NDIS Community for participants and providers NSW

11/03/2026

Home Automation and the NDIS

Home automation uses technology to help you control things in your home more easily. It can help people with disability live more independently and safely.

Examples include:
• Turning lights on and off
• Opening doors
• Controlling blinds or windows
• Adjusting air conditioning
• Using appliances

You may control these with:
• Voice commands 🎤
• A mobile phone 📱
• Remote controls
• Sensors or timers

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Can the NDIS fund home automation?

Sometimes NDIS can fund home automation if it helps with tasks that are difficult because of your disability.

If approved, it is funded under Capital Supports in your NDIS plan.

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When will NDIS fund it?

NDIS may fund it if the support:

✔ Helps with your disability-related needs
✔ Helps you be more independent
✔ Improves safety in your home
✔ Is reasonable and necessary
✔ Is good value for money

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What evidence is needed?

Usually, the NDIS needs a report from an Occupational Therapist (OT).

The OT report should explain:
• Why you need home automation
• How it will help your daily life
• Why other options will not work
• How it supports your NDIS goals

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Will NDIS fund all areas of the home?

Usually only areas you use regularly, such as:
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Living room
• Main doors

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What will NDIS not fund?

NDIS usually will not fund:
❌ Things not related to your disability
❌ General lifestyle upgrades
❌ Home security systems
❌ Items everyone normally buys

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How to apply

1️⃣ Talk to your Occupational Therapist
2️⃣ Try low-cost assistive technology first
3️⃣ Get an OT report
4️⃣ Submit the request to the NDIS
5️⃣ Wait for the decision

Your Support Coordinator or LAC can help with the process.

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Home Automation and NDIS Funding 🏡

Did you know the NDIS may fund home automation if it helps you live more independently?

Home automation can help participants control things like:
💡 Lights
🚪 Doors
🪟 Blinds
❄️ Air conditioning
🔌 Appliances

You might be able to control these using voice commands, apps, remotes or sensors.

NDIS may fund home automation if it:
✔ Relates to your disability
✔ Improves independence or safety
✔ Is considered reasonable and necessary
✔ Is supported by an Occupational Therapist report

Usually, the process includes:
1. Assessment by an OT
2. Exploring lower-cost assistive technology first
3. Submitting a report and request to the NDIS

If approved, it will be funded under Capital Supports in your NDIS plan.

If you’re an NDIS participant and think home automation could help you at home, speak with your Support Coordinator or OT.


:::—

3. Professional Version for Support Coordinators

Home Automation under the NDIS

Home automation is typically classified as a home modification under the Capital Supports budget. It includes technologies that enable participants to control environmental features within their home environment to improve safety, accessibility, and independence.

Common systems may automate:
• Lighting
• Entry doors
• Windows and blinds
• Climate control
• Household appliances

Control mechanisms may include voice activation, mobile applications, environmental control units, remote switches, or sensor-based systems.

Funding Considerations

Home automation may be funded where it meets the NDIS reasonable and necessary criteria, including:
• Directly related to the participant’s disability
• Improves functional capacity or independence
• Mitigates safety risks within the home
• Represents value for money
• Is the most appropriate support option available

Evidence Requirements

A comprehensive Occupational Therapy functional assessment is typically required and should outline:
• Functional limitations related to the participant’s disability
• The impact on activities of daily living
• The proposed home automation solution
• Why lower-cost assistive technology options are insufficient
• Alignment with participant goals
• Cost comparisons or supplier quotes

Scope of Funding

Automation is generally limited to frequently used areas of the home, such as:
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Living areas
• Main entry points

Areas primarily used by others (e.g., another adult’s bedroom) are usually excluded.

26/02/2026

Important Information About Changes to NDIS Plan Reviews

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is changing how NDIS plans are created and reviewed. These changes may affect what happens if you believe your plan does not meet your needs.

What Is Staying the Same?

✅ You still have the right to ask for a review of your plan.
✅ You can request an internal review from the NDIA.
✅ You can apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) for an external review.

What Is Changing?

Under the new system:
• Plans are more guided by structured assessment tools.
• Funding amounts may follow set ranges.
• The Tribunal may not be able to directly increase your total funding.

