Arrival and Registration  

Welcome and Introductions 

This session provides an in-depth exploration of the proposed NDIS Amendment (Integrity and Safeguarding) Bill 2025 and its anticipated impact on providers, auditors, consultants, and the broader disability sector.

Delegates will gain a comprehensive understanding of how the Bill aims to enhance the NDIS Commission’s regulatory powers, including:

Expanded banning powers for auditors and consultants to protect participants and uphold scheme integrity.

Stronger penalty frameworks with increased civil penalties and the introduction of new criminal offences.

Anti-promotion measures to prevent predatory marketing practices targeting NDIS participants.

Enhanced information-gathering powers to improve investigation capabilities and compliance oversight.

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The session will also discuss how these reforms align with recommendations from the NDIS Review and the Disability Royal Commission, and the practical implications for provider operations, risk management, and safeguarding practices.

Attendees will leave with actionable insights to ensure compliance, strengthen participant protection, and navigate the evolving regulatory landscape

From mid‑2026, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) will begin implementing a New NDIS Planning Framework designed to make planning fairer, more consistent, and easier for participants, families, and providers. This “new way of planning” represents one of the most significant shifts in the NDIS planning process in years, moving away from functional impairment models toward a person‑centred, support needs‑based approach that aims to simplify the process, create consistent budgeting outcomes, and reduce reliance on extensive third‑party reports.

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In this session, delegates will explore:

• The rationale and objectives behind the New Planning Framework and how it responds to feedback from participants, families, and the broader disability community.

• How planning will shift to support needs assessments — structured conversations that focus on current daily support requirements rather than past evidence.

• Expected phased implementation and how the transition will unfold for providers and participants in WA.

• What changes mean for WA SDA and SIL planning, including budgeting, plan flexibility, and service delivery alignment.

• Practical steps for providers to prepare their organisations for the new planning model and manage participant expectations.

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Attendees will leave with a deep understanding of how the new planning framework will reshape plan development, funding consistency, and support delivery. This will include practical guidance on adapting business models, aligning services with future plan structures, and preparing for phased rollout across WA in 2026 and beyond.

Under the New Planning Framework, participant budgets are becoming more flexible, with defined funding periods to improve predictability and plan management.

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This session will cover:

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• How flexible budgets and periodic funding allocations work for SDA and SIL services.

• Operational and financial implications for WA providers, including cashflow planning and service delivery alignment.

• Strategies to mitigate risks arising from funding variability and delayed approvals.

• Approaches to support participants in managing flexible budgets while maintaining continuity of care.

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Delegates will leave with actionable strategies to manage funding risks, optimise service delivery, and align operational planning with the new framework.

Morning tea 

The introduction of Support Needs Assessments represents a fundamental shift in NDIS plan development, focusing on daily support requirements rather than historical evidence.

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Delegates will examine:

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• How Support Needs Assessments are conducted and what WA providers need to know.

• Implications for SDA and SIL planning, including alignment of support ratios and service delivery.

• Strategies for engaging with participants and assessors to optimise plan outcomes.

• Opportunities to integrate strengths-based assessments into operational and investment decision-making.

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Attendees will understand how to adjust service agreements, intake systems, and support coordination to align with the new assessment approach, ensuring better participant outcomes and sustainable operations.

This session provides a strategic overview of the evolving NDIS review and appeals landscape, focusing on the transition from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) framework toward updated internal and external review processes under the 2026 planning reforms.

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Delegates will gain insight into how structured planning, staged funding, and expanded internal review pathways are reshaping dispute resolution, with implications for SIL and broader disability services.

Key considerations include:

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• The changing scope of Tribunal authority and its impact on plan amendments, funding disputes, and service continuity.

• Operational challenges for providers managing contested plans, staged payments, and service delivery during review periods.

• Downstream effects on cashflow, workforce planning, accommodation viability, and governance requirements.

