The End of “Report Fatigue”?

For many NDIS participants, families, and providers, one phrase has summed up the planning experience for years: report fatigue.

Endless assessments.
Expensive private reports.
Repeating the same story at every plan review just to prove nothing has changed.

From mid-2026, that cycle is finally being challenged.

With the rollout of New Framework Planning, the NDIS is introducing the I-CAN v6 (Instrument for the Classification and Assessment of Support Needs) — a fundamental shift in how support needs are identified, documented, and funded.

This change signals a move away from paperwork-driven planning and towards a system that focuses on real life, real impact, and real support.

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Why “Report Fatigue” Had to End

Under the previous planning model, many participants were required to:

• Source multiple allied health reports at their own expense
• Reconfirm permanent disabilities over and over again
• Navigate inconsistent funding outcomes based on how well reports were written

This process was not only exhausting, it often disadvantaged people who:

• Could not afford frequent reports
• Had fluctuating conditions
• Found assessments stressful or inaccessible

I-CAN v6 has been designed to reduce this burden and create a more equitable planning experience.

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What Is I-CAN v6, Really?

I-CAN v6 is not a medical assessment.
It is not about diagnosing or re-diagnosing disability.

Instead, it is a structured, guided conversation between a participant and a trained assessor that explores how a person functions in everyday life and where support is genuinely required.

The focus shifts from:

“Prove your disability”

to:

“Tell us what support you need to live your life.”

This approach recognises that disability is not defined by paperwork — it is defined by lived experience.

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The 12 Key Support Areas

The I-CAN assessment looks at a participant’s support needs across 12 functional domains. These areas are designed to capture the full picture of daily life, not just isolated tasks.

Key domains include:

1. Health and Wellbeing – managing physical and mental health needs
2. Home Living – daily tasks required to live safely and independently
3. Social Inclusion – relationships, friendships, and social participation
4. Lifelong Learning – education, skill development, and personal growth
5. Employment and Economic Participation
6. Communication
7. Mobility
8. Self-care
9. Relationships
10. Community Participation
11. Decision-making
12. Safety and Independence

Rather than a checklist, these domains are explored through conversation, allowing the assessor to understand where support has the greatest impact.

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What Planning Looks Like Under the New Framework

New Framework Planning represents a significant cultural shift.

Planning meetings now focus on:

• Functional impact, not diagnosis labels
• Daily support needs, not clinical language
• Consistency and fairness across participants

The Support Needs Assessment (SNA) itself becomes the primary evidence used in planning decisions, reducing reliance on external reports.

This means participants no longer need to “perform” their disability or present at their worst to be taken seriously.

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How to Prepare for an I-CAN Assessment

While the process is designed to be simpler, preparation still matters.

Participants are encouraged to:

• Bring a support person or advocate for comfort and clarity
• Reflect on what daily tasks are difficult, exhausting, or unsafe
• Consider where support reduces stress, increases independence, or prevents burnout

It is okay to talk about bad days, variable capacity, and the hidden effort required to get through everyday life.

Honesty leads to better outcomes.

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From Assessment to Flexible Budgets

One of the most significant changes under New Framework Planning is the introduction of Flexible Budgets.

The outcome of the SNA directly informs funding, with the aim of:

• Creating fairer budgets for participants with similar support needs
• Reducing unexplained differences between plans
• Allowing more flexibility in how supports are used

This approach acknowledges that people use supports differently — and that flexibility is often essential for meaningful participation.

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What This Means Moving Forward

The introduction of I-CAN v6 is not just a policy change — it is a mindset change.

It recognises that:

• Support needs can be assessed without excessive paperwork
• Lived experience matters
• Consistency and fairness should not depend on who can write the best report

If implemented well, New Framework Planning has the potential to reduce stress, improve trust in the system, and allow participants to focus less on proving need — and more on living their lives.

For many, this could finally mean the end of report fatigue.