The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

To be eligible for the NDIS, you must be under the age of 65 at the time of applying. You must also be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or hold a Protected Special Category Visa. In addition, eligibility requires that you have a permanent and significant disability that affects your ability to take part in everyday activities. You’ll also need to demonstrate that you require support both now and into the future to achieve your goals.

Once your NDIS plan is approved, you’ll need to decide how you’d like your funding to be managed. This decision determines how you pay for your supports, how much flexibility you have, and who takes care of the administrative responsibilities. There are three main options available — and in some cases, a combination of these can be used to suit your preferences and needs.

Self-managed funding gives you the greatest level of choice and control. As a self-manager, you are responsible for paying your support providers directly, keeping records and receipts, and making claims through the NDIS participant portal. This option allows you to choose any provider — whether they are registered with the NDIS or not — giving you greater flexibility. However, it also means you’ll need to be comfortable with budgeting, paperwork, and managing invoices.

Plan-managed funding involves appointing a registered Plan Manager who takes care of the financial side of your plan on your behalf. The Plan Manager pays your invoices, keeps records, and can help you monitor your spending. With this option, you still have flexibility in choosing both NDIS-registered and non-registered providers, but you don’t have to manage the administration yourself. Plan management is a great option if you want flexibility without the burden of doing everything manually.

NDIA-managed (also known as agency-managed) plans are handled directly by the National Disability Insurance Agency. In this case, the NDIA pays providers on your behalf, but you can only use registered NDIS providers for your supports. This option is the most structured and secure, with all transactions and records handled by the agency. It’s ideal for participants who prefer a simple, low-maintenance approach.

In many cases, participants choose to combine these options — for example, using NDIA-managed funding for clinical services while self-managing supports like transport or community activities. Your plan can be tailored to match your comfort level and the complexity of your supports.

Choosing the right management method is an important part of making your plan work for you. It’s about finding the right balance between independence, flexibility, and support.

When you start receiving supports through your NDIS plan, it’s important to have Service Agreements in place with your providers. A Service Agreement is a formal written contract between you (or your nominee) and your provider. It outlines the types of services you’ll receive, how and when they’ll be delivered, the cost of those services, and your rights and responsibilities.

Service Agreements ensure clarity and transparency. They help prevent misunderstandings and give you a clear record of what’s been agreed to. While not mandatory for every support type, they are strongly recommended, especially for ongoing services like personal care, support coordination, therapy, or in-home assistance.

A good Service Agreement will clearly describe the supports to be delivered, along with details about how, when, and where those services will take place. It will state how much the services will cost, outline the cancellation policy, and explain how any issues or complaints will be handled. It should also include information on how the agreement can be reviewed or changed if needed.

You can negotiate your Service Agreement to ensure it reflects your needs and preferences. It’s also your right to seek advice or ask questions before signing to make sure you fully understand what you are agreeing to.