For an NDIS plan review, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) asks for recent evidence that your support needs have significantly and ongoingly changed, such as reports from your treating professionals. To ask for behaviour support, bring evidence that shows what is happening, what has been tried and what support you think is needed, and talk to your my NDIS contact early.
 | Prepared by Trevor Keen Founder and Physiotherapist · Reviewed 11 November 2026 |
The NDIS changed its plan reassessment rules on 27 August 2026, and some pages on the NDIS website are still being updated, so this guide was checked against ndis.gov.au on 11 November 2026. Decisions about your plan always belong to the NDIA, and this guide can't promise a result. It is general information, not advice about your plan.
At a glance
| ✓ | The NDIA now has check-ins, plan reassessments and plan variations. Each works differently. |
| ✓ | Only the participant, their nominee or their child representative can request a plan reassessment, on the NDIA's form and with evidence. |
| ✓ | The NDIA says evidence should usually be from within 4 months of your request and after your current plan was approved. |
| ✓ | The NDIA aims to decide within 90 days once it has what it needs. |
| ✓ | Behaviour support is paid from the Capacity Building budget: Behaviour Support in newer (PACE) plans, or Improved Relationships in older plans, so check whether your plan has one of those lines. |
In this guide
What is an NDIS plan review?
"Plan review" is how most people describe any time the NDIA looks at your plan again. The NDIS uses more specific terms, and which one applies decides what you need to do.
- Check-in. Your my NDIS contact usually contacts you 2 to 3 months before your plan's reassessment date to see how the plan is going.
- Plan reassessment. A new plan with different NDIS supports, for when your situation has significantly changed and your plan no longer meets your needs.
- Plan variation. A change to part of your plan when the change fits within your overall package of supports.
Since 27 August 2026, only a participant, their nominee or their child representative can request a plan reassessment. A provider or support coordinator can help you prepare, but can't make the request for you.
When and how can I ask for behaviour support in my plan?
It depends on your timing and how big the change is. In every case, the NDIA decides.
Ways to raise behaviour support with the NDIA
| Option | When it applies | What the NDIA says |
|---|---|---|
| Check-in | Your plan is nearing its reassessment date | Bring assessments, reports, letters or quotes if your support needs have changed |
| Plan reassessment request | A significant and ongoing change between check-ins | Needs the NDIA's form and recent evidence; decision within 90 days |
| Plan variation | Urgent, minor or short-term changes | You can ask any time; decision within 21 days once the NDIA has the evidence; a support coordinator needs your consent |
The details come from the NDIS pages on preparing for a check-in, plan reassessments and plan variations. If you don't have a check-in coming up, the NDIS says you can still ask for a reassessment when your situation has changed significantly.
Behaviour support is paid from the Capacity Building budget: Behaviour Support in newer (PACE) plans, or Improved Relationships in older plans. Our PBS hub explains how we work with NDIS plans, and the NDIS Commission advises checking your plan for that line first.
Good to know
The rules are still changing
The NDIA says its new way of planning rolls out gradually, with support needs assessments from April 2027. Keep using your current plan as usual and check ndis.gov.au before you apply.
Already working with a behaviour support practitioner?
Ask them what they can share for your review.
Refer to our PBS teamCall 08 8166 4700What evidence should I bring for behaviour support?
The NDIA's own rules are short. For a reassessment, evidence must show a significant change to your ongoing support needs and may include assessments, reports or other evidence from your treating healthcare professionals, therapists or support workers. It must also be recent, which usually means within 4 months of your request and after your current plan was approved.
The NDIS says reports can also recommend supports you might need in the future, and that it helps to think about life changes you expect over the next 3 years, such as leaving school or changing where you live.
We couldn't find an NDIA checklist specific to behaviour support, so the list below is our practical suggestion, not an NDIA requirement:
- A recent report from the practitioners already working with you, for example a psychologist, occupational therapist or behaviour support practitioner.
- Any current behaviour support plan or functional behaviour assessment, and how well the strategies are working.
