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I-CAN Assessments

The NDIS is shifting away from clinician-led assessments and towards I-CAN self-reporting​ for NDIS funding.

Why is this happening?
Is there anything I can do?

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The Instrument for the Classification and Assessment of Support Needs (I‑CAN) is a new way the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) will use to understand how much help people need in their daily lives.

It can feel overwhelming when the system shifts. Understanding what’s changing, and what stays the same, helps bring clarity to the journey ahead.

"People with disability are not numbers; we are human beings, and our rights must remain at the heart of the Scheme."
George Taleporos Every Australian Counts
“While the I-CAN tool is still not fit for purpose on its own … it at least starts from a more complete frame than many of the options previously proposed.”
People with Disability Australia
“All of those studies and all that validation has been done with people who were allied health professionals of one kind or the other – psychologists or physios or OTs,...We don’t have any published evidence that I’m aware of that it’s an effective or a valid tool if it’s done by people who don’t have all that other knowledge and background.”
Dr Kelly Gough Australian Psychological Society

What is the I-CAN?

The I-CAN is a structured tool designed to assess a person’s support needs, not just what they can’t do, but what helps them live well. Instead of focusing on a person’s impairment, it looks at the supports a person uses across 12 key areas

Mobility

Domestic Life

Self Care

Community, Social & Civic Life

Communication

Learning & Applying Knowledge

General Tasks and Demands

Life Long Learning

Interpersonal Interactions & Relationships

Behaviours of Concern

Mental & Emotional Health

Physical Health

Each of those areas have subdomains and are rated on a scale of 1-5 for how often help is needed and how much help is needed.

These combine into a Support Intensity Score, a consistent way of describing support across the board.

Why is the ICAN being introduced

The I-CAN has been developed as part of a national move toward clearer, more consistent ways of understanding support needs, and to create a common language that makes planning fairer nationwide.

It’s been shaped here in Australia, through years of research and collaboration with the disability community, designed to bring evidence and lived experience together in one framework.

The intent behind the I-CAN is fairness and clarity, to create a system where people with similar needs can expect similar outcomes in their plan funding.
But consistency on paper doesn’t always mean the same in practice.
Because, in practice, this consistency could come at the cost of personal nuance…and that’s what may be at risk here.

A therapist sitting at a desk with a notebook talking to another woman

What’s changing?

The I-CAN is not replacing NDIS clinicians, individual lived experience, the work of support people and advocates.

What is different, is that, unlike before, it’s no longer the reports from your allied health therapists that will determine your new NDIS plans.

Instead, accredited assessors will conduct a needs assessment using the I-CAN tool, based on your conversation with them.

Needs assessment (I-CAN)

An in-person, three-hour meeting is completed with an accredited assessor. For some people with more complex needs, additional targeted tools may also be used.

Assessment report developed

The assessor brings everything together into a detailed report that reflects the person’s needs, goals, and day-to-day support requirements.

NDIS plan developed

The assessment report enters the NDIS planning process, where it is considered alongside internal criteria to determine an NDIS plan, including approved supports and funding.

While the process looks different, the goal remains the same; a plan that reflects who you are and what you need to live your life

Why the shift to I-CAN assessments matters

From 1 July 2026, the NDIS I-CAN assessment will inform all new plans and plan reviews.

That matters, not because it’s a new tool, but because it changes how your support needs are understood.

2023 West Careers Night

Here’s why that’s important:

  • It affects how your funding is determined.
    The I-CAN assessment may play a central role in how your plan budget is calculated. That means the way your daily support needs are captured during that meeting can directly influence what resources are available to you.

  • It changes what “counts” in the conversation.
    The focus shifts to real-world function, the effort, support, and consistency required to participate in everyday life. If that reality isn’t clearly described, it may not be fully reflected.

  • It increases the importance of being able to explain your needs.
    Many people are used to minimising, coping quietly, or showing their “best” self in formal settings. Under this model, clearly communicating the hard parts matters.

  • It shifts therapy toward skill-building and advocacy.
    As the NDIS reduces reliance on lengthy funding-justification reports, therapists are focusing more on strengthening communication, self-advocacy, and functional skills, so you feel more confident describing your needs.

  • It can feel big… because it is.
    Any change to how plans are developed can bring uncertainty. Understanding the process helps reduce that uncertainty.

The shift to I-CAN doesn’t change your goals, your identity, or the legitimacy of your support needs.

But it does mean that clarity, preparation, and support during the assessment process can have a real impact.

What you can do

Walking into the I-CAN assessment can feel daunting, but a little preparation goes a long way.

Strengthen self-advocacy

Therapists can help you practise communicating your needs, goals, and day-to-day support requirements.

Prepare supporting evidence early

Ask your therapists to make sure that reports and documentation are clearly aligned to key I-CAN areas.

Decide on support for the assessment

Planning who will attend, and what supports may help, can make the process feel more manageable.

You deserve to feel confident and supported going in, these small steps can make a big difference to how it goes.

Frequently asked questions

Who conducts the I-CAN assessment?

An I-CAN assessment is conducted by an assessor employed or contracted by the NDIA.

They are trained in using the I-CAN functional assessment tool and follow a structured process to gather information about everyday functioning, support needs, and participation.

It’s important to know: this isn’t your treating therapist, and it isn’t an independent external provider. The assessor’s role is to collect standardised information that will inform NDIS planning decisions.

There’s no test to pass, but preparation can help you feel more confident and clear.

The I-CAN assessment focuses on functional capacity in daily life, not just diagnosis. That means it can help to reflect on:

  • What a typical day looks like
  • What support you need (and how often)
  • What happens when that support isn’t available
  • The effort behind tasks that might look “fine” on the surface

 

Your therapist can support preparation by working on:

  • Self-advocacy skills
  • Clear communication about needs
  • Reflecting on functional impact
  • Identifying examples that show real-world challenges

From 1 July 2026, I-CAN assessments are expected to be implemented for all new NDIS plans, including new participants and plan reassessments or reviews.

This means I-CAN will likely become a standard part of how functional capacity is assessed across the scheme.

As with many NDIS reforms, implementation details may continue to evolve. If you’re unsure how it applies to your specific situation, it’s best to confirm directly with the NDIA.

The NDIS is moving toward a model where funding decisions rely more heavily on structured assessments like I-CAN, and less on extensive medico-legal style reports.

That doesn’t remove the role of therapist, but it does shift the focus.

Increasingly, therapists are expected to concentrate on:

  • Clinical support and intervention
  • Functional skill development
  • Goal progression
  • Practical recommendations
  • Building capacity in everyday environments

Rather than producing lengthy funding-justification reports, like Functional, Capacity Assessments (FCAs), the emphasis is moving toward meaningful clinical work and real-world outcomes.

Therapists can also help participants build the confidence and communication skills needed to articulate their needs during an I-CAN assessment.

Our team is always happy to chat things through. Call us on 1800 446 448 or send through an enquiry and we’ll be in touch.

"Almost a third of participants in the National Disability Insurance Scheme... have had their total support packages cut, by an average of 22.5 per cent. "
Rick Morton The Saturday Paper Senior Reporter

Important Information

This page is based on publicly available information and current guidance at the time of publishing.

NDIS policy and implementation processes can change, and further details may become available over time. For the most up-to-date advice about your individual circumstances, contact the NDIA directly or speak with your support team.