What Is the NDIS in Australia? A Plain Guide

The NDIS is Australia's national scheme for eligible people with disability. It funds supports that meet NDIS rules and are in a participant's plan. The National Disability Insurance Agency runs it.

People must make their access request before they turn 65. They must also meet the residence requirements and the disability or early intervention requirements.

The NDIS is the National Disability Insurance Scheme. It funds supports for eligible Australians with disability, including people who qualify through early intervention. It also connects anyone with disability to services in their community. Each participant gets an individual plan.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is Australia's national scheme that provides funding directly to eligible Australians with permanent and significant disability. It also connects anyone with disability to community services, such as doctors, sporting clubs and libraries, even if they aren't participants. This help is separate from NDIS funding. The National Disability Insurance Agency delivers the scheme.

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is the Australian Government agency that runs the NDIS. It makes the final decision on whether a person is eligible, works with participants to create their plans, and pays NDIA-managed and plan-managed claims only up to the maximum prices in the NDIS pricing schedules.

These price limits don't apply to self-managed funding. Plan managers claim from the NDIA and pay providers for participants.

So what is the NDIS in practice? In the NDIA's words, "The NDIS provides funding to eligible Australians with permanent and significant disability". People can also qualify through the early intervention requirements.

NDIS stands for National Disability Insurance Scheme. The National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 provides for the scheme and creates the NDIA.

An NDIS participant is a person who has met the NDIS access requirements and has an NDIS plan. The plan is a document approved by the NDIA, and it records their goals and the supports funded to help them pursue those goals.

To check your eligibility, you must:

• be younger than 65 when you make your access request
• be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or Protected Special Category visa holder
• live in Australia and spend most of your time here
• meet the disability requirements, the early intervention requirements, or both.

Only some New Zealand citizens hold a Protected Special Category visa.

The early childhood approach supports children younger than 9 with disability, and their families. Children younger than 6 with developmental concerns can get support without becoming NDIS participants.

1. Check whether you may be eligible. The NDIA makes the final decision.
2. Get help to apply from your local NDIS partner, or call 1800 800 110.
3. Apply with identity documents and evidence about your disability.
4. Receive an access decision letter.
5. Work with the NDIA on your NDIS plan. At your plan meeting, an NDIA planner explains the plan and its funding decisions.
6. Choose how your funding is managed. Compare plan managed vs self managed NDIS.
7. Use your funding to buy supports in line with your plan.

Read the NDIA's guide to how the NDIS works.

From 1 April 2027, the NDIA will start moving people to a new way of planning, including support needs assessments. People will move over gradually, not all on that date. More details will come before then.

The NDIS funds NDIS supports. These are services, items and equipment that NDIS laws allow. The NDIA groups plan funding into four support budgets:

• Core Supports: everyday activities and community participation.
• Capacity Building Supports: building skills and independence, including therapy.
• Capital Supports: higher-cost assistive technology and home or vehicle modifications.
• Recurring Supports: recurring transport for eligible participants, such as travel to work, study, day programs or community activities.

Not everyone has funding in every budget. See NDIS support categories and what NDIS funding is for.

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What is the NDIS in Australia?

The NDIS is Australia's national scheme that funds supports for eligible people with disability, including through early intervention. Participants get an individual plan with funding for supports that help them pursue their goals. It also connects people with disability to community services.

What is the NDIS?

The NDIS is the National Disability Insurance Scheme. It funds NDIS supports that meet the reasonable and necessary criteria and are in a participant's plan. These can include help with daily life, therapy and assistive technology. A support must meet all the criteria, not just relate to a disability.

What does NDIS stand for?

NDIS stands for National Disability Insurance Scheme. The National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 provides for the scheme. People often say "the NDIS" when they mean the scheme, and "the NDIA" when they mean the agency that runs it.

Who runs the NDIS?

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) runs the NDIS. It decides who is eligible, works with participants to create plans and pays claims. NDIS partners help people apply and find services, but they do not approve plans or funding.

How does the NDIS work?

You check your eligibility, apply with evidence and receive an access decision. If you are eligible, you work with the NDIA on your plan. You then choose how your funding is managed and use it for supports in line with your plan.

Is the NDIS only for people under 65?

You must make your access request before you turn 65. If you are already a participant at 65, you can usually stay on the NDIS. You cannot use NDIS and aged care supports at the same time.

You must leave the NDIS if you start ongoing aged care on a permanent basis after 65. Moving into an aged care home is one example.

What happens after the NDIA approves my application?

You receive an access decision letter and become a participant. Getting access and getting a plan are separate steps. The NDIA then works with you on your first plan, and an NDIA planner explains it at your plan meeting. Once your plan is approved, a copy appears in the participant portal and you can start using it.

Do I need a plan manager to use NDIS funding?

No. You can self-manage, use a registered plan manager or have the NDIA manage your funding. A plan manager pays providers and keeps records for you. Read our guide to NDIS plan management.

Where can I get help applying for the NDIS?

Contact your local NDIS partner or NDIS office, or call the NDIA directly on 1800 800 110. Local area coordinators generally work with people aged 9 to 64. Early childhood partners work with children younger than 9 and their families.

Matt Clements is the Chief Revenue Officer at Kismet Healthcare. He's focused on helping people find appropriate care and improving healthcare accessibility, one appointment at a time.