Introduction

The NDIS Review correctly indicated that the NDIS needs “to improve the planning process and focus on a person’s disability support needs”.

The Review was wrong to suggest that the NDIS already focussed on “diagnosis or functional impairment”. The NDIS has shown repeatedly that it does not understand autism diagnosis, or the support needs that arise from “functional impairment” due to autism. 

The NDIS’s so-called Discussion Paper, in the section headed Purpose of this consultation, states clearly that the Agency “explain how the new framework planning rules will work”. It mentions seeking feedback … but as indicated, how it will work is already determined. It gives no purpose for the feedback.

Following is a description of serious problems with the new NDIS Planning Framework, as we understand it. 

A4 has limited understanding because there is no clear description of how the new framework will be applied to autistic NDIS participants. 

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Conclusions

The NDIS is not consulting or co-designing about its new Framework Planning. The Crikey article, New NDIS reform is in chaos, insiders say (5/3/2026) shows that the NDIS had already decided what it would do, and is now finding serious difficulty implementing it. And providing a feedback process that we know will be ignored completely disrespects disability the Australian community. 

A4 made numerous practical suggestions about how better assessment and planning for autistic NDIS participants can be achieved. We know our suggestions will be ignored. 

The full submission can be read from the link below.