The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), is Australia’s federal program for supporting residents with permanent and significant disabilities. The NDIS is not a welfare system. It is a social insurance scheme, providing funding based on the reasonable and necessary support needs of participants. The NDIS takes a lifetime approach by investing in people early to build capacity over time and improve outcomes later in life. Keeping you well now, will hopefully mean less reliance on costlier options in the medium- to long-term.

Just a bit of clarification about who is who: The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is the government body that manages the money and makes decisions; and the NDIS, is the actual scheme or programme you participate in. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, is an independent agency that handles complaints and ensures providers are treating participants fairly and safely.

What does the NDIS do?

The NDIS funds supports that assist with daily living (such as capacity building for independent living), engaging in community activities, planning and decision making and supports coordination.

It will not fund services that are the responsibility of the health system. This includes all medical and clinical services associated with diagnosis and treatment of the health conditions (e.g., Medicare, dental, hospital and mental health services).

Eligibility

A person who wants to become an NDIS participant needs to show that they meet the access requirements set out in section 21 of the NDIS Act; including three broad requirements:

  1. Age: A person meets the age requirements if they are under the age of 65 when they apply to access the NDIS (Section 22 of the NDIS Act).
  2. Residency: The NDIS is for Australian residents.
  3. Disability or early intervention:
    • A person is likely to meet the disability requirements if they have a disability that is attributable to an impairment, is permanent or likely to be permanent and results in substantially reduced functional capacity (Section 24 of the NDIS Act).
    • If a person does not meet the disability requirements, they may meet the early intervention requirements (Section 25 of the NDIS Act), which consider the impacts of early intervention supports on the person’s functional capacity later in life.
    • If a person is eligible for the NDIS, they become an ‘NDIS participant’. Every NDIS participant is supported to develop an NDIS plan (also known as an individual plan), which includes information about the participant, their goals, and the funding they have received. NDIS participants can use this funding to access the supports and services they want, when they want them. This system of individualised funding puts choice and control with the person, not the organisation.

Access to the NDIS

Currently access is granted through and assessment of your diagnosis’ impact on your daily activities and level of disability; or an early intervention stream. Accessing the NDIS can feel like a lot of paperwork, but you can break it down into these simple steps:

  1. Eligibility: Are you under 65? Are you an Australian citizen or permanent resident? Do you live in Australia?
  2. Contact your Local Area Coordinator (LAC): They are free community partners who can explain the system and help you apply.
  3. Submit an Access Request Form: You (or your care partner) will need to download and complete the NDIS Access Request Form (PDF 1MB) on your computer and email it to enquiries@ndis.gov.au with supporting information (PDF 244KB). Remember the YOPX app has built in questionnaires (WHODAS, PDQ-39, sleep, fatigue and other check-ins that score the impact to your daily life) that can be emailed as pdfs to your care team and submitted with an access request.
  4. Gather your evidence: This is the most vital step. You need medical reports from your doctor or specialists that show your Parkinson’s is permanent and significantly reduces your ability to manage daily tasks.
  5. The planning meeting: If eligible, and access is granted, you will have a conversation with an NDIA planner or LAC about your life, your goals, and what support you need.
  6. Receive your plan: You will get a letter with your approved plan and budget.
  7. Start your supports: You can choose who provides your services and decide how to manage your funds (yourself, a professional plan manager, or the NDIA).

The most important part of applying to the NDIS is proving that your disability is permanent and significant. For Parkinson’s, this means showing that even with treatment, the condition has a major impact on your daily activities. Access isn’t just about a diagnosis, but Parkinson’s is currently on List B and should mean you are eligible for NDIS’ early intervention stream. The NDIA looks at how Parkinson’s affects six specific areas of your life:

  1. mobility
  2. communication
  3. social interaction
  4. learning
  5. self-care
  6. self-management.

Early Intervention: If you are in the early stages of Parkinson’s and do not yet have a “substantial” reduction in function, you may still currently get access through the early intervention pathway (tell your LAC or assessor that PD is on LIST B). This is for people who need support now to prevent their function from deteriorating too quickly in the future.

n.b. Under the 2024 NDIS legislation changes and the upcoming New Framework Planning (expected to begin in mid-2026), the way your disability is classified is shifting to a more formal system of identified impairments. We will update you as these come into effect.

