NDIS Frequently Asked Questions

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an Australian Government initiative that provides funding and support to people with a permanent and significant disability. It was established under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 and is managed by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). The NDIS aims to give participants greater choice and control over the supports they receive, helping them achieve their goals and participate in their communities.

To be eligible for the NDIS, you must be under 65 years of age when you first apply, be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a Protected Special Category Visa, and have a permanent and significant disability that affects your ability to take part in everyday activities. Your disability must be likely to be lifelong and substantially reduce your ability to participate effectively in activities or require support from other people. The NDIA will also consider whether early intervention supports could reduce your future support needs.

You can apply for the NDIS by contacting the NDIA on 1800 800 110 or by completing an Access Request Form, which is available on the NDIS website. You will need to provide evidence of your disability, such as reports from your doctor, specialist, or allied health professional. A Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or Early Childhood Partner can also help you with the application process. The NDIA will assess your application and let you know within 21 days if you meet the access requirements.

An NDIS plan is a document that outlines your goals, the supports funded by the NDIS, and how your funding will be managed. Your plan is developed in a planning meeting with an NDIA planner or LAC, where you discuss your current situation, your goals, and the supports you need. Plans typically last 12 months and include funding for reasonable and necessary supports across categories like daily living, social and community participation, employment, and capacity building.

You can search for NDIS providers in your area using our directory, which lists over 26,000 registered providers across Australia. You can filter by location, service type, and registration group to find providers that match your needs. You can also ask your Support Coordinator or Local Area Coordinator for recommendations, or contact the NDIS directly for help finding providers in your area.

Support coordination is an NDIS-funded support that helps you understand and use your NDIS plan effectively. A Support Coordinator works with you to connect you with the right providers, build your skills and confidence to manage your supports, and help you navigate challenges. There are three levels: Support Connection (basic help to connect with services), Support Coordination (ongoing support to coordinate and manage services), and Specialist Support Coordination (for participants with complex needs requiring specialist expertise).

Plan management and self-management are two ways to manage the financial side of your NDIS plan. With plan management, a registered Plan Manager handles your invoices, payments, and financial reporting, and you can use both registered and unregistered providers. With self-management, you manage your own funding directly, giving you maximum flexibility to choose any provider and negotiate prices, but you are responsible for keeping records, paying providers, and reporting to the NDIA. A third option is Agency-managed, where the NDIA pays providers directly on your behalf.

Yes, you have the right to change your NDIS provider at any time. The NDIS is built on the principle of choice and control, meaning you are free to switch providers if you are not satisfied with the service you are receiving. You should check your service agreement for any notice period requirements (usually 14 to 30 days), then notify your current provider in writing. You can then choose a new provider and set up a new service agreement with them.

The NDIS covers a wide range of supports that are considered reasonable and necessary to help you pursue your goals. These include daily personal activities (personal care, meals), transport, therapeutic supports (occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, psychology), assistive technology (wheelchairs, communication devices), home modifications, support coordination, community participation, employment support, and supported independent living (SIL). The NDIS does not cover day-to-day living costs, medical treatments covered by Medicare, or supports that are the responsibility of other government systems.

The NDIS does not charge participants for the supports included in their plan. There are no fees to apply, no means testing, and no co-payments required. The supports in your plan are fully funded by the Australian Government. However, the NDIS does not cover all costs related to your disability. You are still expected to cover everyday living expenses such as rent, food, and utilities, just like any other Australian.

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission is an independent agency established to improve the quality and safety of NDIS supports and services. It registers and monitors NDIS providers, handles complaints and reportable incidents, oversees the NDIS Code of Conduct, and manages worker screening. All registered NDIS providers must meet practice standards set by the Commission, and participants can contact the Commission on 1800 035 544 if they have concerns about a provider.

Your NDIS plan is typically reviewed every 12 months, though the timing can vary. You will receive a notice from the NDIA before your plan review, and you will have a meeting with a planner to discuss your progress, any changes in your circumstances, and your goals for the next plan period. You can also request an unscheduled plan review at any time if your circumstances change significantly, for example if your disability gets worse, your living situation changes, or your current supports are no longer meeting your needs.

NDIS support categories group the types of supports you can receive into three main budgets: Core Supports (everyday activities, transport, consumables, social and community participation), Capital Supports (assistive technology, home modifications, specialist disability accommodation), and Capacity Building Supports (support coordination, improved daily living, employment, health and wellbeing, lifelong learning, relationships, and community participation). Each budget has specific rules about how the funding can be used, and some categories are flexible within their budget.

Whether you can use unregistered providers depends on how your plan is managed. If your plan is self-managed or plan-managed, you can choose to use both registered and unregistered providers. If your plan is Agency-managed (NDIA-managed), you can only use registered providers. Unregistered providers are not monitored by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission in the same way, so it is important to do your own due diligence, check qualifications, and ensure the provider meets your quality expectations.

If you have a complaint about an NDIS provider, you should first try to resolve the issue directly with the provider by speaking to their complaints or feedback contact. If the issue is not resolved, you can contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission on 1800 035 544 or through their online complaint form at ndiscommission.gov.au. The Commission can investigate complaints about the quality and safety of NDIS services. You can also contact the NDIS on 1800 800 110 or speak with your Support Coordinator for help with making a complaint.