What the ART is
The Administrative Review Tribunal is an independent tribunal that reviews decisions made by Australian Government agencies. It replaced the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) in October 2024, and NDIS cases that were already with the AAT moved across to it.
The ART is separate from the NDIA. It looks at your case fresh, considers the evidence, and can confirm the NDIA's decision, change it, or replace it with a new one. It cannot investigate complaints about how the NDIA treated you, and it cannot change the law.
Which NDIS decisions it can review
The ART can review most NDIA internal review decisions made under the NDIS Act. Common ones are:
- A decision that you do not meet the access criteria
- The statement of supports in your plan, including what is funded
- A decision not to reassess or vary your plan
- A decision to revoke your participant status
- Decisions about plan nominees, correspondence nominees and child representatives
- Whether you qualify for the high support needs plan variation for 24 hour support
You need an internal review first
In most cases you cannot go straight to the ART. You first ask the NDIA for an internal review, where someone not involved in the original decision looks at it again. You have 3 months from receiving the decision letter to ask.
If the NDIA has not finished your internal review within 90 days of your request, the ART may be able to review the decision without waiting. Send the ART a copy of your internal review request with your application.
How to apply and the time limit
You have 28 days from receiving the NDIA's internal review decision to apply. If you are late, you can ask in writing for more time and explain why. The NDIA can respond, and the ART decides whether to extend the time.
You can apply online, by phone on 1800 228 333, by email to reviews@art.gov.au, by letter or at a Tribunal office. There is no application fee for a review of an NDIA decision. Include:
- A copy of the NDIA's decision and the date you received it
- Brief reasons why you think the decision is wrong
- A copy of your internal review request
- Any new evidence you have, such as recent therapy reports
What happens after you apply
The ART sends your application to the NDIA, and the NDIA sends you and the Tribunal the documents from its file that relate to your case, usually within 28 days. You can keep adding evidence as the review goes on.
Most NDIS cases go through case events before any hearing. A directions hearing sorts out the issues and the evidence needed. A conference or conciliation is an informal, private discussion, usually run by a registrar, where you and the NDIA try to narrow the issues and reach agreement. Many cases end here with a written agreement, called a consent decision. If you agree to something at a dispute resolution event, you have 7 days to withdraw from it.
If your case does not settle, a Tribunal member hears it and makes a decision. Go to every case event you are invited to. If you miss one, the ART may dismiss your application, although you can ask for it to be reinstated within 28 days.
Getting free help
You can represent yourself, and the ART's processes are designed to be informal. Many people still find it easier with help. Free help is available through the NDIS Appeals program, which funds disability advocates and, in some cases, legal assistance. Legal Aid can also give advice, and the ART provides interpreters free of charge.
Your therapists, doctors, support coordinator and support workers can give evidence about your needs. A provider with a financial interest in the outcome should not act as your advocate, but they can provide a report as a witness.
What the ART cannot change in 2026
The ART can only review decisions the NDIS Act lists as reviewable. The October 2026 funding reset made by support determination, which reduces social, economic and community participation budgets by 50% and improved daily living skills budgets by 10%, is not a reviewable decision. A refusal of a plan variation or unscheduled reassessment is, so if your needs have changed, ask for one of those and seek review if it is refused. Since 27 August 2026, an unscheduled reassessment request the NDIA has not decided within 90 days is treated as refused.