Elite SC - NDIS Support Coordination

13/10/2026

Happy National Carers Week! 🫶🏼

This Carers Week, we recognise and celebrate the incredible unpaid carers who support family members, friends and loved ones every day.

Caring can be rewarding, but it can also come with challenges that often go unseen. The time, energy, patience and love that carers give make a meaningful difference in the lives of those they support.

This week is a reminder that carers deserve to be recognised, supported and cared for, too.

To all the carers out there — thank you for everything you do!

06/10/2026

📢 Understanding the New NDIS Plan Change Pathway

You may have heard the terms Plan Variation and Plan Reassessment being used instead of “Change of Circumstances” or “Plan Review”.

Under the current NDIS framework, if your situation changes, the focus is now on the type of change needed to your plan:

🔸 Plan Variation
For smaller, minor, urgent, or short-term changes to an existing plan.

🔸 Plan Reassessment
For significant or ongoing changes that affect your support needs, goals, living arrangements, or circumstances.

Rather than requesting a Change of Circumstances, participants now request a Plan Variation or Plan Reassessment, depending on the nature and impact of the changes they are experiencing.

📌 Plan Note: The Change of Circumstances form is no longer used. Participants now need to submit either a Plan Variation request or a Plan Reassessment request, depending on the changes being sought.

If you’re unsure which pathway may apply to your situation, speak with your Support Coordinator, Local Area Coordinator, or the NDIA.

01/10/2026

The Thriving Kids Autism Helpline, delivered by Amaze, launched on 1 October 2026 as part of the first phase of the Thriving Kids rollout. The helpline provides free autism-specific information, guidance and support for parents, carers, supporters and kin of children aged 0–8 years.

The service can assist families who:

🔸 Have questions about autism or childhood development
🔸 Are considering an autism assessment
🔸 Have recently received a diagnosis
🔸 Want information about available supports and services
🔸 Need help navigating the next steps for their child and family

📞 Thriving Kids Autism Helpline: 1300 654 789
🕗 Available Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 7:00pm (Australia-wide)

Importantly, families do not need a formal diagnosis to access information and support.

Get free information, advice, and support about childhood development and autism through the Thriving Kids Autism Helpline. Available Australia-wide for families and professionals supporting children aged 0 to 8.

30/09/2026

From 1 October 2026, the new Thriving Kids program will begin a phased rollout.

Importantly, there is no immediate change to NDIS access for children from this date.

Thriving Kids is a new early intervention and foundational support system for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay or autism who have low to moderate support needs. Children will not require a formal diagnosis to access support.

Support available through Thriving Kids may include:

🔸 Information and advice about child development and autism
🔸 Programs to help families support their child’s development
🔸 Capacity-building supports

The rollout will occur progressively, with the program expected to be fully operational nationally by 1 January 2028.

Children who access the NDIS before this date will continue to be reassessed under the current eligibility criteria. Children with a permanent and significant disability, including those with higher support needs, will continue to be eligible for NDIS support.

As more information becomes available, we encourage families to stay informed through official NDIS and government updates.

23/09/2026

From 1 October 2026, some NDIS support budgets will gradually be reduced as participant plans are reassessed, renewed or newly approved over the following 12 months.

These changes are being introduced as part of the recent NDIS legislative reforms and will affect funding in two support categories:

🔸 Social, Economic and Community Participation
🔸 Improved Daily Living Skills

The changes will apply to plans that are created or reassessed from 1 October 2026 and to plans that are renewed from 1 February 2027.

The impact of these changes will vary for each participant, as NDIS funding is determined based on individual goals, circumstances and support needs.

The these budget adjustments are not reviewable decisions. Participants can still request changes to their plan if their circumstances change. This may include requesting a Plan Reassessment or a Plan Variation.

17/09/2026

Carer Gateway is an Australian Government program providing free services and support for carers.

Caring for a family member or loved one can be rewarding, but it can also be demanding. Carer Gateway is a free Australian Government service providing support specifically for unpaid carers.

Support may include:

✨ Counselling and emotional support
✨ Planned and emergency respite
✨ Peer support groups
✨ Tailored support packages
✨ Coaching and online skills courses
✨ Information and guidance about available services

Carer Gateway supports people caring for someone with disability, illness, mental health needs or who is frail due to age.

If you’re a carer, reaching out for support is an option — you don’t have to wait until things become overwhelming.

17/09/2026

📢 NDIS plan roll over changes

A significant change is coming to the NDIS from February 2027.

The current plan rollover process is expected to end and be replaced by a new plan renewal process. This means participants will receive a renewed plan rather than having their existing plan continue.

⚠️ What does this mean for participants?

🔸 Unspent funding from your previous plan will not carry over into your renewed.

🔸 Participants may need to be more mindful of using their funding within their plan period, as remaining funds at the end of a plan will no longer be available in the next plan.

🔸 Plan renewals and reassessments will form part of broader NDIS changes being introduced over the coming years.

📌 If you have questions about how these changes may affect your individual circumstances, consider speaking with your support coordinator, plan manager, Local Area Coordinator, or the NDIA.

We will continue to share updates as more information becomes available.

17/09/2026

📢 NDIS Plan Reassessment Changes

The NDIA has released further information about changes to NDIS plan reassessments, including when participants can request a reassessment and what evidence may be required.

Previously, participants could request a reassessment when they believed their plan no longer met their needs. Under the new rules, requests for a full plan reassessment will need to be supported by evidence of a significant and ongoing change in circumstances or support needs.

Examples may include significant and ongoing changes to:

🔸 Functional capacity and disability-related support needs

🔸 Living arrangements

🔸 Education arrangements

🔸 Employment arrangements

🔸 Informal supports, such as family, friends, or carers

Participants requesting a reassessment will generally need to provide evidence explaining what has changed and why a reassessment is required.

The NDIA has also advised that not every request will result in a full reassessment. Depending on the circumstances, the NDIA may:

🔸 Conduct a full plan reassessment

🔸 Make a variation to an existing plan

🔸 Decide that no change is required

As always, participants and families should seek current information from the NDIA if they believe their circumstances or support needs have changed.

10/09/2026

💛 R U OK? Day 💛

You don’t need to have all the answers.

Sometimes, the most important thing you can do is listen.

A simple conversation can help someone feel supported, understood and less alone.

09/09/2026

FASD Awareness Day 💙

Today we recognise Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), a lifelong disability that can affect a person’s learning, memory, attention, emotional regulation, communication, and everyday functioning.

Many people living with FASD experience challenges that may not always be visible to others. With the right understanding, supports, and environment, individuals with FASD can build on their strengths and achieve their goals.

Awareness is about more than recognising a diagnosis—it is about creating inclusive communities, reducing stigma, and ensuring people receive the support they need to participate fully in everyday life.

🔹 More awareness.
🔹 More understanding.
🔹 Better outcomes.