If the Tribunal disagrees with your plan, it may send it back to the NDIA to look at again instead of changing the funding itself.

What Does This Mean for You?
• It is very important to provide strong evidence about your needs before your plan is approved.
• Reports from doctors, psychologists, occupational therapists, and other professionals can help.
• Be clear about how your disability affects your daily life.
• Talk openly about risks, safety concerns, and support needs.

The planning meeting is now more important than ever.

If You Are Worried Your Plan Is Not Enough
• Speak to your Support Coordinator (if you have one).
• Request a review as soon as possible.
• Gather written evidence to support your request.

You still have rights — but preparation and documentation are very important under the new framework.

04/02/2026

🔹 1. What Thriving Kids is
• Thriving Kids is a new federal disability support program for children aged approximately 0–8 years with low to moderate developmental needs (including autism and developmental delay). 
• It’s designed to give early-intervention support in everyday settings (schools, childcare, communities) without needing a formal disability diagnosis. 
• It’s part of a larger plan to slow rapid NDIS cost and participant growth by steering some children to supports outside the NDIS. 

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📅 2. Timeline: When changes start
• The rollout of Thriving Kids is scheduled to begin on ~1 October 2026 and continue through 2027, with final implementation by ~1 January 2028. 
• Some state governments have expressed concerns or requested delays, so there may be changes. 

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📌 *3. How this affects children currently on the NDIS

Important:
• No immediate changes — if your child already has an NDIS plan right now, their support continues as normal during 2026 and 2027. 
• Children with significant and permanent disability will remain eligible for NDIS supports, even after Thriving Kids is rolled out. 
• Only children whose needs fall into the mild-to-moderate category might be shifted to Thriving Kids instead of entering or re-entering the NDIS once the new system is running. 
• If you have a child on the NDIS now and they turn 9 after Thriving Kids is established, they are most likely to stay on their existing plan until at least that date. 

👉 Bottom line: Current NDIS access and entitlements won’t instantly disappear — transitions will only happen once Thriving Kids is fully ready and state agreements are in place. 

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🔄 4. What they mean for future eligibility

Once Thriving Kids is operational:

✔️ New applications for children with mild/moderate developmental needs or autism are expected to be directed first to Thriving Kids, not the NDIS. 
✔️ Children with significant disabilities needing long-term supports will still be able to meet NDIS eligibility — they won’t automatically be diverted away. 

So in the future:
• NDIS access will focus more on those with permanent, significant disability. 
• Thriving Kids will be the first place to go for children with less complex needs. 

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🧠 What you might want to do (practical steps)

📌 Before Thriving Kids starts
• Keep your NDIS plan evidence up to date — ensure assessments, therapy reports, and functional impact descriptions reflect your child’s current support needs. 
• Work with your Support Coordinator or early childhood partner to understand where your child sits on the spectrum of support needs. 
• If entering the NDIS soon, aim to submit diagnostic reports and functional evidence early — it can make the eligibility process smoother before system changes take effect. 

🛠 Ongoing planning

Once Thriving Kids is active:
• You may need to compare NDIS goals/supports with Thriving Kids options to decide which best meets your child’s needs. 
• Support Coordinators and therapists can help you navigate eligibility comments and transitions between systems.

21/01/2026

NDIS “Reasonable and Necessary

If you are on the NDIS, you will often hear the words “reasonable and necessary.”
This is how the NDIS decides what supports they will pay for in your plan.

In late 2024, the rules changed. Some supports can be funded, and some cannot.
Understanding these rules helps you use your NDIS funding correctly and avoid problems.

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Two Types of Supports in an NDIS Plan

1. General supports

These are supports the NDIS organises or pays for directly, not from your plan budget.

Examples:
• Help from a Local Area Coordinator (LAC)
• Early childhood support
• Help to connect with community or mainstream services

You do not pay for these using your NDIS funding.

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2. Reasonable and necessary supports

These are supports funded in your NDIS plan to meet your disability-related needs.

These supports can help with:
• Education
• Work and employment
• Social activities
• Independence
• Where and how you live
• Health and wellbeing

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What Does “Reasonable and Necessary” Mean?

