What Is the NDIS and Who Is It For?
What Is the NDIS and Who Is It For?
If you or someone you love lives with disability, you have probably heard about the NDIS. But there is a lot of noise around it, and not all of it is accurate. Here is a straight answer to what it is, who it is for, and what has changed that you need to know right now.
What the NDIS Is
The NDIS, National Disability Insurance Scheme, is a government program that funds the disability-related supports people need to live their lives as fully and independently as possible. Over 660,000 people across the country currently have an NDIS plan.
It is not charity. It is not means-tested. It is based on your needs and your goals.
Who Can Access It
To be eligible, you need to:
- Be aged 0 to 64 when you apply
- Be a citizen or permanent resident
- Have a permanent disability that substantially affects your ability to manage daily life, in self-care, communication, mobility, learning, self-management, or social interaction
The NDIS does not look at your diagnosis name. It looks at how your disability affects your daily life. Some conditions automatically qualify, including intellectual disability, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, blindness, deafness, and autism at certain levels. For everything else, the functional impact is what counts.
There is also an early intervention pathway, for children under 6 with developmental delay, or any age where early support can reduce future needs.
Source: ndis.gov.au/applying/eligibility-requirements
What the NDIS Funds
NDIS plans have three budget types:
- Core: Day-to-day assistance, personal care, household tasks, community participation, transport
- Capacity Building: Supports that build your independence over time, therapy, support coordination, employment support, skill development
- Capital: Assistive technology, home modifications, and specialist housing for those with the highest needs
Everything funded must be related to your disability, reasonable, and not already covered by Medicare, the health system, or schools.
Source: ndis.gov.au: Reasonable and Necessary Supports
What Has Changed in 2025-26
The NDIS is in a period of significant reform. Here is what matters to you:
- New pricing (from 1 July 2025): The document is now called the Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (PAPL). Support worker rates went up 3.95%. The old “Price Guide” is out of date.
- New integrity rules (1 April 2026): It is now a criminal offence to deliver registration-required supports without being registered. Ask your providers to confirm they are registered for what they deliver.
- New planning model (from mid-2026): Plans will increasingly be shaped by the I-CAN v6 support needs assessment. Clear functional evidence matters more than ever for your next review.
- Thriving Kids (from 1 October 2026): Children under 8 with autism or developmental delay will access a new government-funded pathway outside the NDIS. If this affects your family, talk to your Local Area Coordinator now.
Sources: ndis.gov.au/providers/pricing-arrangements | ndis.gov.au/news/11506
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I am eligible for the NDIS?
You need to be under 65, be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and have a permanent disability that substantially affects your daily life. The NDIS focuses on functional impact, not diagnosis alone.
Does the NDIS cover mental health conditions?
It can. Psychosocial disabilities from mental health conditions can be covered if they are permanent and substantially affect daily functioning. A diagnosis alone is not enough.
What does the NDIS actually fund?
The NDIS funds supports that are reasonable and necessary and directly related to your disability — daily living, therapy, equipment, and community participation. It does not cover general living costs.
We Are Here to Help
Greater Support provides NDIS support across Brisbane, Logan, Sydney, Ballina, Lismore, and the greater Northern Rivers region. If you are new to the NDIS or trying to get more from a plan that is not quite delivering, we would love to talk. Contact us, no obligation, just a real conversation.
