A draft list of NDIS supports has been proposed by the Australian Government as part of changes to the NDIS Act. Under the proposed Bill Amendment, the changes will provide a framework for improvements to the NDIS. 

Below are the 36 categories of NDIS supports and a definition of each service, including what is and isn't funded by the NDIS.

1. Accommodation/ tenancy assistance

Supports that guide, prompt, or assist a participant to undertake activities that ensure they obtain/retain appropriate accommodation. This may include assisting a participant to apply for a rental tenancy or to undertake tenancy obligations in line with the participant’s tenancy agreement.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports'

Does not include:

• rental costs,

• bond costs, 

• mortgage repayments etc 

See the ‘Day-to-day living costs’ category

 2. Assistance Animals

An animal specially trained by an accredited assistance animal provider to help a participant with tasks. These are things the animal wouldn’t naturally do otherwise, like guiding a participant through crowded places. Includes ongoing maintenance costs such as vet fees, transport and special diets for the assistance animal.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

 3. Assistance In Coordinating or Managing Life Stages, Transitions and Supports

Supports to establish assistance within the participant’s home or community to develop skills. Includes support coordination, mentoring, peer support and individual skill development such as attending appointments, shopping, bill paying, taking part in social activities and maintaining contact with others. Active involvement in planning and transition supports on the basis of a person having reached a point of stability in regard to functional capacity, prior to hospital discharge (or equivalent for other healthcare settings) wherever there is a need for ongoing maintenance support.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

 4. Assistance to Access and Maintain Employment or higher education

Workplace assistance that enables a participant to successfully obtain and/or retain employment in the open or supported labour market, including individual employment support, employment preparation and support in a group and school leaver employment supports to assist students transitioning from school to employment.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’ 

Does not include:

• learning and support needs of students that primarily relate to their education and training attainment, 

• work-specific support related to recruitment processes, work arrangements or the working environment, 

• funding or provision of employment services and programs

5. Assistance With Daily Life Tasks in a Group or Shared Living Arrangement 

Assistance with and/or supervision of tasks of daily life in a shared living environment, which is either temporary or ongoing, with a focus on developing the skills of each individual to live as autonomously as possible, including short term accommodation and respite. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

 N/A

6. Assistance With Travel/Transport Arrangements 

Transport assistance, including training, activity-based transport, provider travel, and costs associated with the use of taxis/private transport, where the participant cannot travel independently or use public transport due to the impact of their impairment/s on their functional capacity. This includes transporting participants to funded supports and other activities including school, educational facility, employment, or the community.

 Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

 N/A

7. Assistive Equipment for Recreation 

Specialist products used in competitive and non-competitive sports and other recreational pursuits. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’ 

N/A

8. Assistive Products for Household Tasks 

Specialist products to enable cooking, cleaning, washing, home maintenance and other tasks.

 Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’ 

N/A

9. Assistive Products for Personal Care And Safety

Specialist products for personal care or safety including beds and pressure mattresses, toilet and bathroom equipment, specialised clothing and continence needs. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’ 

N/A

10. Specialist Positive Behaviour Support

Support provided by professionals with specialist skills in positive behaviour support including assessment, development and delivery of a comprehensive plan that aims to reduce and manage behaviours of concern, and training and ongoing monitoring of staff in plan implementation.

 Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’ 

N/A

11. Communication And Information Equipment

Products to assist with alternate communication or to access written or spoken communication via electronic or other means. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’ 

N/A

12. Community Nursing Care 

Provision of specialist care for participants who have high care needs requiring a high level of skill, and for the training of support workers to respond to the participant’s complex needs. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

 N/A

13. Customised Prosthetics (includes Orthotics) 

Prescription and manufacture of customised prostheses or orthoses requiring specialist skills. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’ 

N/A

14. Daily Personal Activities 

Assistance with and/or supervision of personal tasks of daily life to enable a participant to live as autonomously as possible in a range of environments, including but not limited to, the participant’s own home.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

 N/A

15. Development Of Daily Care And Life Skills

Development of daily living and life skills focuses on training and development activities undertaken by a participant or their carer to increase their ability to live as autonomously as possible, including supports that will enhance the ability of the participant to travel and use public transport independently. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’ 

N/A

16. Disability-Related Health Supports

Disability-related health supports where the supports are a regular part of the participant’s daily life, and result from the participant’s disability. This includes continence, dysphagia, respiratory, nutrition, diabetic management, epilepsy, podiatry and foot care, and wound and pressure care supports. Supports for people with complex communication needs or challenging behaviours while accessing health services, including hospitals and in-patient facilities. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’ 