- A short, dated summary from you or the people around the person: what happens, how often, what comes before and after, and what has been tried.
- A note on how behaviour affects daily life, such as school, home, work, relationships and safety.
- What has changed since the last plan, and what support you think would help.
The NDIA looks at whether each support relates to your disability, helps you work towards your goals and is value for money, among other reasonable and necessary criteria. Linking your evidence to your goals may help the planner see the connection.
Who can help me prepare?
Your my NDIS contact can help you gather evidence, and you can bring someone who knows you well to a check-in, such as a family member, friend or support coordinator.
If your plan has no behaviour support funding, the NDIS Commission says your early childhood partner, local area coordinator or NDIA planner can help request a plan review. You can also call the NDIA on 1800 800 110.
For GPs and referrers
For support coordinators
You can help families gather evidence and prepare for a check-in. Our referral form asks for the plan dates, how the plan is managed, the available Improved Relationships budget, goals, any current behaviour support plan and the participant's consent. You can refer while a plan review is pending. We accept the referral, but we won't book the first appointment or start any work until the new plan comes through.
What happens after I send my evidence?
An NDIA planner reviews it, and the NDIA says it will let you know its decision within 90 days. The NDIS lists three possible outcomes: they vary your plan, create a new plan, or don't change your plan.
You can keep using your current plan while the NDIA decides. If you get a new plan, you'll be sent a copy within 7 days of approval. If you disagree with a decision, you can request an internal review.
Once behaviour support is in your plan, you choose a registered provider. Our guide to behaviour support practitioners explains what to look for.
Common questions
Can my support coordinator request a plan review for me?
Not a reassessment. You can't give consent to someone else, like a provider, to ask for a plan reassessment. For a plan variation, you need to give consent for someone like a support coordinator to ask.
How long does an NDIS plan review take?
The NDIA says it will decide within 90 days once it has the information it needs for a reassessment. For a plan variation, the NDIA says 21 days once it has the evidence.
Do I need a new plan to add behaviour support?
Not necessarily. The NDIA may vary your plan if the change fits within your overall package, or reassess it if the change is bigger. The NDIA makes that call, so talk to your my NDIS contact about which type of change you need.
What if the NDIA says no?
The NDIA explains its decision, and if you disagree you can request an internal review of the decision.
Talk to our PBS team in Adelaide
Our positive behaviour support team accepts plan-managed, self-managed and NDIA-managed plans. The first call with our triage team is free.
Refer to our PBS teamSee our feesRelated reading
Prepared by
 | Trevor Keen Founder, Conscious Healthcare SA · Physiotherapist (AHPRA PHY0002063374) · Master of Physiotherapy and Bachelor of Psychological Studies, Flinders University |
Trevor is a physiotherapist whose lived experience of disability led him to found CHSA, bringing psychology, assessments, occupational therapy, behaviour support and dietetics under one roof in Adelaide. He has completed a Bachelor of Psychological Studies at Flinders University, is now studying psychology at honours level, and helps write our guides alongside the clinicians who deliver each service.
Sources
- NDIS: What is a plan reassessment? (primary, read 11 Nov 2026)
- NDIS: How to prepare for a plan reassessment (primary, read 11 Nov 2026)
- NDIS: Changes to plan reassessments, 27 August 2026 (primary, read 11 Nov 2026)
- NDIS: What is a plan variation? (primary, read 11 Nov 2026)
- NDIS: How to prepare for a check-in (primary, read 11 Nov 2026)
- NDIS: What is reasonable and necessary? (primary, read 11 Nov 2026)
- NDIS: New way of planning (primary, read 11 Nov 2026)
- NDIS Commission: Participant fact sheet 3, Choosing a specialist behaviour support provider, September 2024 (primary, read 11 Nov 2026)
- NDIS: NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2025-26, support category table (primary; listed on the NDIS Pricing arrangements page; read by the 11 Nov 2026 fact check)
If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call 000 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
This guide is general information, not advice about your situation. Speak with your GP or one of our team about what's right for you.
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