A support must:
• Be directly related to your disability
• Help you work towards your goals
• Help you be more independent
• Help you take part in work, study, or social life

The NDIS looks at:
• What you can do on your own
• Support you already get from family, friends, or the community

NDIS supports are meant to add to other supports, not replace them.

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The 7 Reasonable and Necessary Rules

For the NDIS to pay for a support, all 7 rules must be met.

1. Related to your disability
• The support must clearly link to your disability
• The NDIS will not pay for normal everyday costs everyone has

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2. Helps with your goals
• The support should help you move toward your plan goals
• Not every support needs its own goal, but it should help overall
• Having a goal does not guarantee funding

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3. Helps you participate in life
• Supports should help you take part socially or economically

Examples:
• Social: going out, seeing people, school activities
• Economic: working, studying, or volunteering

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4. Value for money
• The cost must be reasonable compared to other options
• The NDIS may choose a cheaper option if it works the same
• Paying now should not cause higher costs later
• Prices are checked against NDIS price limits

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5. Effective and beneficial
• The support should actually help you
• It should help you do things you cannot do without support
• It should be based on good practice and evidence

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6. Works with other supports (not replaces them)
• The NDIS considers what family and community can reasonably help with
• The NDIS may fund supports that help carers continue caring
• For children, parents are expected to help with normal parenting tasks

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7. Allowed under NDIS rules
• The support must be listed as something the NDIS can fund
• Some supports are not funded under NDIS rules
• Some supports are only funded for specific people
• Replacement supports are a special exception

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Why the NDIS Doesn’t Fund Everything Doctors Recommend

In the past, a letter from a doctor or therapist was often enough.
This is no longer the case.

Now:
• A health professional may recommend a support
• But the NDIS will still check it against the 7 rules

If it doesn’t meet the rules, the NDIS may say no — even if it could help.

Example:
• There may be a cheaper option that works just as well

This doesn’t mean the support is useless — only that the NDIS cannot fund it.

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Key Takeaway

The reasonable and necessary rules help make sure NDIS funding is:
• Fair
• Focused on your disability
• Used for supports that truly help you live the life you want

If you understand these rules, you can:
• Use your funding with confidence
• Explain why a support is needed
• Avoid reject

16/01/2026

Home is an important place. It’s where you feel safe, comfortable, and free to be yourself.
The NDIS helps people with disability live more independently at home, but it’s important to understand what the NDIS does and does not pay for.

What the NDIS does NOT pay for

The NDIS does not pay for housing itself, such as:
• Rent or mortgage payments
• Groceries
• Electricity, gas, or water bills

These are considered everyday living costs.

What the NDIS CAN help with

The NDIS can fund supports related to your disability that help you:
• Find a home
• Set up your home
• Live more independently in your home

These supports must be “reasonable and necessary” and directly related to your disability.

Types of housing most people use

Most NDIS participants live in:
• Private rental housing
• Their own home
• Social or community housing (provided by state or territory governments)

Housing-related supports the NDIS may fund

1. Home modifications

The NDIS may fund changes to your home if they help with safety, access, or care needs, such as:
• Ramps
• Bathroom modifications
• Wider doorways

This can apply to:
• Your own home
• A private rental (with landlord or body corporate permission)
• Social housing (only if agreed by the housing provider and approved by the NDIS)

An Occupational Therapist (OT) assessment is required.

2. Supports to build independence

The NDIS may fund supports to help you:
• Build daily living skills
• Learn money and household management
• Increase independence in the community

3. Housing transition supports

If your disability makes it hard to find or set up housing on your own, the NDIS may fund support to help with:
• Searching for housing
• Applying for rentals
• Moving in and setting up your home

4. Individualised Living Options (ILO)

ILO are flexible and personalised living arrangements based on how you want to live.
You might:
• Live alone
• Share with others
• Receive tailored supports in your own home

ILO is about support, not paying for the house itself.

5. Assistive Technology and in-home supports

The NDIS may fund:
• Assistive Technology (AT) to help with everyday tasks
• In-home supports to help with personal care, household tasks, or daily activities

Housing supports NOT funded by the NDIS

Other systems provide housing itself, including:
• Social and community housing
• Emergency or homelessness services
• Commonwealth Rent Assistance
• National Rental Affordability Scheme

These are funded by state, territory, or federal governments, not the NDIS.

