What is the NDIS?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a federal government program that funds reasonable and necessary supports for Australians with permanent and significant disability. It is administered by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). Unlike Medicare, which covers health care broadly, the NDIS funds supports that help you live your life – things like therapy, equipment, support workers, and modifications to your home.
Who is eligible?
To access the NDIS you must be under 65 when you first apply, be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Special Category Visa holder, and have a permanent disability that significantly affects your ability to take part in everyday activities. The NDIS assesses functional impact – how your disability affects your daily life – not just your diagnosis. You don't need a specific condition to be eligible; what matters is how your disability affects what you can do.
How it differs from Medicare and state services
The NDIS doesn't replace Medicare, public hospitals, aged care, or state-funded disability services. It fills a gap by funding disability-specific supports – things the health system and state services weren't designed to cover. You can access the NDIS alongside Medicare and other health services. If a support is funded by another system (for example, a medication covered by the PBS), the NDIS won't fund it again.
Key terms to know
A participant is a person approved to receive NDIS funding. A plan is the document that sets out your goals and approved funding. Supports are the services and items your plan funds. An LAC (Local Area Coordinator) helps you access the NDIS and connect with community supports – they are not NDIA employees but work on behalf of the agency. A support coordinator helps you implement your plan and connect with providers. The NDIA is the government agency that makes decisions about access and plans.
The three funding categories
NDIS plans divide funding into three categories. Core Supports covers everyday activities – personal care, transport, social participation, and consumables. It is the most flexible category. Capacity Building covers skill development and therapy – occupational therapy, psychology, speech pathology, support coordination, and employment support. Capital Supports covers higher-cost items like assistive technology, home modifications, and Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA). Capital is the least flexible – it is tied to specific approved items.