NDIS Basics: Know Your Support Types & What to Ask For

Support types in plain English (and why they matter)

In the NDIS, support types are the categories of help your plan can fund. They’re not just labels—your support types guide what you can ask for, how support is delivered, and how you measure whether the support is working. If you know the basics, it’s easier to talk to your support coordinator, service providers, and plan manager about the right kind of help from the start.

Support types can include things like daily activities, assistance with personal care, community access, therapy supports (such as OT, speech pathology, or psychology), and support coordination. Some supports are more flexible (you might choose how and when they happen), while others are more specific (for example, therapy goals and session types). Knowing the difference helps you avoid gaps—like expecting transport support when your plan only covers community participation.

Support types also connect to how you manage funding. If you use plan management, you may submit invoices and reports through a plan manager such as MyMoney NDIS (www.planmanager.net.au). This can help you keep better track of spending and paperwork, especially when multiple providers are involved. Still, your plan management process doesn’t replace clear support requests—always check the support description and the funding rules in your plan.

Key takeaway: Your support types tell providers what they’re meant to deliver—so ask questions that link back to your plan goals, not just your needs.

When you’re comparing options, use the support type wording from your plan as your checklist. Ask providers: How will you deliver this support type? What outcomes will it target? How will you report progress? You can also use My Care Finders to compare providers and filter based on the supports you actually need—saving time and reducing the guesswork.