If you’ve heard about the I-CAN tool and aren’t sure what it means for your NDIS plan, you’re not alone. It’s one of the biggest changes coming to the scheme, and for participants with complex support needs, understanding how it works matters now.

This guide explains what the I-CAN is, how the complex needs assessment and disability process will work, what it means for people with high support needs, and how to prepare.

What Is the I-CAN Tool?

I-CAN stands for Instrument for the Classification and Assessment of Support Needs. It’s a structured assessment tool that the NDIA has chosen as the foundation for a new way of planning NDIS supports, rolling out from mid-2026.

The tool was developed by the Centre for Disability Studies and refined over more than 20 years in the Australian context. It’s already been used in the Disability Support for Older Australians program, so it’s not untested. It’s just new to the NDIS.

The big shift is this: under the current system, participants gather reports from General Practitioners, occupational therapists, and other specialists to prove their support needs. Under the new system, a trained NDIS assessor conducts a structured conversation with the participant directly. That conversation, guided by the I-CAN tool, becomes the main basis for building the plan budget. The assessment is free for participants, with no out-of-pocket cost.

How Does the I-CAN Assessment Actually Work?

The assessment is done in person with a trained, approved assessor. It covers 12 areas of daily life, including:

• Mobility and getting around
• Self-care and personal hygiene
• Communication
• Domestic life: cooking, cleaning, managing a home
• Learning and applying knowledge
• Managing daily tasks and routines
• Social relationships and community participation
• Mental health and emotional wellbeing
• Behaviour and safety
• Health management
• Work and education
• Sleep

For each area, the assessor scores both how often support is needed and how much support is needed, on a scale of 1 to 5. These two scores are combined to produce a Support Intensity Score, which ranges from 0 to 10.

The assessment takes around three hours. If you need breaks or have communication needs, the assessor can adjust the process. You can bring a family member, carer, or support person with you, which is strongly recommended, especially if you have complex communication needs or your condition changes day to day.

Once complete, the assessor creates a report that the NDIA uses to build your plan budget.

What This Means for People With High Support Needs

For participants with straightforward needs, the I-CAN assessment will largely replace the need to gather reports from doctors and specialists. But for people with more complex disabilities, the picture is different.

The NDIA has confirmed that participants with complex support needs will have access to additional targeted assessments on top of the standard I-CAN. This is important because it means the tool isn’t designed to be the only evidence for people whose needs are hard to capture in a single three-hour conversation.

People who may need extra targeted assessment include those with:

• Fluctuating or episodic conditions such as multiple sclerosis, bipolar disorder, or complex PTSD where needs vary significantly day to day
• Severe communication difficulties where a conversational assessment may not fully capture what’s needed
• Complex behaviours of concern where a Behaviour Support Plan is needed alongside standard supports
• High physical complexity such as participants who need overnight support, have very limited mobility, or require specialist equipment to manage daily life safely
• Psychosocial disabilities where the impact isn’t always visible at a single point in time

For these participants, specialist reports don’t disappear. They become more targeted, focused on what the I-CAN can’t fully capture.

What Are High Intensity Supports and How Does the I-CAN Affect Them?

High intensity supports are for people who need a higher level of care because of their disability. Not just help with everyday tasks, but support that involves medical or clinical risk and needs specially trained workers.

Examples include:

• Help managing breathing tubes
• Tube feeding
• Bowel care that needs clinical skills
• Seizure management using medication
• Help with eating safely for people who have difficulty swallowing
• Wound care that needs specialist attention
• Insulin management

Only registered NDIS providers with the right training and qualifications can deliver these supports. A nurse must oversee the care plan and make sure workers are properly trained.

How to Prepare for Your I-CAN Assessment

Whether you’re going through the I-CAN assessment for the first time or preparing for the new framework, here’s what helps, particularly if your needs are complex:

Document your bad days, not just your average days. The I-CAN is based on one conversation, so it may not show how things are on your worst days. If your condition changes from day to day, write down what those harder days look like, what tasks you couldn’t do, what help you needed, and any risks you faced. Bring those notes to your assessment.

Bring someone who knows your daily reality. A family member, carer, or long-term support worker can fill in gaps, especially if you have difficulty communicating your needs in detail during a three-hour session.

Keep specialist reports current. Even though the I-CAN reduces reliance on reports for most participants, those with high intensity or complex support needs will still need clinical evidence. An occupational therapist’s report, specialist medical documentation, or a Behaviour Support Plan should be up to date, ideally within the last 12 months.

Be specific about your support needs. The assessment isn’t about your diagnosis. It’s about what you need help with and how often. “I need two support workers to transfer me safely because of spasticity and fall risk” is more useful than “I have cerebral palsy.”

Work with your support coordinator. Navigating the new framework is complicated for anyone, but especially for participants with complex needs. A support coordinator can help you prepare for the assessment, gather relevant evidence, and make sure your plan reflects what you actually need.

Disability Complexity Levels Under the New Framework

The I-CAN Support Intensity Score helps classify where a participant sits, from lower support needs to very high complexity. At the higher end of the scale, participants may qualify for Supported Independent Living (SIL), Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), or intensive in-home care. These pathways require strong evidence across different areas of daily life, and the I-CAN score feeds directly into whether they’re approved.

The new system doesn’t automatically reduce existing plans. Where an I-CAN generated budget is lower than a participant’s current plan, you may be given some time to adjust, but it’s not guaranteed, which is why preparing well matters.

What About Specialist Supports?

Specialist supports including behaviour support, complex nursing, and certain therapy supports won’t disappear under the new framework. For most participants, the I-CAN will be the main evidence base.

If you access specialist behaviour support or complex nursing care, make sure your providers are keeping detailed records. This becomes important evidence at your next plan review.

FAQs

Will my current plan change when the I-CAN rolls out?

Not immediately. The rollout is happening gradually over several years. Your current plan stays in place until it’s your turn to move to the new system, and the NDIA will contact you before any changes apply.

Does the I-CAN apply to children?

The assessment is for participants aged 16 and over. Children under 16 continue through the existing process, including the Early Childhood Approach for younger children.

How Jovial Healthcare Can Help

As a registered NDIS provider in Melbourne, we support participants with complex needs in navigating their plans, accessing the right supports, and preparing for changes such as the I-CAN rollout.