National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

The NDIS provides services and support to people with disability.

There are 3 types of NDIS Support budgets:

Core Supports

A core support is an activity that helps you in your everyday life. This can include interpreting, translating English to Auslan or Auslan to English, helping you to cook a meal and/or supporting you to go to a social activity like a sports club

This budget is separated into 4 categories:

  • Assistance with daily life
  • Consumables
  • Assistance with social and community participation
  • Travel and transport

Capacity Building Supports

Capacity Building support is an activity that helps you learn new skills or be independent – you can do things for yourself. 

This budget is separated into 9 categories

  • Support Coordination
  • Improved Living Arrangements
  • Increased Social and Community Participation
  • Finding and keeping a job
  • Improved Relationships
  • Improved Health and Wellbeing
  • Improved Learning
  • Improved Life Choices
  • Improved Daily Living

Capital Support

Capital is like an investment for assistive technologies. 

This budget is separated into 2 categories:

  • Assistive technology
  • Home modification

What are Reasonable and Necessary supports?

Reasonable and necessary supports help you reach your goals and achieve, be more independent, take part in social activities and work and participate actively in the community. The NDIS will cover a range of services, depending on your individual needs which you may wish to achieve and if NDIS decides the service as “reasonable and necessary”. These services could include interpreters, translators, support workers, health and personal care, education, employment and community supports. These supports are related to your disability (being deaf) and don’t include day to day living costs.

What is the difference between Plan, NDIA/Agency and Self Managed funds management?

There are three options for funds management:
  • Your Plan Manager (e.g. One Plan Management) will look after all the invoices and payment records
  • You can use registered and unregistered providers
  • All you need to do is let your service providers know your Plan Manager’s contact details
  • One Plan Management sends you a monthly statement for you to keep track of your NDIS funds
  • You can only use NDIS registered providers – not all service providers are NDIS registered
  • Your providers claim payment directly from the NDIA
  • You are responsible for claiming monies from the NDIA yourself
  • You are responsible for receiving and paying invoices
  • You can use registered and unregistered providers

NDIS Participant Bookets

Booklet 1: Understanding the NDIS

Easy Read Version
Full Version

Booklet 2: Planning

Easy Read Version
Full Version

Booklet 3: Using your NDIS Plan​

Easy Read Version
Full Version

Am I eligible for the NDIS?

  • You must have a disability
  • You must be under 65 years old
  • You must live in Australia
  • You need to be one of these:
    • A citizen
    • A permanent resident
Find out how to apply

How do I apply for an NDIS plan?

  1. Go to the website https://www.ndis.gov.au/applying-access-ndis/how-apply and make an access request
  2. Prepare and organise to meet with a Local Area Coordinator (LAC). This includes collecting relevant and important documents, assessments and reports so the LAC knows what types of support you need
  3. Take a friend or someone you trust and can communicate with you to support you
  4. You and your LAC will talk about what you would like to achieve, your needs and goals in life so the LAC knows what you want in your NDIS plan
  5. If you want your NDIS plan to be plan managed, click here to download this document to share with your LAC.