NDIS Minister Bill Shorten published a list of clearly defined appropriate and non-appropriate NDIS supports. The draft list of NDIS supports has made up part of NDIS law changes that were passed in early September 2024. Once this is approved by the acting Governor General, the amended Bill will commence and come into effect 28 days from this date (yet to be confirmed).
Included in the draft list of NDIS supports there are 36 categories of appropriate supports with 15 that won’t be accepted by NDIS. This is because they are made up of currently non-accepted categories and some new additions. The draft list of NDIS supports is very detailed and aims to specifically outline examples of previously controversial items and whether these are included or not.
NDIS Supports
The accepted categories in the draft list of NDIS supports include:
- Accommodation/tenancy assistance
- Assistance animals
- Assistance in coordinating or managing life stages, transitions and supports– including support coordination, mentoring, peer support and skill development.
- Assistance to access and maintain employment or higher education- this has to be most frustrating category description to get your head around. There is considerable overlap between the description of NDIS funded supports and the exclusions. For example, support to ‘obtain and/or retain’ employment and ‘individual employment support’ are NDIS supports. But ‘work-specific support related to recruitment processes, work arrangements or the working environment’ is excluded.
- Assistance with daily living in a shared living environment- this category includes both Supported Independent Living (SIL) and short-term respite accommodation. The description says it’s support provided ‘in a shared living environment.’ It’s therefore unclear whether this would allow people to do more innovative respite options- like stays in Airbnb’s with a support worker.
- Travel and transport
- Assistive equipment for recreation
- Assistive products for household task
- Assistive products for safety and personal care
- Specialised behaviour supports
- Communication and information equipment
- Community nursing
- Prosthetics
- Assistance with daily living activities
- Development of daily living and life skills
- Disability-related health supports
- Early childhood early intervention supports
- Exercise physiology and personal wellbeing activities
- Group and centre-based activities
- Hearing equipment
- High intensity daily living supports- provided by a support worker with additional qualifications or experience.
- Home modifications
- Household tasks- meal prep and delivery can be included in this category.
- Innovative community participation- interestingly the description says this is for ‘mainstream providers’ to ‘enable participants to access mainstream activities.’ So it’s unclear whether disability service providers would also be able to provide this support.
- Interpretation and translation– when not available from a mainstream service.
- Plan management
- Participation in community, social and civic activities
- Mobility equipment
- Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
- Specialised driving training
- Specialised hearing services
- Specialised supported employment- including Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs).
- Specialised support coordination
- Therapy supports
- Vehicle modifications
- Vision equipment- not including prescription glasses.
The major unaccepted support items list categories include:
- Daily living costs (groceries, takeaway, utility bills
- Items that do not offer value for money, have been proven to be ineffective
- Alternate and unproven therapies
- Income replacement
- Unlawful goods and services
More items and categories can be found here.
There will however be exemptions to the rule. At times if rationalised strongly enough, a particular need or recommendation made for an NDIS participant will be heard, considered and open to approval. Again, there is a strict criteria for this to occur.
Further to the new passed NDIS Bill, there have been some amendments made to the considerations for NDIS access for participants. This means that for someone to access the NDIS, there will need to be information and rationale to confirm that they “need” an NDIS support to be considered for NDIS funding. If there are a majority of supports items that are not typically considered “NDIS supports”, then this may affect receipt of NDIS support for this person. It is therefore imperative that the approved list of NDIS supports are reviewed thoroughly before formal submission for funding. The therapists at Ability Partners can help in this regard, we know what are essential NDIS supports and develop detailed reports for plan review purposes aimed at providing strong rationale to ensure the most appropriate outcome.
At Ability Partners, we work in partnership with you to achieve goals that really matter. We deliver evidence-based practice and work with you as a team.
