Technical Advisory Group for NDIS access

Technical Advisory Group for NDIS Access:

What It Means for Participants

At Bright Journey Disability Support Services, we are committed to keeping our participants, families, carers, and the wider community informed about important developments within the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
One of the latest initiatives announced by the Australian Government is the establishment of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG), an independent panel of experts that will play a key role in improving how people access the NDIS.

What is the Technical Advisory Group (TAG)?
The Australian Government has established the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to provide independent, expert advice that supports ongoing reforms to NDIS access and eligibility.
This work forms part of the 2026–27 Federal Budget commitment to strengthen NDIS access pathways and create a fairer, more consistent process for determining eligibility.
A major focus of the TAG is the development of standardised, evidence-based assessments that measure a person’s functional capacity when applying for NDIS access.

Why is this important?

The goal of these reforms is to ensure that NDIS access decisions are:

• Fair and equitable for everyone.
• Consistent across Australia.
• Based on reliable and evidence-based assessments.
• Aligned with the original purpose and intent of the NDIS.

By introducing a more structured assessment framework, the Government aims to reduce inconsistencies and improve transparency in the access process.

Who is involved?

The Technical Advisory Group brings together experts from across Australia with extensive knowledge in disability, health, functional assessment, research, and service delivery.

Importantly, the group also includes:

• People with lived experience of disability.
• Representatives from diverse communities.
• First Nations representatives.
• Experts in disability assessment and support.

This broad range of expertise helps ensure that different perspectives are considered while developing the new assessment framework.

How will the new assessment framework work?

The Technical Advisory Group will provide advice on developing a robust framework that can accurately assess whether a person has substantially reduced functional capacity for the purposes of NDIS access.

Their work includes identifying:

• Appropriate assessment methods.
• Evidence-based assessment tools.
• Consistent assessment thresholds.
• Best practice approaches for making fair access decisions.

The aim is to create an assessment process that is reliable, transparent, and consistent for all applicants.

Consultation with the disability community

An important part of the TAG’s work is ongoing consultation with the disability community, participants, carers, service providers, advocacy groups, and sector experts.
These consultations will help ensure that the new framework reflects the real experiences and needs of people living with disability across Australia.

What does this mean for current and future NDIS participants?

If you are already an NDIS participant, these reforms are primarily focused on improving the process for people seeking access to the Scheme in the future.
For individuals planning to apply for the NDIS, the proposed changes aim to make access decisions more consistent, transparent, and based on clear evidence of functional capacity.
As the Government continues to develop these reforms, more information will become available about how the assessment framework will be implemented.