Reform Readiness and Panel-Prep Checklist for Support Coordinators
A practical support coordination reform readiness checklist to prepare your practice for the 2028 commissioned model, panel selection, and tighter conflict ru
What this checklist is for
The reform timeline you are preparing against
The reform readiness / panel-prep checklist
A short worked example
Common mistakes and edge cases
How to run this over the next two years
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official panel criteria list I should be building to?
No. As at mid-2026 no panel criteria have been published. The commissioned support coordination design consultation is expected in the second half of 2026, with the model beginning 1 July 2028. This checklist is built around the categories commissioners typically assess — outcomes, systems, quality, relationships, data — not a released specification. Revisit it once the consultation and any transitional rules are published, and confirm dates against health.gov.au.
Do I need to be registered to prepare for the commissioned model?
It depends on your work. Mandatory registration for standard support coordination (group 0106) is paused as at December 2025 with no restart date. However, specialist support coordination (group 0132) registration is still mandatory and requires the Core Module plus Specialist Module 4. If any part of your service is specialist, registration is not optional — verify current requirements with the NDIS Commission.
What is the most urgent thing before 2028?
The claim window shortening from two years to 90 days on 1 December 2026. It arrives well before the commissioned model and directly affects cash flow. Test your billing-to-notes process now so no claim is lost. In parallel, start accumulating measurable outcome evidence, because that is the item you cannot create quickly later.
Are the support coordination price limits changing under the reforms?
The support coordination price limits are frozen for a seventh year — indicatively Level 1 about $80.06/hr, Level 2 about $100.14/hr, Level 3 (specialist) about $190.54/hr, and plan management about $104.45/month as at the 2026-27 pricing arrangements. Confirm against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. These are billing limits against a plan, not wages.
How does conflict of interest fit into panel readiness?
Directly. Conflict-of-interest scrutiny is tightening now, and a commissioned buyer will expect a clean record. Keep a written conflict-of-interest policy, disclose interests to participants in writing, avoid steering to related-party services, and document that independent options were offered. This sits in the quality group of the checklist and is one of the easiest items to lose marks on.