If you or someone you support has plan management with Leisure Networks, you have probably heard the news, or a letter is on its way. On Monday 3 August 2026 the Geelong based organisation announced it will phase out its NDIS plan management service, as reported by the Surf Coast Times and Armstrong Creek Times. Around 2,800 participants will need a new plan manager.
First, the most important thing: your NDIS funding is safe, your plan does not change, and your supports continue exactly as they are. Your budget is held by the NDIA, not by your plan manager, so nothing about this affects your funding. This is an administrative change, not a funding one.
Here is what was announced, what it means for you, and how to make the switch smoothly. A quick note before we start: we are Dedicated Plan Management, a separate plan management provider. We are not connected to Leisure Networks, and this article is our plain English summary of what has been publicly reported.
What was announced
- Leisure Networks will phase out its NDIS financial plan management service. According to the news reports, around 2,800 participants and 18 staff are affected.
- Leisure Networks is not closing. Only the plan management side is ending. Its other services, such as support coordination and community programs, continue.
- No public end date has been announced. Details about timing are expected to be in the letters sent directly to participants, so keep an eye on your mail and email.
- Participants are being offered a one click transfer to a preferred provider chosen by Leisure Networks, and have also been promised access to the full list of plan management providers so they can choose their own.
Why is this happening?
It is not about the quality of their service. Under the NDIS reforms currently before Parliament, plan management is planned to move to a panel of government approved providers from 1 October 2027, and the proposed rules make it very hard for one organisation to offer plan management alongside other NDIS services. Leisure Networks chief executive David Meade told the Surf Coast Times the changes mean it will be "impossible for us to continue to offer this service along with any other NDIS services".
Because Leisure Networks offers several NDIS services, it had to choose, and it chose to keep its other supports. Plan management businesses that do plan management only, like us, are not affected in that way. We have written more about these reforms in our NDIS Bill update.
Your two options
Option 1: accept the one click transfer. Leisure Networks has arranged a preferred provider, and if you are happy to go with them, that is a perfectly fine choice. It is designed to be the easy path.
Option 2: choose your own plan manager. This is your right, and Leisure Networks has said so itself. The NDIS is built on choice and control, and a change like this is a natural moment to pick the plan manager that suits you best, rather than the default. You can choose any registered plan manager in Australia, no matter where they are based, because plan management is delivered remotely.
Whichever way you go, nobody can pressure you, and the choice is yours alone.
How switching works
- It costs you nothing. Plan management is funded by the NDIS separately from your other supports, and there are no exit or joining fees.
- No plan review is needed. Changing plan managers is a simple records change with the NDIA. Your plan, your budgets and your supports are untouched.
- You endorse the new plan manager with the NDIS. Once you have chosen, you or your nominee confirm the new plan manager in the my NDIS portal or by calling the NDIA on 1800 800 110. Only you, your plan nominee or your guardian can do this.
- Outstanding invoices are handled. Your new plan manager takes over processing invoices, including ones from before the switch. If a provider sends an invoice to the wrong place during the changeover, it just gets forwarded on and paid.
Choosing well
If you decide to choose your own, our guide to the 12 questions to ask a plan manager is a good place to start. Given why this change is happening, one question is worth special attention: does the plan manager do plan management only? The new rules reward exactly that structure, which means a plan management only provider is far less likely to put you through another forced move before or after the 2027 panel arrives.
About us, briefly
Dedicated Plan Management is a family run, registered NDIS plan manager (registration number 4050163721). Plan management is all we do. Every participant has their own dedicated plan manager rather than a call centre, invoices are paid fast, and you can see your budget online any time. We are based in Brisbane and support participants right across Australia, including Victoria and Tasmania, entirely at no cost to you. If that sounds like the kind of plan manager you want in your corner, you can sign up online in a few minutes and we will guide you through the endorsement step.
Frequently asked questions
Is Leisure Networks closing down completely?
No. According to the announcement, only the plan management service is being phased out. Leisure Networks continues its other services and supports.
Do I have to accept the preferred provider Leisure Networks suggests?
No. The one click option is there for convenience, and it is fine to take it, but the choice of plan manager is always yours. You can pick any registered plan manager in Australia.
Will my NDIS funding or plan change?
No. Your budget sits with the NDIA, not with your plan manager. Changing plan managers does not change your plan, your funding or your supports, and no plan review is needed.
What happens to invoices that have not been paid yet?
Your new plan manager takes over all invoice processing, including invoices for supports delivered before the switch. Nothing goes unpaid because of the change.
When do I need to decide by?
No public deadline has been announced. The letters Leisure Networks sends to participants should set out the timing. There is no need to panic, but it is worth deciding before the final weeks so your providers always know where to send invoices.
Want a plan manager built for what comes next?
If you would like a dedicated plan manager who does plan management only, sign up online in a few minutes and we will take care of the rest, including walking you through the endorsement call.
About this article
Dedicated Plan Management is not affiliated with Leisure Networks, and this article is general information, not personal advice. Details of the Leisure Networks announcement are drawn from reporting by the Surf Coast Times on 3 August 2026, and switching processes are described per official NDIS guidance. If you are a Leisure Networks participant, rely on the letters and instructions they send you for dates and specifics, and contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 with any questions about your plan. We will update this article if new details are published.
Last updated 5 August 2026.