The NDIS has introduced a new list of supports to outline what participants can and can’t spend NDIS funds on. Most of the items on the list are not new and because of this the changes might not impact the supports that you currently receive. However, the lists help to resolve some grey areas that were previously confusing for participants and providers.

What Has Changed?

From 3 October 2024, there is a new definition of NDIS supports. Here’s what that means for participants and their authorised representatives:

• NDIS funding can only be used for items on the approved list of NDIS supports
• Funding cannot be used for anything listed as non-NDIS supports

The new list of supports outlines:

• What you can spend your NDIS funding on (what is an NDIS support)
• What you are not allowed to spend your NDIS funds on (what is not an NDIS support)

NDIS Funding Criteria

A support can only be funded by the NDIS if it is related to your disability and meets all of the NDIS funding criteria listed below:

• Helps with your individual goals and aspirations
• Helps your social and/or economic participation
• Is value for money, which means that:
• The cost of the support is similar to or cheaper than alternative options that can provide you with the same outcome and/or
• Purchasing the support is likely to reduce the costs of funding for other supports in the long term
• Is effective and beneficial for you
• It helps to maintain your informal supports
• It is the responsibility of the NDIS to fund

What Is An NDIS Support?

To check out the full list of NDIS supports, visit the NDIS webpage – What does NDIS fund?

Here is a quick summary of supports the are NDIS Supports:

• Accommodation assistance or tenancy assistance
• Assistance animals
• Assistance in coordinating or managing life stages, 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 (SDA)
• Specialised driver training
• Specialised hearing services
• Specialised supported employment
• Support coordination
• Therapeutic supports
• Vehicle modifications
• Vision equipment

What Is Not An NDIS Support?

Here is a quick summary of supports the are not NDIS Supports:

• Day-to-day living costs
• Accommodation and household related
• Finance and payments related
• Food and groceries
• Lifestyle related
• Clothing and beauty related services
• Travel and transport related
• Pet related
• Reproductive health and family related
• Not evidence-based
• Alternative and complementary therapies
• Wellness and coaching related
• Energy and healing practices related
• Related to health
• Related to mental health
• Related to child protection and family support
• Related to early childhood development
• Related to school education
• Related to higher education and vocational education and training
• Related to employment
• Related to housing and community infrastructure
• Related to transport
• Related to justice
• Related to aged care
• Unlawful goods and services
• Income replacement

Transition Period

A one-year transition period, starting 3 October 2024 will be provided to help you get used to these changes.

During the transition period, if you make a mistake and purchase non-NDIS funded supports, you won’t be asked to repay the funds under these circumstances:

• It is your first or second mistake
• The support is less than $1500

This transition period is designed to give everyone time to learn and adapt to the new rules. Once the one year transition period ends in October 2025, if you purchase non-NDIS supports, the NDIS will ask you and providers to repay the funding used to purchase the non-NDIS support.

Further Info

The NDIS have created a webpage about the NDIS changes. You can also reach out to your InFocus Plan Manager or Support Coordinator for help.