• Practical strategies to balance advocacy, compliance, and financial sustainability in an increasingly scrutinised environment.

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Attendees will leave with actionable insights to strengthen governance, improve review readiness, optimise communication with participants and families, and align operational practices with the current and emerging Tribunal and policy frameworks.

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The regulatory landscape for NDIS providers is evolving rapidly.

With new SIL Practice Standards under development and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission intensifying enforcement actions, providers face heightened expectations for participant safety, workforce capability, and operational compliance.

This session offers a comprehensive overview of the changes and their practical implications. Delegates will explore:

The upcoming SIL Practice Standards, emphasising participant-centred delivery, human-rights-based supports, and workforce capability.

Enforcement trends, including banning orders, corrective action requests, and registration refusals, with real-world examples of regulatory risk.

Strategies for aligning internal governance, staff training, and compliance processes to meet rising standards.

Practical approaches to mitigate risk, maintain operational continuity, and ensure high-quality outcomes for participants.

Attendees will leave equipped to proactively respond to regulatory changes, strengthen workforce practices, and safeguard both participant wellbeing and organisational viability in a rapidly evolving NDIS environment.

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SIL providers are increasingly operating in an environment of shorter funding periods, more frequent reassessments, and tighter budget controls.

This session provides an in-depth examination of current plan funding trends and their impact on SIL service delivery models.
 

Reported reassessment outcomes, including average funding reductions of approximately 20–25%, highlight a broader policy shift toward funding consistency and long-term scheme sustainability.

For SIL providers, these changes raise critical questions around workforce planning, roster viability, pricing assumptions, and risk exposure.

This session will explore how providers can respond to funding variability by strengthening financial modelling, adjusting operational structures, and improving monitoring of service utilisation against funding approvals.

Attendees will gain practical guidance on managing reassessment risk, maintaining compliant rosters of care, and ensuring services remain viable under increasingly constrained funding conditions

Lunch 

As the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission finalises the new SIL Practice Standards, workforce readiness has never been more critical. These standards emphasise participant‑centred supports, human‑rights-based care, and stronger compliance frameworks -placing a spotlight on staff capability, training, and operational preparedness.

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This session explores practical strategies for SIL providers to upskill their workforce, strengthen supervision and support mechanisms, and embed a culture of safety and accountability. Delegates will learn how to align recruitment, induction, and ongoing professional development with the new standards, manage workforce compliance risk, and ensure high-quality outcomes for participants.

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Attendees will leave equipped to navigate regulatory changes, enhance staff performance, and prepare their teams for a future-ready SIL service.

Occupational Therapists and Behaviour Practitioners are central to shaping participant outcomes across Specialist Disability Accommodation  Supported Independent Living , and hospital-to-community transitions

Clinical assessments, environmental recommendations, and behaviour support strategies not only influence participant safety and wellbeing, but also impact service sustainability, staffing models, and regulatory compliance.

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In 2025–26, the NDIS regulatory environment continues to evolve, with heightened oversight from the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, refinements to SDA Rules, and mandatory SIL registration.

Allied health practice increasingly intersects with housing design, funding pathways, and operational realities, particularly during hospital discharge and transitional care. For Behaviour Practitioners and allied health professionals who are newer to SDA frameworks, understanding these intersections is essential to supporting participant outcomes and collaborating effectively with providers.

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This presentation explores how clinical recommendations affect SDA eligibility, environmental design, behaviour support, and SIL service viability. It highlights the influence of allied health input on daily supports, staffing arrangements, overnight supervision, risk management, and escalation pathways. The session also addresses the integration of behaviour support strategies with environmental controls, aligned to least-restrictive principles, human-rights-based practice, and Commission expectations.

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By providing practical insights and contemporary guidance, this session supports both experienced clinicians and those developing their SDA expertise to strengthen clinical reasoning, enhance compliance, and improve participant-centred outcomes across health, housing, and disability systems.

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Q & A and Panel 

Networking and Depart