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NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister answers your questions about NDIS, I-CAN assessment tool, Foundational Supports, and Thriving kids.
Many within the disability community have voiced their concerns regarding the new support needs assessment tool, which is set to be rolled out mid 2026 under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
The tool is called the Instrument for Classification and Assessment of Support Needs (I-CAN), which is proposed to give participants more choice over how their assessment takes place — whether in person, online or at home — and will ensure a more consistent experience across the country, according to NDIS Minister, Jenny McAllister.
However, the tool’s primary audience remains sceptical of its one size fits all approach.
To answer the community’s questions and concerns, Powerd Media’s Emma Myers sat down with Minister McAllister in a face-to-face interview to discuss all things NDIS support assessments, Foundational Supports and Thriving Kids.
When asked to clarify what the new NDIS assessment process will involve, the Minister referred to independent review into the NDIS.
Many people said…that the existing process is uncertain, lacks transparency and produces different outcomes for different people that don't always seem fair. The new process is essentially built around a questionnaire that’s…more focused on people's capacities, and less dependent on the ability of the individual participant to obtain medical reports or advice.
Minister Jenny McAllister
According to the Minister, It’s an Australian designed questionnaire which will be delivered by Melbourne University and Sydney University’s Centre for Disability Studies that will invite participants to share information with an accredited planner about elements of their life.
When questioned about the possible challenges of the proposed three hour long assessment interview, the NDIS Minister claimed to have deferred commencement of the new framework planning process until next year.
Specifically so we can work through these kinds of practical issues with the community. The conversation roughly is estimated to be a three-hour conversation. We are working very closely with representatives in a co-design process. We want to hear from people with disability [and] representative organisations about how that will be best organised for them.
Minister Jenny McAllister
“I would emphasise that our purpose is really to make sure that the planning experience is a positive one for people and one that is focused on people's strengths.”
Moving on to the multiple changes happening within the NDIS, the Minister says she has been working closely with the disability advocacy community to ensure the best outcomes for all participants.
“Disability advocates have spoken to me about the volume of change taking place in the system and the need to make sure that is staged…We’re initiating work to improve the quality of services that are offered within the market to participants with the National Disability Insurance Agency indicating that they're moving towards differentiated pricing and a greater focus on the mechanisms to reward quality.”
When the conversation turned towards Foundational Supports, Ms McAllister was asked about those with disability being dropped from the NDIS or exist outside of the NDIS. The Minister was quick to refer to the Commonwealth government’s undertaking of reforms to the Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) grant program.
We are keen to refine the way those grants are provided so that we get a very consistent, effective capacity building grants in place to support individual capacity building, family capacity building, and community capacity building…making sure that there is good information available to people with disability about the kinds of supports and assistance that might be in available to them in their communities, including, but not exclusive to the NDIS.
Minister Jenny McAllister
Before the interview concluded, Minister McAllister provided a message to families of children who are having their eligibility reassessed.
“We do know that can be a stressful time for families, for participants,” she began. “The NDIA has recently…made some changes in response to some of the feedback that they were getting from community.”
For now, Minister McAllister believes the most important thing for families to know is that there will not be any changes to accessing the NDIS until foundational supports are put in place.
Children who are already on the scheme will continue to be on the scheme, subject to the usual eligibility reassessment
Minister Jenny McAllister
In the meantime, send us your thoughts on NDIS Minister McAllister’s comments and what you would like to learn more about on Powerd.
Powerd Media will keep you updated as new information regarding the NDIS, I-CAN assessment tool, Foundational Supports, and Thriving kids becomes available.