An update from Relight Your Care · 30 Sept 2026
When NDIS rules change, the questions are usually personal. Will my support change? Can I keep my regular worker? What happens when my plan is reassessed?
At Relight Your Care, as your trusted NDIS providers in Geelong, we know your supports are part of everyday life. As a small, family-owned registered NDIS provider, we support participants and families across Geelong, the Bellarine, Surf Coast, Ballarat and Melbourne’s west. This update explains the latest changes in plain terms, so you can feel prepared for conversations about your plan.
Some support budgets will change from October
Reductions to two budget areas — Social, Economic and Community Participation and Improved Daily Living Skills — will be phased in over 12 months.
Some support budgets will change from October
Reductions to two budget areas — Social, Economic and Community Participation and Improved Daily Living Skills — will be phased in over 12 months.
| When | What happens |
| From 1 October 2026 | Reductions begin applying to plans that are newly approved or reassessed |
| From 1 February 2027 | Reductions apply to plan renewals |
Because the changes roll out gradually, not everyone’s funding will change on the same day. The effect will depend on your plan and circumstances.
Community participation can mean seeing friends, attending activities or building confidence outside the home. If your plan is coming up for reassessment, now is a good time to talk with your providers about the activities that matter most to you and how your current budget is being used.
Essential everyday supports are excluded from these reductions
The NDIA has confirmed that these budget reductions will not affect essential supports, including:
1. Help with eating, dressing and toileting
2. Laundry and cleaning
3. Nursing care and medication
4. Disability-related health supports
5. High intensity supports
This exclusion applies to these particular reductions only. It does not guarantee that individual funding can never change through other planning decisions.
Our services include personal care, household tasks, community access, community nursing, high intensity supports and Supported Independent Living. We’re happy to go through your current services with you and help you identify questions to raise with your plan manager or the NDIA before you make any changes to your support arrangements.
New rules for requesting an early plan reassessment
There are now clearer limits on who can ask for a reassessment before the scheduled date, and when.
1. Who can ask: only participants, plan nominees or child representatives.
2. What’s needed: a significant and ongoing change in functional capacity, support needs or circumstances — including living arrangements and informal supports.
3. How long it takes: the NDIA has 90 days to decide whether to reassess the plan.
4. For short-term or urgent changes: plan variations remain available.
If your needs change, let your support team know. Clear examples of what has changed in daily life can help show why your current arrangements are no longer meeting your needs. With your consent, we can contribute factual information about the support we provide.
A new pricing determination has been announced
On 24 September 2026, the Australian Government announced a pricing determination for NDIS supports for 2026–27. The price limits align with the NDIA’s previously published pricing guidance and took effect immediately. This does not mean every service has received a price increase.
Separate pricing for registered and unregistered providers is still under consultation.
Before agreeing to services, ask about the hourly rate, any other charges, and how these fit within your available funding. Clear information helps you make informed choices.
Preparing together
You don’t need to work through every announcement alone. A practical place to start:
1. Check your plan dates
2. Review your remaining funding with your plan manager
3. Write down any changes in your support needs
As a Geelong NDIS provider, we at Relight Your Care, our values are Respect, You First and Commitment. That means listening to your preferences, explaining our services clearly, and working with you and the people you choose to involve.
If you have questions about your supports with us, please get in touch at support@relightyourcare.com.au.
Relight Your Care — Lighting the path to a wide range of support.
Information checked against official updates available on 30 September 2026. Funding decisions remain with the NDIA.
