NDIS Support Types: What They Are (and What They Don’t Do)

Support types in plain English: the 3 big buckets

In the NDIS, supports are grouped into a few types so it’s easier to understand what your plan is paying for. Most support can be thought of in three big “buckets”: daily living supports, getting independence, and health and wellbeing supports. Your plan may include one bucket, or several, depending on your goals and needs.

1) Daily living supports help you do everyday things. This can include personal care, help with household tasks, transport-related assistance, or help with daily routines. These supports focus on what you need now to live your life safely and comfortably.

2) Supports to build your independence are about learning skills and increasing your capacity over time. Think goal-directed therapy and skill development, like occupational therapy strategies to make daily tasks easier, or support that builds confidence in the community. The aim is often to help you do more yourself in the future, not just provide ongoing “hands-on” help.

3) Health and wellbeing supports can include services that help you manage your health, participate socially, or improve functional wellbeing. Sometimes these supports overlap with independence building, but they’re more focused on overall wellbeing and participating in activities that matter to you.

Key takeaway: If you’re unsure which bucket a support fits into, look at the purpose: is it helping you live day to day, building skills for independence, or supporting your health and wellbeing?

When comparing providers, it helps to ask practical questions about outcomes, how progress is measured, and what’s actually included in the service. My Care Finders can help you compare options more easily. If you manage your plan, you can also check how you pay for supports using MyMoney NDIS (www.planmanager.net.au), and confirm what provider invoices and claims look like for each support type.

• Daily living: “Help me do what I can’t do alone right now.”
• Independence: “Help me learn skills so I can do more over time.”
• Health & wellbeing: “Help me stay well and participate in life.”