NDIS Community for participants and providers NSW

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.”

⸻

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.

⸻

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.

⸻

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.

⸻

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.

⸻

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.

17/09/2025

Art and Music Therapy

30/08/2025

– Thriving Kids Program

What is Thriving Kid

• A new government program starting July 2026 for children aged 8 and under who have mild to moderate autism or developmental delay.
• These children may no longer get an individual NDIS plan.
• Instead, support will be given through schools, health services, and community programs.

Why the Change?

• The NDIS has grown much faster than expected and is becoming expensive to run.
• The government wants to focus the NDIS on people with permanent and significant disabilities.
• Thriving Kids will provide foundational supports for children with lower needs.

When Will It Happen?

• Program starts: July 2026.
• Transition period: 2026–2027.
• By mid-2027, most children with mild to moderate needs will use Thriving Kids instead of NDIS.

What Does This Mean for Families?

• Support will still be available, but in a different way.
• Parents may feel worried:
• Will schools and community services be ready?
• Will there be enough therapy and trained staff?
• Will any children miss out during the change?
• The government says more details will be shared as the program is developed.

Points to Remember

• No child will be left without support during the transition.
• Families should start keeping records of their child’s needs and therapies.
• More information will be given closer to the launch.

21/08/2025

Interesting and informative.

Guidance, stories, research and resources for Autistic people, their families and health professionals.