NDIS-funded supports: what’s included an...

Key points:

In October 2024, the National Disability Insurance Scheme released updated lists to clarify the changes about what the NDIS will fund
Understanding the recent changes to the NDIS-funded supports may seem confusing, but it doesn’t have to be
NDIS Minister Bill Shorten explained that your ‘current plan stays in place until it expires,’ meaning that previously approved supports will be available to eligible NDIS participants until they receive a new plan

The National Disability Insurance Agency has released updated lists for National Disability Insurance Scheme participants, with changes impacting what supports they can receive under NDIS funding.

In this Disability Support Guide, we’ll explain what NDIS-funded supports are, what items are not funded, how the changes may affect NDIS participants and what to do now.

What is an NDIS-funded support?

The NDIA has established key criteria to help NDIS participants understand what supports the NDIS will fund for participants.

When the NDIA decides which supports would be reasonable and necessary, they refer to their operational guidelines for each specific support package. To be considered reasonable and necessary, a support must:

be related to your disability;
not include day-to-day living costs that are not related to your disability;
provide sufficient benefit to you compared to cost;
be likely to be effective and beneficial to you; and
account for informal supports given to you by family, carers, networks and the community.

The categories that fall into NDIS-approved supports available to NDIS participants in the updated lists, as of October 2024, are:

assistance related to accommodation or rentals;
assistance animals;
coordination and management assistance for transitions and supports;
assistance to access and maintain employment or higher education;
assistance with daily life tasks in a group or shared living arrangement;
assistance with travel or transport arrangements;
assistive equipment for recreation;
assistive products for household tasks;
assistive products for personal care and safety;
communication and information equipment;
community nursing care;
customised prosthetics (includes orthotics);
daily personal activities;
development of daily care and life skills;
disability-related health supports;
early intervention supports for early childhood;
exercise physiology and personal well-being activities;
group- and centre-based activities;
hearing equipment;
high-intensity daily personal activities;
home modification design and construction;
household tasks;
innovative community participation;
interpreting and translation;
management of funding for supports;
participation in community, social and civic activities;
personal mobility equipment;
specialist positive behaviour support;
specialist disability accommodation;
specialist driver training;
specialist hearing services;
specialised supported employment;
support coordination;
therapeutic supports;
vehicle modifications; and
vision equipment.

For the full list of sub-categories in these NDIS-funded supports, visit the NDIS website and check for relevant updates.

However, even if an item or support is listed in the approved categories, you still may not receive NDIS funding for that particular support if you cannot provide appropriate evidence related to your disability.

What is not an NDIS-funded support?

A support will not be funded if the NDIA finds it:

is not related to the participant’s disability;
is the same as other supports delivered under different funding through the NDIS;
to be daily living costs that are unrelated to specific support needs;
is likely to cause harm to the participant or pose a risk to others; or
can be more appropriately or effectively delivered by another method, such as through the health, aged care or education systems.

As of October 2024, updates regarding supports not included under NDIS funding fall under 15 categories.

The following expenses are not covered under NDIS funding as they are regular day-to-day living costs:

accommodation and household-related expenses;
finance and payments-related expenses;
food and grocery expenses;
lifestyle-related expenses;
clothing and beauty-related services;
travel and transport-related expenses;
pet-related expenses; and
reproductive health and family-related expenses.

The following categories are not NDIS-funded supports as the NDIS does not find them to be evidence-based:

alternative and complementary therapies;
wellness and coaching-related expenses;
energy and healing practices;
certain health-related assistance;
certain mental health-related assistance;
child protection and family support;
certain early childhood development support;
certain school education assistance;
aspects related to higher education, vocational education and training;
certain employment assistance;
aspects related to housing and community buildings;
certain transport aspects;
justice and correctional support;
aged care pertaining to financial or physical support;
unlawful goods and services; and
income replacement.

For the full list of supports not funded by the NDIS, visit the NDIS website and check for relevant updates.

What is the impact of some changes on NDIS participants?

One of the changes expected to impact NDIS participants is related to music and art therapy.

From February 1, 2025, NDIS participants seeking to include music and art therapy in their NDIS-funded plans may now face additional barriers to accessing this type of therapy support.

One disability support worker, Emily, emphasised the value of NDIS-funded supports such as art therapy for her clients.

“Art therapy for many of my clients fosters numerous benefits. It formulates a safe and calm space that allows the participant to feel a sense of belonging, express [their] emotions, explore self-regulation, expand capabilities, engage with others and accomplish greater fine motor skill development,” she said.

“Many clients dealing with mental health concerns find comfort in art therapy sessions and integrate the service into their weekly routines.”

Read more about the changes to NDIS-funded art therapy in this article: NDIS Minister Bill Shorten says NDIS-funded art therapy available in ‘specific circumstances’

However, the NDIA has now launched an independent review to further investigate the effectiveness of music and art supports for people with disability. Appropriate pricing for these supports will also be assessed.

What happens if I make a mistake?

In October 2024, NDIS Minister Bill Shorten provided reassurance to NDIS participants and their families that the NDIA will work with participants to navigate the changes.

“We give [a] 12-month grace period where you can make two mistakes, up to $1,500 and we’ll try and educate you and work it through with you,” he said.

Who is affected by the changes and when will this happen?

Approximately 680,000 people are registered NDIS participants.

Although changes to NDIS funding of supports commenced on October 3, 2024, Minister Shorten previously explained that NDIS participants with active plans will have time to adjust to the changes.

“[…] If you’re already getting something on the plan, on an existing plan, which now we’ve excluded, your current plan stays in place until it expires,” he said.

What should I do now?

NDIS participants may find the NDIS will no longer fund some of their supports after their current plan expires. If you are concerned about the impact of the changes on receiving appropriate support for your disability, the Disability Support Guide team has created a list of questions to ask your local area coordinator.

Alternatively, if you are looking for extra support, learn more about what NDIS support coordination is, how it can help and the difference between support coordination and plan management.

People who are waiting for NDIS funding or have not yet applied for the NDIS will not be able to access supports previously available before October 3, 2024. Learn more about what to do if you don’t have NDIS funding yet and how to apply for the NDIS.

Extra resources

The following links will assist NDIS participants with concerns they have and clarify any impact the October 3, 2024 changes may have on your support services:

NDIA website resources

Department of Social Services