INSIGHTS

Navigating the NDIS can feel like a lot at times - whether you are working through your own plan, supporting a loved one, or helping someone get the most from their funding.

Questions come up at every stage - from what the NDIS will fund, to how to find the right supports, to preparing for reviews. And while no two journeys are exactly alike, many of the same questions come up again and again.

This guide brings together five of the most common questions - with clear, practical answers to help you make sense of the NDIS and get the best possible outcomes.

1. What can NDIS funding actually cover?

NDIS plans are designed to fund the supports a person needs to pursue their goals and live an (exta)ordinary life. Depending on what is in the plan, funding may cover: 

• Support workers for personal care, life skills, community access and/or participation

• Assistive technology (mobility aids, communication devices, home tech)

• Accessible Transportation

• Accessible Housing (SIL / SDA)

• Short-term accommodation, respite and/or innovative community participation and programs that build independence, employment skills or social connections

• Home or vehicle modifications

• Therapies (occupational therapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy, psychology)

• Carer or family training

Plans are structured around Core, Capacity Building and Capital funding - but it is not always obvious what can be accessed under each. A trusted support provider can help break this down and make sure nothing is missed. 

2. How do you choose the right NDIS provider?

Not all providers are the same, and choosing the right one can make a real difference, not just in the level of support, but in how a person experiences their NDIS journey.

Some things to look for:

NDIS registration and quality standards
Are they a registered provider, meeting the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission requirements?

Respect and values
Do they treat the person as an individual, with dignity, respect and choice — not just a plan to be managed?

Relevant experience
Have they supported people with similar needs? Whether providing psychosocial support, developmental disability care or complex support, relevant experience matters.

A caring and committed team
Do they have team members with lived experience or a deep understanding of disability support? Do they express, through their actions and conversations, that they truly care about their work and the people they support?

Communication
Do they communicate clearly, provide regular updates, and welcome feedback?

Flexibility and personalised support
Do they adapt as needs and goals evolve? Are supports, housing or services tailored to each person’s unique needs and personal preferences - rather than being one-size-fits-all?

A good provider should feel like a trusted partner - part of the team around each person. For us, that means raising the standard of care - delivering the kind of support we would want for our own family members.

3. Should an NDIS plan be self-managed, plan-managed or agency-managed?

This often depends on how involved a person or family wants to be in managing the plan - and how much flexibility they want around choosing providers.

Self-managed
Gives the person (or their nominee) full flexibility to choose and pay providers - including unregistered ones. Offers maximum choice, but requires more admin.

Plan-managed
A plan manager takes care of financial admin and reporting, while the person or family keeps flexibility of choice. Often a good balance between control and simplicity.

Agency-managed
NDIA handles payments and reporting, but limits choice to registered providers only.

It is important to choose the option that best suits the person’s goals and circumstances — and to work with providers who respect and support that choice.

4. What supports are available for family members and carers?

The NDIS focuses on the person with disability, but family members and carers play an essential role - and support is available for them too.

Options include:

• Carer Gateway: free counselling, peer support and respite planning

• Mind Australia, SANE, Beyond Blue: wellbeing and mental health services for carers

• Respite or short-term accommodation, funded through the plan

• Training or education, where funded, to help family members build skills and confidence

Many people do not realise how much is available - or how much difference it can make. One thing we always encourage is taking care of the whole care network, not just the person with the plan. When carers are supported, everyone benefits.

5. How do plan reviews work - and how can you prepare?

NDIS plans usually run for 12 months, with a formal review towards the end - though an early review can be requested if needed.

Good preparation helps ensure the review reflects what is really needed going forward. Some ways to prepare:

• Keep notes on progress towards goals

• Track changes in supports needed - or new barriers

• Collect reports from allied health and support providers

• Start preparing well before the review meeting, not at the last minute

Quality providers help with this - by tracking progress during the year, providing reports, and supporting review preparation well in advance.

For us, it is all part of raising the standard - helping each person go into their review confident that their needs and progress will be clearly understood.

Raising the Standard of Care - What It Means for You

Across every plan, every service, and every conversation, one thing stays constant: the goal is to help people live the lives they choose - with dignity, purpose and genuine care.

At Danny Met Sally, that is the heart of what we do:
providing the highest level of care, treating each person as we would our own family, and raising the standard at every step.

That means:

• Care that is authentic, not transactional

• Relationships built on trust and respect

• Support that adapts to real life - not just funding categories

• Communication that keeps everyone on the same page - participants, families, other professionals

Because when care is done well, it changes lives - and that is what matters most.

If you're needing some support or have some additional questions you'd like answered, feel free to reach out to recieve a complementary call from our wonderful client services team who can guide you through the process.

Quick Links

• NDIS Plan Management guide

• Carer Gateway

• Mind Australia

• SANE Australia

• Beyond Blue