NDIS & other available supports

The NDIS provides funding for “reasonable and necessary” supports that are specifically related to your disability and help you manage the daily challenges of young onset Parkinson’s. These supports are designed to help you live more independently and stay active in your community, which is vital for your long-term wellbeing. Under the current system, your funding is usually divided into three main categories:

  1. Core Supports is the most flexible part of your plan and is intended to help with your everyday needs. This includes assistance with daily life, such as help with household cleaning or yard maintenance, and consumables like continence products or low-cost equipment to improve your mobility. It also provides funding for social and community participation, which might pay for a support worker to assist you in joining local activities, and transport to help you get to work or other places that align with your goals.
  2. Capacity Building Supports are focused on help that builds your skills and independence over time. For our community, this often funds allied health therapies like physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech pathology. It can also fund a Support Coordinator to help you put your plan into action, as well as programmes to help you find and keep a job or improve your health and wellbeing.
  3. Capital Supports are for more expensive, one-off purchases that you might need. This includes assistive technology such as specialised walkers, communication devices, or wheelchairs. It also covers home modifications, like installing grab rails in your bathroom, or specialised housing known as Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) for those with very high support needs.

People who do not meet the access criteria to become an NDIS participant, or who choose not to apply for the NDIS, can still benefit from the NDIS through the Local Area Coordination (LAC) partners who can help link you to support available in the community.

  1. Community and informal supports are ‘unpaid supports’, including supports from family, friends and community groups (e.g., libraries). The NDIA aims to sustain and strengthen these existing supports, not to replace them. This is considered in detail when developing a participant’s individual NDIS plan.
  2. Mainstream services are government-funded public services that are available to all Australians. These include health services (e.g., Medicare, dental, hospital and mental health), employment services (e.g., Centrelink), housing and more.

Who helps with support navigation?

Navigating the NDIS can be tricky, but there are specific people whose job it is to guide you through the process.

Local Area Coordinators (LACs): These are often your first point of contact if you do not have access to your state or territory Parkinson’s organisation. They are a free service available in your local community. LACs help people understand and access the NDIS through workshops or one‑to‑one conversations, and support with NDIS plans by talking through current situations, supports, and goals to help develop a plan (though plans are created and approved by the NDIA, not LACs). You can learn more about the NDIS approach to LAC services on the NDIS website.

Support Coordinators: If your needs are more complex, like organising the multidisciplinary team needed to live well with Parkinson’s and other co-morbidities, the NDIS may fund a Support Coordinator in your plan. Their job is to help you put your plan into action. They help you find the right service providers, negotiate prices, and manage your budget.

Upcoming changes to navigation

The NDIS is currently moving to a new computer system called PACE. As this rolls out, the way you interact with the system will change. For example, instead of using “service bookings” to hold money for a provider, you will “endorse” your providers through a new online portal.

A major review of the NDIS has also recommended creating a new role called Navigators. These people would replace LACs and Support Coordinators to provide a more consistent way to help you find both NDIS and local community supports. These changes are designed to make the system easier for you to use in the long term.

Stay tuned for our next article in this series, as we look more deeply into: What are NDIS supports and what does NDIS fund?

While due care is taken to ensure information is correct at time of publishing, we recommend you visit the NDIS website or call them on 1800 800 110  for the latest information on the NDIS and other Government services due to the current NDIS Review and ongoing changes to the system.

Share

Other articles

  • CARE TEAM | Support groups for carers & people with YOPD

    Whether you are newly diagnosed, well-versed in Parkinson's, or a care partner, finding the right support group can make a significant difference. Social activities provide a valuable network, combat feelings of loneliness, and connect you to new information. Being diagnosed as young onset, poses its own challenges in finding people a group of people that look like you.

  • NDIS | Understanding Your NDIS Plan

    Your NDIS plan is built around your goals and support needs and funding is divided into Core, Capital and Capacity Building budgets. Core funding is generally the most flexible. Capacity Building funding can support your allied health therapies (e.g. AEP, APD, Speech Pathology, Physiotherapy, OT, podiatry, psychology, social worker). Plan management offers flexibility while reducing administrative burden, but you have the option of self-management.

  • RELATIONSHIPS | Intimacy, Sexuality & Dating

    Parkinson’s can affect intimacy, sexuality and relationships in physical, emotional and practical ways. Sexual difficulties are common, but they are not experienced by everyone. Many people continue to have satisfying intimate relationships after diagnosis. Communication is one of the most important factors in maintaining intimacy and connection. Intimacy involves more than sexual activity. Touch, affection, companionship, emotional connection and shared experiences all contribute to healthy relationships. Professional support is available if Parkinson’s affects your sexual wellbeing, confidence or relationship.