💡 Did you know?
A lot of people think a Functional Capacity Assessment is the only way the NDIS understands support needs. From mid 2026, the planning process will start shifting toward a more structured support needs assessment approach, which may change how evidence is gathered and used.
Functional Capacity Assessments, often called FCAs, have been a common part of the NDIS world for years. They can be incredibly helpful, but they can also feel confusing, expensive, and inconsistent depending on who completes the report and how it is written.
From mid 2026, the NDIS has flagged a new way of planning that aims to make the process fairer, more consistent, and easier to navigate. This includes moving toward a more structured approach to understanding a person’s disability support needs, rather than relying on a mix of different reports and formats.
This article explains what is changing, what is staying the same, and what participants, families, and providers can do to prepare. It is general information only and is not legal, clinical, or financial advice.
A Functional Capacity Assessment is usually a written report, often completed by an allied health professional, that describes how a person’s disability affects day to day life. It commonly includes information about practical tasks, safety, communication, and independence.
In the NDIS context, an FCA has often been used to help with:
The challenge is that FCA reports can vary widely. Two people with very similar support needs can end up with very different reports depending on the professional, the template used, and the language written in the document. That inconsistency is one of the reasons the NDIA has been working toward a more standardised planning approach.
The NDIA has indicated that the planning process is changing to make it simpler and more consistent, while focusing more clearly on disability support needs. In practice, this is aimed at reducing complexity for participants and families, and reducing the variation in outcomes created by different report styles and evidence types.
The shift is part of a broader change described as a new framework planning approach, which is planned to begin rolling out from mid 2026. The key goal is a clearer pathway that is easier to understand, easier to navigate, and more consistent across the scheme.
If you want to read the official NDIA announcement, you can view it here: NDIS: New tool to deliver simpler pathway to disability supports
The NDIA has announced a new tool designed to help assess disability support needs as part of the new planning framework. The NDIA has described this tool as focusing on disability support needs rather than functional impairments, and it is intended to be used by trained, accredited assessors in meetings with participants aged 16 and over.
The NDIA has also indicated that the tool will be used alongside questionnaires that consider a person’s personal and environmental circumstances. For people with more complex support needs, further targeted assessments are expected to be used.
In simple terms, the direction of travel is clear. Planning is moving toward a structured assessment of support needs, so that decisions are less dependent on how a report is written and more dependent on consistent, comparable information.
You may have started hearing more about I-CAN, particularly I-CAN version 6, in the lead up to mid 2026. The I-CAN stands for the Instrument for the Classification and Assessment of Support Needs. It is described by the Centre for Disability Studies as a holistic support needs assessment tool for people aged 16 years and above, and it can only be used by trained and certified assessors.
You can read the overview here: Centre for Disability Studies: I-CAN Support Needs Assessment
It is important to keep the language clear here. I-CAN is not a diagnosis. It is not about labels. It is about describing support needs in a structured way, based on how disability impacts daily life and what support is required.
For many people, the biggest change will be that assessments may feel more structured and consistent. Instead of relying heavily on one long report, there may be a clearer pathway where:
This can be a positive change if it reduces confusion and reduces the pressure on families to chase multiple reports. At the same time, any new process creates uncertainty during the transition period, especially while guidance is still evolving.
The most helpful approach is to focus on what stays consistent. The NDIS still needs a clear understanding of a person’s day to day support needs, safety risks, goals, and what supports are reasonable and necessary. The format may shift, but the purpose of evidence remains.
For home and living supports, clarity matters. Supported Independent Living is about the support a person needs in daily life, often in a shared home environment. That means evidence still needs to explain support needs in a practical, day to day way.
If you are new to SIL, you can start with this guide: What Is Supported Independent Living and How Does It Work Under the NDIS
As planning evolves, it is likely that structured assessment information will play a bigger role in shaping home and living decisions. For families and Support Coordinators, that means being clear about:
🌻 Bright Tomorrows Insight
When planning frameworks change, the most important thing for participants is stability in day to day life. Bright Tomorrows focuses on calm homes, consistent staffing, and practical daily living support, so participants can keep building independence even when systems and paperwork evolve.
You do not need to predict every detail to prepare well. The most helpful preparation is practical and calm.
1. Keep evidence focused on day to day support needs
Whether evidence is written in a long report or captured through a structured tool, the NDIS needs to understand what support is required and why.
2. Stay aligned with goals
Clear goals linked to independence, safety, routines, and participation help planning conversations stay grounded.
3. Ask questions early
If you have a plan review coming up in 2026, ask the planner or Support Coordinator what approach will be used and what information will be most helpful.
4. Use reliable sources
NDIS changes can attract rumours. Stick with official NDIA updates, and trusted providers who reference those updates accurately.
5. Choose providers who communicate clearly
A good provider will explain what is known, what is changing, and what will stay steady in the support delivered.
Need help understanding SIL options or next steps? You can explore our current SIL vacancies, read more about Supported Independent Living, or get in touch for a conversation.
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