N/A

17. Early Intervention Supports For Early Childhood 

Provision of a mix of therapies, and a key worker for the family. Supports for all children 0-9 years with developmental delay or disability and their families to achieve better long-term outcomes, regardless of diagnosis. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports'

 N/A

18. Exercise Physiology & Personal Well-being Activities

Physical wellbeing activities to promote and encourage physical well-being, including exercise. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’ 

N/A

19. Group And Centre Based Activities 

Assistance for participants to access and participate in community, social and recreational activities provided in a group setting, either in the community or in a centre. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’ 

N/A 

20. Hearing Equipment

Specialist hearing supports (excluding surgical services) where these supports directly relate to a person’s permanent impairment. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports'

’General hearing services or supports otherwise provided by Hearing Australia

21.  High Intensity Daily Personal Activities  

Assistance with and/or supervision of tasks of daily life to enable a participant with complex needs to live as autonomously as possible in a range of environments, including but not limited to, the participant’s own home. These supports are provided by a worker with additional qualifications and experience relevant to the participants’ complex needs. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

 N/A 

22. Home Modification Design and Construction 

Design and subsequent changes or modification to a participant’s home, including installation of equipment or changes to building structures, fixture or fittings to enable participants to live as independently as possible or to live safely at home. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’ 

Design and subsequent changes or modifications to state or territory owned public housing 

23. Household tasks 

Essential household tasks that a participant is not able to undertake because of their disability, including meal preparation and delivery, house or yard maintenance, cleaning and laundry. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

 N/A

24.  Innovative Community Participation 

 Activities not included under other community participation registration groups; for mainstream providers who want to enable participants to access mainstream activities. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’ 

N/A

25. Interpreting and Translation 

Assistance to a participant to enable independent communication in essential personal, social or community activities where translation is not available from a mainstream service. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’ 

N/A 

26. Management of Funding for Supports 

Management of funding for supports by a registered plan management provider – both defined in the Act.

 Section 9: 

registered plan management provider means an NDIS provider who is registered to manage the funding for supports under plans as mentioned in paragraph 73E(2)(a).

 Section 42:

1. For the purposes of this Act, managing the funding for supports under a participant’s plan means doing one or more of the following: 

(a) purchasing the supports identified in the plan (including paying any applicable indirect costs, such as taxes, associated with the supports);

(b) receiving any funding provided by the Agency; (ba) managing any funding provided by the Agency; 

(c) acquitting any funding provided by the Agency.

 Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’ 

N/A

27.  Participation in Community, Social and Civic Activities 

 Assisting a participant to participate actively in community, social and civic activities; including supporting participants during these activities and developing participants’ ability to partake in these activities. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

 N/A

28.  Personal Mobility Equipment

 Products to enable personal mobility, including equipment for walking, wheelchairs and transfer aids. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

 N/A

29.  Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) 

As defined in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Specialist Disability Accommodation) Rules 2020: 

specialist disability accommodation: 

(a) means accommodation for a person who requires specialist housing solutions, including to assist with the delivery of supports that cater for the person’s extreme functional impairment or very high support needs; but

(b) does not include supports delivered to the person while the person is living in the accommodation. These rules also govern participant eligibility and requirements for SDA dwellings. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’ 

N/A 

30. Specialised Driver Training

Driver training using adapted equipment or vehicle modification. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’ 

N/A

31. Specialised Hearing Services

Specialised hearing services for children and adults with complex needs. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

 N/A

32.  Specialised Supported Employment 

Assistance in specialised supported employment/Australian Disability Enterprise. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’ 

N/A 

33. Specialised Support Coordination 

The provision of Support Coordination within a specialist framework necessitated by specific high-level risks in the participant’s situation. Support focuses on addressing barriers and reducing complexity in the support environment, while assisting the participant to connect with supports and build capacity and resilience. It may also involve development of an intervention plan which will be put in place by disability support workers. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’ 

N/A 

34. Therapeutic Supports 

Evidence-based therapy supports provided to assist a participant to apply their functional skills to improve participation and independence in daily, practical activities in areas such as language and communication, personal care, mobility and movement, interpersonal interactions and community living. This includes funding further assessment by health professionals for support planning and review as required.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’   

N/A

35. Vehicle Modifications 

Vehicle modifications including the installation of, or changes to, equipment in a vehicle to enable a participant to travel safely as a passenger or to drive. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’ 

• Purchase of a vehicle of any kind, including motor vehicles, motorbikes, watercrafts, all terrain vehicles and other recreational vehicles, 

• Mechanical repairs,

• Tools 

• Vehicle registration 

36. Vision Equipment 

Products for navigation, orientation, braille, magnifiers and note taking equipment. 

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’ 

Prescription glasses