new-framework
New Framework
KB Type: Concept
Domain Area: Legislative
Confidence: Provisional — requires Andrew's research to verify
Depth Hint: Standard
Version: 1.0 — 2026-04-23
Status: Provisional
Grounding Summary
Provisional article — seeded from NbLM. Requires Andrew's research to verify.
The New Framework refers to the post-2024 functional impairment-based planning and budgeting model introduced to the NDIS. It marks a significant shift from the older medical model, which relied heavily on specific diagnoses of disability (such as ICD codes), to a biopsychosocial model focused on functional capacity. Under this framework, the NDIS categorises a participant's challenges into six recognised impairment types: Intellectual, Cognitive, Neurological, Sensory, Physical, and Psychosocial. Instead of traditional planning processes, New Framework plans are assessed and created by Needs Assessors who rely on a functional needs assessment report to determine how a participant's impairment impacts their daily life. The framework also introduces new structural controls for NDIS funding, moving towards whole-of-person budgets that incorporate specific funding components and defined Funding Periods.
Detail
The New Framework operationalises a biopsychosocial model of disability, which integrates:
Biological Factors: The participant's medical condition and physiological impairments.
Psychological Factors: The participant's emotional state, coping mechanisms, and mental health considerations.
Social Factors: The participant's environmental context, social supports, and community participation.
This holistic approach moves beyond the diagnostic label to understand how disability actually impacts the participant's life.
The Six Recognised Impairment Types
The New Framework categorises all disabilities into six recognised impairment types:
| Impairment Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Intellectual | Cognitive limitations affecting learning, reasoning, and problem-solving |
| Cognitive | Impairments to memory, attention, and executive function |
| Neurological | Conditions affecting the nervous system (e.g., stroke, MS, Parkinson's) |
| Sensory | Vision or hearing impairments |
| Physical | Mobility, dexterity, or physical functioning limitations |
| Psychosocial | Mental health conditions affecting social and community participation |
The Role of Needs Assessors
Needs Assessors are newly introduced officials who evaluate participants under the New Framework. Unlike traditional NDIA planners, Needs Assessors:
- Rely on functional needs assessment reports
- Evaluate how impairment impacts daily life across the six domains
- Determine funding based on functional capacity rather than diagnostic category
- Operate within the MyNDIS portal system
Structural Controls for NDIS Funding
The New Framework introduces new budget architecture requirements through Section 33(2A):
Total Funding Amount: Plans must specify the overall budget available.
Categorised Funding Components: Funds must be allocated into the 21 Support Categories under the PACE Framework, with component amounts specified for each.
Funding Periods: Plans must define how frequently funds are released (weekly to annually, maximum 12 months).
Relationship to the Participant Statement Toolkit
The Participant Statement Toolkit is explicitly designed for the New Framework. It:
- Captures both ICD codes (for transitional compatibility) and PACE impairment type checkboxes
- Maps goals to the 8 NDIS Outcome Domains
- Requires explicit value for money justification under Section 34(1)(c)
- Includes Block 5 for recommending budget architecture (funding periods, categorisations, Digital Locks)
Legislative Basis
| Reference | Provision | Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| NDIS Amendment Act 2024 | Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1 | Established the New Framework, introducing massive changes to how NDIS supports are defined and how budgets are allocated. |
| NDIS Act 2013 s33(1)-(2) | Two-part plan structure | Mandates that every NDIS plan must consist of the Participant Statement and the Statement of Participant Supports. |
| NDIS Act 2013 s33(2A) | Budget specification | Introduced by the 2024 amendments — gives the NDIA structural control over budgets by requiring plans to specify total funding amount, categorisation of supports into component amounts, and strict funding periods not exceeding 12 months. |
| NDIS Act 2013 s34(1) | Reasonable and necessary criteria | Supports can only be funded if they directly assist the participant in pursuing the goals explicitly stated in their Participant Statement. |
| NDIS (Transitional Rules) | Migration management | Manage how participants are migrated from older framework plans over to the new needs-assessment and flexible budget structure. |
Related Articles
- Old Framework — the legacy diagnosis-based model being replaced
- PACE Framework — the new planning and payment system
- Functional Impairment — the shift to functional capacity assessment
- Needs Assessors — officials who evaluate under the New Framework
- Support Categories — the 21 funding groupings
- Funding Periods — configurable budget release intervals
- topics/transitioning-functional-impairment-models — research synthesis on the transition
- Primary NDIS Legislation and 2024 Reform Amendments — related (RS-08 T1: 2024 Act established the New Framework legislative basis)
- Participant Access Rules and Transitional Planning Frameworks — related (RS-08 T3: transitional rules govern participant migration to New Framework)
Open Questions
- Q-KB-005 — What are the specific training requirements for Needs Assessors under the New Framework? — 2026-04-23
- Q-KB-006 — How do transitional rules affect participants with complex, multi-diagnosis presentations? — 2026-04-23
Entity Tags
entity: new-frameworktype: Conceptdomain: Legislativeconfidence: Provisional
Change History
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-21 | Stub created during ingest | RS-02-T2 transitioning-functional-impairment-models |
| 2026-04-23 | Stub upgraded to Provisional from primer | Primer-new-framework-2026-04-22.md |