NDIS Plan Manager Panel: Will You Need to Change Plan Managers?
Updated: 3 days ago
If your NDIS plan is plan managed, a change is coming that could mean switching to a new plan manager. From October 2027, the NDIA will only let participants use plan managers from an approved list, called the NDIS plan manager panel.
Nothing changes yet, and there's nothing you need to do today. But if you like your current plan manager, or you've had a bad experience changing providers before, it's worth knowing what's coming and when. We'll update this post as the NDIA releases more details.
What is the NDIS plan manager panel?
Right now, if you're plan managed, you can choose almost any plan manager you like. That's changing. The NDIA is setting up what it calls a "trusted panel" of plan managers. Once it's in place, participants will need to use a plan manager from the panel.
Plan managers who want to stay in business will have to apply to join, and the NDIA will decide who gets in. The NDIA says the changes are meant to make it easier to pay providers and manage your funding, and to help it pick up fraud and safety concerns.
If you're not sure what a plan manager does, our post on the role of an NDIS plan manager explains it.
Key dates for the plan manager panel
From April 2027: plan managers can apply to join the panel.
From June 2027: applications close and the NDIA tells plan managers whether they've been accepted.
From October 2027: the panel starts. A 6 month transition period begins for participants whose plan manager isn't on it.
From April 2028: the transition ends. You must use a plan manager from the panel, and plan managers who aren't on it can no longer provide plan management.
Will you need to change plan managers?
Only if your current plan manager doesn't make it onto the panel. We won't know who's on it until mid 2027.
If your plan manager isn't selected, the NDIA says it will support you to move to one that is during the 6 month transition period. That gives you from October 2027 to April 2028 to make the switch.
If you self-manage your plan, or your plan is NDIA-managed, the panel is about plan managers, so it shouldn't change how your plan is run.
What you can do now
Ask your plan manager. Ask whether they plan to apply for the panel. Most will tell you.
Keep your records tidy. If you do need to switch, it's much easier when you know your budgets, who you're paying and what's been claimed.
Think about whether plan management still suits you. Some families use this as a chance to look at self-managing instead. It's not for everyone, but it's worth knowing the option is there.
Watch for NDIA contact. If you need to move, the NDIA is likely to contact you. Make sure your contact details are up to date so you don't miss anything. Our post on the new NDIS no-contact rules explains why that matters more than ever.
Tell your providers if you change. When you switch plan managers, your providers need the new details so their invoices go to the right place.
What this means if you use Loving Life
We work with participants who are plan managed, self-managed and NDIA-managed, across the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. If your plan manager changes, your supports with us don't stop. Just let us know your new plan manager's details so our invoices go to the right place.
This is one of a long list of NDIS changes coming through over the next few years. Our post on the NDIS Act 2026 covers the rest.
Whichever way your plan is managed, you can read how our 1:1 NDIS support on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast works day to day.
📍 Based on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast
Information current as at 3 November 2026. Source: NDIS, Changes to plan management (ndis.gov.au). Dates may change as the NDIA rolls out the panel, so check ndis.gov.au for the latest.
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