Overview
The NDIS funds supports that assist participants with daily personal activities to help them live as independently as possible in their own homes and communities. These supports can include assistance with personal care, mobility, and supervision of daily living tasks. Personal daily activities can also be delivered in shared living environments or as part of short-term accommodation and respite services.
It’s important to note that this is only a guide to assist you make an informed decision. Only your My NDIS Contact, an NDIS Delegate, or the explicit written information in a current NDIS plan serves as the source of truth. The NDIS considers requests based on whether the support is related to your disability and whether it meets the NDIS Reasonable and Necessary Guidelines.
What’s Typically Covered?
The following are examples of supports that may be included under Personal Daily Activities:
- Assistance with eating and drinking
- Dressing and toileting
- Maintaining personal hygiene, including showering, bathing, hair washing and drying, fingernail and toenail care
- Moving and positioning (e.g., transferring in and out of bed or chairs)
- In-kind personal care in schools
- Support with daily life tasks in group or shared living arrangements
These supports help participants build and maintain their independence and can be provided either temporarily or on an ongoing basis.
Examples of Funded Supports
The following supports may be included if they clearly relate to a participant's disability and
| Support Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| ✅ Personal Hygiene | Showering, bathing, hair washing, essential nail cutting |
| ✅ Daily Living in Shared Accommodation | Cooking, cleaning, personal care in group homes or SIL |
| ✅ Mobility Assistance | Transfers, repositioning and mobility aids as recommended by personal care professionals |
All supports must meet the NDIS funding criteria: they must relate to the participant’s disability, represent value for money, and be considered reasonable and necessary.
Supports That Require NDIS Approval
Some higher-risk or specialised supports under this category may require written NDIS approval or plan inclusion. This includes:
- ⚠️ Supports provided in residential aged care settings
- ⚠️ High Intensity Daily Personal Activities for participants with complex care needs (requiring workers with specialised qualifications)
- ⚠️ Supports related to Short-Term Accommodation (STA) and respite
For high-risk activities, a participant’s planner or delegate may need to approve the support, or it may need to be specifically listed in the participant's NDIS plan.
📄 NDIS Operational Guidelines:
Assistance with Daily Life
What’s Not Funded?
Certain services and costs are considered everyday expenses or fall outside NDIS responsibility. These are not funded, including:
- ❌ Haircuts or hair treatments (e.g., styling, dyeing, extensions)
- ❌ Manicures, pedicures, nail painting, nail decorations
- ❌ Standard living expenses unrelated to disability support
- ❌ Supports already covered by other government systems (e.g., aged care, education)
📄 Further reference: Supports Not Funded by the NDIS
Additional Notes
- Informal Supports: Family and informal supports are expected to provide general day-to-day care where reasonable.
- Roster Management Tools: Use of rostering apps like SHIFTR can support the coordination of informal care but is not an NDIS-funded item.
- Compliance Considerations: Providers must ensure that any personal care support aligns with compliance and safeguarding requirements.
Quick Links
Participant Responsibilities
NDIS participants play a key role in managing their supports responsibly. Here’s what participants need to know:
| Responsibility | What It Means |
|---|---|
| 🎯 Know Your Goals | Ensure any support purchased helps achieve goals in your NDIS plan. |
| 💰 Understand Budget Categories | Each category has rules about what you can use funds for. |
| 📜 Be Aware of Stated Supports | Some plans include exact supports – others are more flexible but must still meet NDIS guidelines. |
| ⏳ Know Your Funding Periods | Be aware of how your funding is spread across the life of your plan. |
| ✅ Spend in Line with the Plan | Supports must meet the NDIS Reasonable and Necessary criteria. |
👉 If you're unsure whether a support is claimable, speak with your Plan Manager or Support Coordinator.
How to Get a Support Funded by the NDIS
To explore whether a support may be funded:
- Check your NDIS plan goals and categories.
- Consider how the support relates to your disability and functional capacity.
- Discuss with your Support Coordinator or My NDIS Contact for advice.
For more information, visit:
👉 Kismet Healthcare – NDIS Supports
👉 NDIS Operational Guidelines