National Disability Services published its April 2026 helpdesk summary this week, and two clarifications stand out as particularly relevant for participants, families, and the providers supporting them.
On SIL shadow shifts, the NDIA’s position — as reported by NDS — is that the cost of shadow shifts for onboarding new staff is already factored into the SIL hourly rate. Providers cannot charge separately for this. NDS has noted it is seeking further confirmation from the NDIA, so it is worth watching for any update if this affects your current arrangements.
The second clarification relates to emergency planning. Support coordinators are not automatically required to develop a Participant Personal Emergency Plan, partly because support coordination is often delivered remotely. That said, NDS indicates coordinators should be having conversations with participants about emergency planning and helping to make sure plans are in place with the relevant providers who deliver in-person supports.
For participants and families, this second point is a good prompt to check whether an emergency plan exists and is up to date, and to raise it with your support coordinator if it has not been discussed recently.
General information only. Not personal advice. Contact Care For Welfare or your support coordinator for guidance specific to your situation.
Is emergency planning something that has come up in your support coordination conversations, or is it a gap you have noticed?
