Strengthening Safeguards: Implications of the NDIS Integrity & Safeguarding Bill 2025 and what it means for 2026 practice

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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

Navigating the AAT–ART Transition: Funding Reform, Tribunal Review, and System-Wide Impact

 

This advanced session provides a comprehensive examination of the transition from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), set within the broader landscape of NDIS planning and funding reforms shaping the sector through 2026.

The presentation brings together legislative intent, regulatory change, and operational impact to support informed decision-making across the SIL and broader disability services sector.

The session will begin with a structured overview of the evolving review and appeals framework, including increased reliance on structured and automated planning processes, the staged release of funding, expanded internal review pathways, and the reduced scope of Tribunal authority to directly amend or reinstate plans. These changes are fundamentally altering how funding disputes are progressed and resolved, with significant implications for service continuity, financial exposure, and governance.

The discussion

will reference recent and emerging Tribunal matters to illustrate key system pressures, including appeals relating to funding reductions or plan restructures, contested SIL support assumptions, and the operational challenges providers face when delivering services during prolonged review periods.

 

While individual matters will not be examined in detail, these examples will be used to demonstrate broader trends and risks now embedded within the review environment.

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The session will also explore the downstream impacts of reform, including cashflow volatility linked to staged funding, workforce planning constraints, accommodation viability, and the heightened importance of defensible evidence, documentation, and internal controls.

 

Attention will be given to the practical balance between advocacy obligations, compliance requirements, and financial sustainability in an increasingly scrutinised operating environment.

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The session will conclude with strategic insights and forward-looking considerations for providers and sector leaders, including strengthened governance frameworks, improved review readiness, clearer communication with participants and families, and alignment of operational practice with the evolving Tribunal and policy landscape.

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Designed for senior executives, service and operations leaders, legal and compliance professionals, policymakers, and sector advocates, this session equips attendees with a high-level yet practical understanding of the current review environment and the capability required to navigate Tribunal processes effectively as the NDIS continues to evolve.

Navigating the Closure of Legacy Group Homes: A SIL-Led response to safe, Person-Centred transitions

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Across Australia, hundreds of legacy group homes are closing or at risk of closure. Recent reporting highlights that in Victoria, expiring funding agreements put nearly 2,000 people with high support needs at risk, while other providers nationally have exited the market due to financial and workforce pressures.

 

Localised closures are also creating uncertainty for residents, families, and support staff. These developments underscore an urgent, nationwide challenge for the SIL sector: how to manage safe, sustainable, person-centred transitions when traditional group home models are no longer viable.

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This in-person SILSDA Conference session focuses on practical, SIL-led solutions for these transitions. The session explores how legacy group homes differ from contemporary support models, why safe, evidence-based transition planning is critical, and the role of SIL providers in safeguarding participant wellbeing during this period of disruption. SDA pathways will be discussed contextually as one potential housing option where suitable, but the emphasis remains on support continuity, operational decision-making, and risk management.

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Attendees will gain guidance on navigating urgent and planned closures, funding flexibility, environmental and support suitability, and safeguarding considerations. The session equips SIL providers, support coordinators, and sector leaders to respond to this national challenge with confidence and practical strategies.

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Key Areas of Focus

• The national scope and drivers of group home closures, including funding, workforce, and regulatory pressures

• Managing planned and unplanned transitions while maintaining continuity of care

• Funding strategies and considerations under the NDIS

• Planning safe, person-centred moves for people with higher or complex support needs

• Safeguarding, fire safety, and risk management in SIL transitions

• When SDA may be an appropriate pathway—and when alternatives are preferable

• Avoiding placement breakdowns and escalation through structured transition planning

• Practical next steps for SIL providers, coordinators, and families

NDIS Enforcement & Compliance: Navigating Intensifying Regulatory Action

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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.​

 SIL Funding, Reassessments and Budget Variability: Preparing for the 2026 Funding Environment

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

Workforce Readiness for New SIL Practice Standards: Training, Compliance & Capability

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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.

Ratios, Choice, Control and Constraints: Navigating SIL and SDA Challenges in 2026

 

Participants in Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) often face a tension between choice and control over their supports and the operational realities of providers. Factors such as staff-to-participant ratios, funding allocations, lease agreements, and SDA design limitations can unintentionally restrict participants’ freedom to select preferred providers or support models.

 

This session explores the practical and systemic challenges that impact participant autonomy, including:

• How SIL staffing ratios influence provider flexibility and participant choice

• The role of lease agreements and SDA property arrangements in shaping available supports

• Tensions between participant preferences and provider viability or compliance requirements

• Strategies for maintaining participant-led decision-making while ensuring safe, sustainable service delivery

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Attendees will gain insights into balancing operational constraints with genuine choice and control, ensuring SDA and SIL supports remain participant-centred, safe, and responsive in the evolving 2026 landscape.

Individualised Fire Safety Planning in Supported Accommodation: Person-Centred Approaches for Participant Safety

Should this be include in Participant's plans? 

This session explores the critical importance of individualised fire safety planning for participants in Supported Independent Living , Specialist Disability Accommodation , and other supported housing environments.

 

Recognising that participants have diverse functional, cognitive, and medical needs, the session emphasises a person-centred approach to emergency preparedness that goes beyond generic fire safety procedures.

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Drawing on regulatory requirements, industry best practice, and real-world examples, the discussion will examine how fire safety considerations can be embedded within NDIS participant plans.

 

Key topics include:

• Risk assessment tailored to individual needs, including mobility, sensory, and cognitive considerations.

• Designing participant-specific evacuation plans and integrating assistive devices, alarms, and staff support.

• Coordination with allied health professionals, families, and emergency services to ensure safety and compliance.

• Training, drills, and ongoing review, ensuring participants and staff remain prepared as needs evolve.

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Case studies will highlight situations where customised fire safety planning has mitigated risks, improved response outcomes, and enhanced participant confidence, while also examining challenges such as resource allocation, plan updating, and multi-stakeholder coordination.

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Designed for service providers, SIL/SDA operators, allied health professionals, compliance and safety officers, and policy-makers, this session provides actionable strategies to integrate fire safety into individual plans, ensuring both participant wellbeing and regulatory compliance in a complex supported living environment.