What is the NDIS?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme, also known as the NDIS, is run by the National Disability Insurance Agency, also known as the NDIA.

The NDIS is for eligible Australians who were either born with or acquire a permanent and significant disability. A 'permanent disability' means a person's disability is likely to be lifelong.

A 'significant disability' means a disability with a large impact on a person's ability to complete everyday activities.

The NDIS funds reasonable and necessary supports and services that relate to a person's disability to help them achieve their goals. 'Reasonable' means the support is most appropriately funded or provided through the NDIS. And 'necessary' means something a person needs that is related to their disability.

Who will I work with to get information about the NDIS?

The NDIS is delivered across Australia with the help of our partners in the community. These are organisations in your community that deliver the NDIS and can help you navigate the supports and services in your local area.

We have two types of partners in the community; Local Area Coordinator partners and Early Childhood partners.

If you're between the ages of 7 and 64 years of age, call the Local Area Coordinator partner in your local government area. You can find your Local Area Coordinator on the NDIS Website.

Both the Local Area Coordinators and the Early Childhood partners are experts in navigating the broader disability sector.

They find and connect you with mainstream and community services in your local area, whether you are an NDIS participant or not. Our partners in the community can also support you to access the NDIS if you're eligible.

What does it mean to be an NDIS participant?

If you're eligible for the NDIS and you become an NDIS participant, you will receive funding to work towards the goals in your NDIS plan that are specific to you. Everyone has different goals, but they could include things like improving speech or communication skills through therapy, getting help for normal, everyday living activities or equipment to help you at home or in your community, learning new skills or getting and keeping a job, becoming more independent, or making friends and connections.

Am I Eligible ?

To be eligible for the NDIS, refer to below checklist

• Question 1: Are you aged between 9 and 65?

  Yes. Go to the next question.

  No. I have a child aged under 9. Find out more about Help for children under 9.

  No. I'm 65 and over. You must be under 65 to access the NDIS. You may be able to access other supports.

• Question 2: Are you an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Special Category Visa holder?

  Yes. Go to the next question.

  No. You may be able to access other supports. The NDIS is only available to:

  • Australian citizens
  • Permanent Visa holders
  • Protected Special Category Visa holders.

• Question 3: Do you live in Australia?

  Yes. Go to the next question.

  No. You may be able to access other supports. The NDIS is only available to people who live in Australia .

• Question 4: Do you have a disability caused by a permanent impairment?

  Yes. Go to the next question.

  No. The NDIS is only available to people who have a disability caused by a permanent impairment . The impairment may be intellectual, cognitive, neurological, sensory, physical, or psychosocial.

• Question 5: Do you usually need disability-specific supports to complete daily life activities?

  Yes. If you usually need disability-specific supports to complete daily life activities you may be eligible. Find out how to apply. 

  No. Visit the NDIS website for other support options. 

How do I get more information?

For more information, visit ndis.gov.au or call 1800 800 110.