Finding the right housing

Where you live should suit your needs and goals.

If you need help looking for housing, the NDIS may provide Capacity Building funding to support you with this.

It’s important to talk about your housing needs with:
• Your LAC (Local Area Coordinator)
• Your NDIS planner

This should happen during your planning meeting or plan reassessment.

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)

SDA is for a small number of participants with:
• Extreme functional impairment, or
• Very high support needs related to mobility, personal care, and daily activities

To be eligible, you must meet strict criteria and provide detailed evidence to the NDIS.

If SDA is not suitable, the NDIS may recommend other Home and Liv

09/01/2026

Hi Whats really going on with the NDIS right now

The NDIS is quietly going through its biggest change since it began — and most people haven’t been told in plain English.

Here’s what’s happening.

The government is worried the NDIS is getting too expensive, too inconsistent, and too open to misuse. So they’ve decided to rebuild how plans are created from the ground up.

Instead of every person getting a totally unique plan made by a planner, the NDIA is moving toward a system where:

👉 Your disability and support needs place you into a funding range
👉 A computer system helps calculate what you should get
👉 A human then approves it

They call this “fair and consistent.”
Many people call it “one-size-fits-all.”

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Why people are nervous

The old NDIS was messy… but it allowed people to tell their story.

The new system is more like:

“People like you usually get this much.”

That works fine for simple needs —
but it can be dangerous for people with:
• complex disabilities
• mental health
• trauma
• unstable housing
• behaviour support
• or family breakdown

Those things don’t fit neatly into boxes.

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Children are being moved out

From around 2026, many children with autism, ADHD, or developmental delays will no longer go straight into the NDIS.

Instead they’ll be pushed into mainstream services like:
• early childhood programs
• schools
• community supports

Only children with very high needs will stay in the NDIS.

Parents are scared — because once you’re out, it’s hard to get back in.

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What the government says

They say:

“This will stop waste, fraud and unfair spending.”

They want:
• fewer blown-out plans
• less system abuse
• more money for people with high needs

That part makes sense.

But the worry is:

Real people will be caught in the net.

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What this means for people right now

Nothing changes overnight — but things are tightening.

From now on:
• Plans will be more structured
• Evidence matters more
• Reviews will be tougher
• “Reasonable and necessary” will be enforced harder

If you can’t prove it —
you may not get it.

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24/12/2025

23/12/2025

🟦 NDIS UPDATE

🌟 Big change is coming

The NDIS is changing how plans are made.

🕒 This will start from mid-2026.

👤 Who is this for?

This information is for:
• People with an NDIS plan
• Families and carers
• Support workers
• Children and young people

🧩 What is changing?

The NDIS will ask:
• What help do you need?
• What is hard for you?
• What helps you feel safe and happy?

The NDIS will not only look at your diagnosis.

🧠 New support needs meeting

You will meet with a trained worker.

They will:
• Listen to you
• Ask about your day
• Ask what you want to do in life

You can bring:
• A parent
• A carer
• A support worker

📋 Your NDIS plan

Your plan should be:

✔ Easy to read
✔ Easy to use
✔ Fair for everyone
✔ Based on what you need

⏳ When will this happen?
• Starts mid-2026
• Happens slowly
• Your plan will not change right away

28/11/2025

What the New NDIS Safety and Integrity Changes Mean for You

The Australian Government is making important changes to the NDIS to help keep participants safe and to make sure the system is fair, honest, and reliable.

These changes are designed to protect you from unsafe providers, poor-quality support, and people who try to misuse NDIS funding.

What the new laws will do

The new NDIS Integrity and Safeguarding Bill will:
• Increase safety by cracking down on abuse, neglect and bad practices.
• Stop dishonest providers from taking advantage of participants.
• Give the NDIS Commission more power to check providers, investigate issues, and take action when something goes wrong.
• Allow bans on unsafe providers, auditors, or consultants who shouldn’t be working in the NDIS.
• Introduce strict rules to stop providers from promoting harmful or misleading services.
• Add a 90-day cooling-off period for participants who choose to leave the NDIS, making the process easier and clearer.
• Move all claims to electronic forms, which helps prevent fraud and protects participants’ funding.

