What the health system does instead
The line is between treatment and management. Diagnosis, medical treatment, hospital care, medicines, ambulance services and rehabilitation after a recent illness or surgery are the health system's job, and the NDIS supports lists exclude them.
So your GP or hospital treats a pressure injury, but the NDIS may fund a nurse to train your support workers in pressure care, and the dressings you use day to day. A hospital speech pathologist may assess you after a stroke, while ongoing mealtime support at home can be NDIS funded.
Which budget pays for them
Most people use two parts of their plan:
- Core: help from a support worker to follow your management plan, such as mealtime assistance or bowel care, and consumables like continence products, thickeners and wound dressings
- Capacity Building: a nurse, speech pathologist, dietitian or other professional to assess you, write a management plan, and train your workers or family
Who delivers them
Assessment and planning are usually done by allied health professionals or registered nurses. Day to day support is often delivered by support workers who have been trained for your needs.
Some supports are high intensity, such as tracheostomy care, ventilator management, enteral feeding, severe dysphagia management, complex bowel care, urinary catheter care, subcutaneous injections and complex wound care. Providers registered for high intensity daily personal activities must make sure each worker is trained for that participant's needs. That training can come from an appropriately qualified health practitioner, and for severe dysphagia it must.
Protected from the 2026 funding reset
From 1 October 2026 the NDIS is cutting social, economic and community participation budgets by 50% and improved daily living skills budgets by 10%, as plans are reassessed or renewed. Disability related health supports are one of the protected subgroups, so the NDIA leaves them out of the reduction automatically when payments have been made for them.
Proposed changes to the category
Under updated NDIS supports Rules proposed in August 2026, disability related health supports would be split into two categories: nursing, and consumables. The consumables category would cover single use or limited reuse items for dysphagia, diabetes, continence, wound and pressure care, breathing, nutrition and foot care. The proposal would also make clear consumables can be bought from pharmacies and ordinary shops where suitable. Consultation closed on 14 October 2026.
How to get them in your plan
Evidence matters. Ask the treating professional who knows your condition, such as your speech pathologist, continence nurse or podiatrist, for a report that explains how your disability causes the health need, what support you need and how often. Bring it to your planning meeting or reassessment, and make sure your management plans are kept current.