The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a single, national scheme that funds reasonable and necessary support for children with disability or developmental delay and adults with disability. Operated and managed by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), NDIS support helps people reach their individual goals and gives them choice about the support they need to live the life they want.

If your child has a developmental delay or significant and permanent disability, the NDIS helps you and your child get services and support in your community. It also gives you funding for support like early childhood intervention therapies and supports or one-off items like wheelchairs or communication devices.

The NDIS also supports you if you care for a child with developmental delay or disability.

For more information

• The National Disability Insurance Scheme: what is it
• The National Disability Insurance Scheme: getting started

The eligibility requirements for receiving support from the NDIS are as follows.

• You must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or special-category visa holder living in Australia
• You must be between the ages of seven and 65 years old
• Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) is also available under the NDIS. is available to all children aged under 7 with a developmental delay or disability. For more information visit HOW ECEI works
• You must have a permanent and significant disability requiring support from a carer, the use of special equipment or supports to reduce your future needs

On the NDIS website, you can check your eligibility status before you apply

The NDIS provides funding to support Australians with disabilities. Right from the start, let’s answer the question, what can NDIS funds be used for?

Those who receive funding from an NDIS plan has access to “reasonable and necessary” services and supports to help them achieve their goals.

More specifically, these types of supports fall into 15 categories including:

• Assistance with Daily Life
• Transport
• Consumables
• Assistance with Social & Community Participation
• Assistive Technology
• Home Modifications
• Coordination of Supports
• Improved Living Arrangements
• Increased Social and Community Participation
• Finding and Keeping a Job
• Improved Relationships
• Improved Health and Wellbeing
• Improved Learning
• Improved Life Choices
• Improved Daily Living

If you think you are eligible for NDIS funding, first you’ll need to phone the NDIA on 1800 800 110 to make an Access Request. Alternatively, you can complete the Access Request form and email it to NAT@ndis.gov.au.

From there, you’ll need to confirm your identity and verify your residency and eligibility. To do so, you may be required to include documents about your disability, how it impacts your life, past treatments and outcomes, future treatment and expected outcomes, date of diagnosis, details about how long the disability will last and available treatments, etc.

A health professional like your GP, paediatrician, psychologist or allied health practitioner such as your physiotherapist can help you document the evidence required to apply for the NDIS.