Understanding and Navigating Your NDIS Plan and Funding

Starting your journey with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can be exciting but it can also feel confusing at first. Your NDIS Plan is your tool to help you work towards the life you want, but understanding how it works is the key to making the most of it.

Here’s a practical guide to help you understand and navigate your NDIS Plan and funding with confidence.

1️⃣ What Is Your NDIS Plan?

Your NDIS Plan is a personal document that outlines:

Your goals—what you want to achieve with your supports

Your funded supports—what the NDIS has agreed to fund to help you reach those goals

How your funding is managed—who pays for services and how

Think of your plan as a map—designed to guide you toward greater independence, inclusion, and participation in community life.

2️⃣ Understanding the Three Types of Funding

Your funding will usually be divided into three main categories (called budgets). Each has a specific purpose:

✅ 1. Core Supports

Everyday activities and assistance

Help with personal care, domestic tasks, consumables (like continence aids), transport

Flexible—you can usually move funds between different Core Supports

✅ 2. Capacity Building Supports

Helps build skills for greater independence

Includes therapies (e.g., speech or occupational therapy), support coordination, help with finding work, life skills programs

✅ 3. Capital Supports

Equipment, assistive technology, and home or vehicle modifications

Funding for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)

Each funding category is there to support you in different ways, based on your needs and your goals.

3️⃣ How to Use Your Funding

Before spending your funding, ask yourself:

✔️ Does this support help me pursue one of the goals in my plan?

✔️ Is it reasonable and necessary (i.e., related to my disability and value for money)?

✔️ Is it something that can’t be provided by another service, like the health or education system?

If the answer is “yes,” you’re probably on the right track—but if in doubt, ask your Support Coordinator, Plan Manager, or Local Area Coordinator (LAC) for guidance.

4️⃣ Managing Your Plan: Your Options

You can choose how your funding is managed. You might:

Self-Manage: You handle payments and invoices yourself.

Plan-Managed: A professional Plan Manager takes care of financial paperwork for you.

NDIA-Managed: The NDIS pays providers directly (must be NDIS-registered).

You can also mix and match these depending on what works for you.

5️⃣ Finding the Right Supports and Services

It’s your choice who you work with. You can:

Research providers online

Ask for recommendations from your community or peers

Use your Support Coordinator or Plan Manager to help find services that suit your needs

Good providers will help you work toward your goals—not just offer a service.

6️⃣ Keeping Track of Your Spending

It’s important to regularly check how your funding is going, so you don’t run out too soon or underspend. Plan Managers usually provide monthly statements, or you can use online portals and apps if you self-manage.

Keeping records of what you’ve used your funding for will also help at your next plan review.

7️⃣ Preparing for Plan Reviews

Your NDIS Plan isn’t fixed forever. As your needs and goals change, so should your plan.

Before your review:

Write down what worked and what didn’t

Collect reports from your providers (therapists, support workers)

Think about any new goals you want to work on

If you ever feel like you need a change sooner, you can request a plan reassessment before your scheduled review date.

8️⃣ You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

Understanding your NDIS Plan takes time, but you don’t need to figure it all out by yourself. Support Coordinators, Plan Managers, LACs, and even community organisations are available to help you navigate the system and connect with the right supports.

Final Thought: It’s Your Plan, Your Choice, Your Life

The NDIS is designed to give you choice and control over your supports. By understanding how your plan works, you’ll be able to make informed decisions and take steps toward the future you want.

💜 Need help making sense of your NDIS Plan or connecting with the right services? Contact us on 1300 007 270 we’re here to guide you every step of the way.