As of the 2026 reforms, accessing the NDIS depends on your child’s age, the permanency of their condition, and how their development compares to their peers.
Written by: William Huynh, Director of Brighter Futures Allied Health
Published: 18 April 2026
Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute clinical or funding advice, and outcomes may vary based on individual circumstances and NDIA determinations.
NDIS eligibility is determined by a combination of age, residency, functional impact, and the nature of a child’s condition. Understanding how these factors are assessed can help families prepare for the application process and gather the right supporting information.
Use this checklist as a starting point before speaking with a registered provider.
This checklist does not determine eligibility on its own, but it helps identify whether a formal application may be appropriate. If you ticked several boxes, it may be helpful to discuss your child’s needs with an NDIS-registered allied health provider to understand the next steps.
The NDIS uses a structured approach to determine eligibility based on both diagnosis and functional impact. This includes reference lists that guide how certain conditions are assessed, with some allowing more streamlined access where impact is well established, and others requiring detailed evidence to demonstrate how the condition affects everyday functioning.
List A includes conditions where functional impact is generally well established. Under Section 24 (Disability Requirements), these conditions may allow faster access to the NDIS, as less additional evidence is typically required to demonstrate eligibility.
Examples include:
List B includes conditions where eligibility depends on documented functional impact, instead of diagnosis alone. This means families must provide detailed evidence showing how the condition affects the child’s ability to function in everyday activities and participate compared to peers.
Examples include:
Clinician’s Notes: The NDIS funds how a condition affects a child’s daily life, not the diagnosis itself. Two children with the same diagnosis can have very different support needs. Our role as clinicians is to move past the medical name and document exactly where your child’s ‘ordinary life’ is being interrupted.
Children under 9 are assessed under Section 25 (Early Intervention Requirements), which differs from standard disability criteria. The focus is on whether early supports are likely to improve a child’s development and reduce future support needs, rather than requiring a permanent condition or long-term functional impairment.
Children younger than 6 can access support for developmental delay without a formal diagnosis through the early childhood approach. This approach is designed to respond quickly to early concerns, rather than waiting for a confirmed condition.
Supports are typically flexible and tailored to the child’s current needs, and may change as the child develops. This means:
Under the 2026 reforms, the Thriving Kids framework further clarifies how supports are allocated. In practice:
Essentially, this means that some children may receive the support they need outside the NDIS, particularly where early needs are expected to improve with targeted intervention.
Children aged 9 and above are assessed under Section 24 (Disability Requirements), which applies a higher threshold than early childhood access.
To meet Section 24, a child’s condition must:
This reflects a shift from early intervention to long-term disability support, where eligibility is based on the ongoing impact of a condition rather than the potential for improvement.
NDIA eligibility decisions are based on how a condition affects six key areas of daily functioning. A diagnosis alone is not enough; what matters is how a child manages everyday activities and participates in their environment.
The six domains assessed are:
A child does not need to have difficulties in all domains. However, evidence across multiple areas of functioning strengthens eligibility, particularly where support needs are ongoing and above age expectations.
In practice, the NDIA looks beyond clinical labels to understand:
As such, two children with the same diagnosis may have different eligibility outcomes depending on how their condition affects their day-to-day life. This is why detailed functional assessments are critical in the application process.
Clinician’s Notes: A common mistake families make is assuming that because their child is ‘high-achieving’ in one domain, they won’t qualify for support. We often see children who are academic ‘geniuses’ in the Learning domain but lack the Self-Care or Social skills to navigate a playground or get dressed independently. The NDIS doesn’t average your child’s skills out; if there is a ‘substantial’ impact in even one of these six domains, they may be eligible for support.
Meeting eligibility criteria is only the first step. The next step is building strong supporting evidence. This typically includes:
Parents and carers are encouraged to speak with an NDIS-registered allied health provider to begin documenting functional impact accurately. A structured, evidence-based approach improves clarity and supports a more informed eligibility decision.
William Huynh is a senior speech pathologist and the director of NDIS-registered provider Brighter Futures Allied Health. He has over a decade of experience working with children and adults with complex communication needs, including disability, dysphagia, and acquired language impairments. William has completed specialist training in approaches such as Key Word Sign, LAMP Words for Life, Grid 3, and Hanen’s More Than Words. He also supervises speech pathologists and student placements, supporting evidence-based and family-centred practice.