Stronger penalties for unsafe providers

If a provider does something seriously wrong—like causing harm—fines will be much higher.
At the moment, the maximum fine is about $400,000, but under the new law it could be more than $16 million.
There will also be criminal penalties, including possible jail time, for very serious misconduct.

Why these changes matter

These changes are all about making the NDIS:
• safer
• more trustworthy
• fairer
• better for participants

It ensures that every NDIS dollar goes toward quality support and that participants can feel confident they are getting the right care from the right people.

Minister’s message

The Government says these changes will help remove dishonest or unsafe providers and protect you and other participants from harm.
The goal is a stronger, safer NDIS that focuses on your wellbeing, your goals and your independence.

23/10/2025

The NDIS Commission will take strong action against providers that fail to provide safe NDIS services to people with disability.

Last week our Federal Court action led to a new record civil penalty – $2.2 million – against an NDIS provider following the tragic and preventable death of an NDIS participant.

The Court found Aurora Community Care and its support workers put the participant at serious risk of harm, leading to his death.

This penalty sends a strong message to all NDIS providers to take their obligations seriously.

You can read more about this case on our website: https://bit.ly/4h89u8E

23/10/2025

How Two NDIS Participants Reached Their Goal of Living More independently .
If you, or someone you support, are thinking about living in a more independent, safe, and flexible way — there are great options beyond traditional group homes.

With the right NDIS supports, many people with disability are now choosing living arrangements that truly reflect their lifestyle, preferences, and goals.

Creating a Life That Fits You

Bright Path Supports is a provider offering Individualised Living Options (ILO), Supported Independent Living (SIL), and other creative housing models. Their focus is on helping participants design a living arrangement that supports both their daily needs and long-term dreams.

“It’s about building a life, not just filling a space,” says Melissa Jones from Bright Path Supports. “We work closely with participants and families to create flexible arrangements that meet their needs and aspirations.”

Liam’s Story – Finding Safety and Stability

Liam* used to live in a group home where he often felt uncomfortable and anxious due to the constant change of staff and housemates.

With help from Bright Path Supports, he moved into a quiet, two-bedroom apartment close to his local community. He now receives regular drop-in support from a small, familiar team he trusts. Liam has full say over his daily routine, his home environment, and how his supports are delivered.

His arrangement is funded through his Core – Assistance with Daily Life budget and was designed to suit his goals, safety needs, and available funding. The support team also considered the location carefully, ensuring Liam could easily access transport, local shops, and community activities.

Mia’s Story – Achieving Independence in a Tiny Home

Mia* always dreamed of living on her own but still wanted to be close to her family. After saving money from her job at Woolworths, she built a tiny home in her parents’ backyard — the perfect mix of independence and connection.

Since Mia needs 24-hour support, Bright Path Supports helped her design a flexible support schedule funded through her Home and Living budget.

Together, they explored creative ways to use her NDIS funding to make her vision possible, ensuring her supports reflected her lifestyle and goals.

The Power of the Right Supports

When the right supports are in place, life becomes more than just safe — it becomes meaningful.

“When someone’s living space reflects who they are, everything changes — confidence grows, independence builds, and life feels more in control,” says Melissa.

These are the kinds of positive, person-focused conversations that providers like Bright Path Supports have every day.

What Makes a Successful Living Arrangement?

When helping participants explore housing options, Bright Path Supports considers:
• Location: Is it easy to access transport, cafés, or local activities?
• Connection: Are there opportunities for social interaction and community involvement?
• Flexibility: Can the supports adapt to the person’s needs and changing goals?

Participants have successfully moved into various creative living models, such as:
• Shared living with a chosen housemate
• Living with a host family
• Independent units with flexible on-site or drop-in support

Start Planning Early

If you’re thinking about moving out or changing your living arrangement, it’s best to plan early. Milestones like finishing school, turning 18 or 21, or starting a new job are great times to start exploring independent living.

While group homes suit some people, there are now many flexible, person-centred options available through the NDIS that can be tailored around your lifestyle and goals.

Ready to Explore Your Living Goals?

If you’d like to find out more about living independently, ask your questions and we will get back to you soon.