Healthcare worker speaking with an older man holding a walking stick in a bright home setting

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What’s changing with the NDIS and Support at Home? And what does it mean for you?

There’s a lot of noise around the NDIS and aged care right now, which may be raising very real and unsettling questions about your future funding. After all, the support these programs provide makes it possible to get out of bed in the morning, leave the house and live your life on your own terms. So when the government announces sweeping changes to those funding systems, you may be understandably worried.

We want to be upfront: these are federal government changes, not Focused Health Care policy. We don’t set the rules, but we are absolutely committed to helping you navigate them. Here’s what we know right now.

For Support at Home participants: first the good news

From 1 October 2026, personal care services, including showering, dressing and continence support, will be fully funded by the Australian Government. If these services are approved in your support plan, you’ll be able to access them at no out-of-pocket cost.

This is a meaningful, positive change. Personal care is fundamental to health, dignity and independence, and the government has now recognised that.

Two important caveats:

Co-contributions paid before 1 October 2026 are non-refundable
The change applies to services delivered from that date only.

How do you access this support if personal care isn’t currently in your support plan? That’s still being clarified. We can help you work through what it means for your situation.

If you were receiving or approved for a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024, you’re also protected by the “no worse off” principle. Your contributions under Support at Home will be the same or lower than they are now.

Support at Home: concerns over the Integrated Assessment Tool

The “elephant in the room” in all this is the automated assessment tool used to reach aged care funding decisions.

When an older person applies for Support at Home, they undergo an interview-based assessment using a structured digital tool called the Integrated Assessment Tool. This process considers their physical, cognitive and psychosocial support needs. The information collected is processed through an algorithm, which helps determine the person’s Support at Home funding levels.

Several concerns have been raised about funding recommendations being too heavily influenced by automated scoring. Can people with complex or fluctuating needs be properly assessed by standardised scoring systems? Will assessors be able to apply clinical judgement to override the tool if its scores do not reflect a person’s needs? Will reliance on this tool erode the person-centred flexibility the reforms are supposed to support?

The Commonwealth Ombudsman is investigating these concerns, and Focused Health Care will continue monitoring developments closely.

For NDIS participants: what’s changing and when?

If you’re a current NDIS participant, the most important thing to know is that your plan is not being ripped away. The eligibility changes apply to new entrants from February 2027, and existing participants will only be reassessed at their regular plan review date, not before.

That said, the broader NDIS reforms are substantial. From 1 October 2026, budgets for social and community participation will be reset to roughly 2023 spending levels. The government says daily care supports are protected and a $200 million Inclusive Communities Fund is in the works to rebuild genuine community participation opportunities. We’re cautiously watching both of those commitments.

The proposed Thriving Kids framework is intended to support children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism who have low to moderate support needs. This is a different system from the NDIS and is meant to link support more closely with state and territory-based early childhood systems. Roll-out is expected from late 2026 with full implementation by 2028.

However, with service models still being finalised and state-based delivery arrangements yet to be fully established, many families are understandably asking what support will look like in practice – and how they will be supported through the transition. We share those concerns and commit to keeping you informed wherever we can.

Where we stand

We know that uncertainty is hard, especially when it concerns funding for much-needed care. If you have questions about how any of this affects your plan or services, please speak with your care planner at Focused Health Care by calling 1300 201 351 or contacting us online. You can also talk to your Support Coordinator if you have one.