providers understand where they are likely to sit within the emerging framework, the more time they have to address gaps and prepare appropriately. 

What is the key takeaway for NDIS providers? 

The direction of NDIS provider regulation is becoming increasingly clear. 

Not every NDIS provider will necessarily need to become registered, but increasingly, providers receiving NDIS funds will need to be identifiable, accountable and able to demonstrate what they have delivered. 

The introduction of provider enrolment, expanded mandatory registration, stronger record-keeping requirements and increased scrutiny of claims all point towards a more visible and accountable NDIS provider market. 

For providers, now is the time to understand where your organisation is likely to sit within the emerging framework and start preparing well before the deadlines arrive. 

If you’re unsure what the NDIS reforms mean for your organisation, Engels Floyd Quality Consulting can help you understand your obligations, assess your readiness and identify practical steps to prepare for the changes ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Do all NDIS providers have to become registered? 

No. The Government has not announced that every NDIS provider will need to become registered. Mandatory registration is progressively expanding to providers delivering higher-risk supports. Other providers may be able to remain unregistered but may still need to enrol with the NDIA. 

Is NDIS provider enrolment the same as registration? 

No. Registration and enrolment are separate. Registration focuses on quality, safeguarding and regulatory oversight, while enrolment is intended to improve provider identification and payment integrity. 

When will NDIS provider enrolment start? 

The new NDIS provider enrolment system is expected to begin from 1 July 2027, with providers progressively brought into the system. 

When will mandatory NDIS registration expand? 

Expanded mandatory registration for higher-risk NDIS supports is expected to commence from 1 July 2027, with implementation continuing progressively through to December 2030. 

How long will NDIS providers need to keep records? 

The Government has advised that relevant NDIS payment and receipt records will need to be retained for seven years. Further guidance is expected about the specific records providers must retain. 

How long will NDIS providers have to submit a claim? 

From 1 December 2026, the maximum timeframe for making an NDIS claim will reduce from two years to 90 days. 

Sources and further information 

• National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Act 2026 

• Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing – About the changes to the NDIS 

• Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing – Securing the NDIS for future generations 

Information is current at September 2026. Further rules and implementation guidance are expected as the reforms are progressively introduced.