The National Disability Insurance Scheme — usually shortened to NDIS — is a federal government program that pays for disability support. It started rolling out in Queensland in 2016, and by 2026 around 200,000 Queenslanders are using it. If you or someone in your family has a permanent disability and you've been hearing the term NDIS without quite understanding what it is, this guide is for you.
The short version: NDIS gives people with disability money to spend on the supports they actually need. Not money in their bank account. Money that sits in a budget, attached to their NDIS plan, that gets spent on things like a support worker, a wheelchair, therapy, or help with cooking and cleaning. The government pays. You choose what to buy and who to buy it from.
That's it, fundamentally. The complications come from the rules around how you qualify, how the budget gets set, and what counts as a fundable support. We'll get into all of that.
What the NDIS actually is
NDIS is run by an agency called the NDIA — the National Disability Insurance Agency. The NDIA decides who qualifies for NDIS support, how much funding each person gets, and what rules apply to how that funding gets spent. It's overseen by another body, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, which handles complaints, registers providers, and investigates serious incidents.
The scheme was designed to replace a patchwork of older state-based disability schemes that varied wildly depending on where you lived. Queensland's old system was particularly underfunded. Some people waited years for basic equipment. Others got nothing at all because their condition didn't fit a specific category. NDIS was meant to fix that.
It works on an insurance model, which is where the name comes from. The idea is that disability is something that can affect anyone, so the cost of supporting people with disability gets shared across the whole population — much like Medicare. Roughly one in twenty Australians under 65 has a permanent and significant disability that affects their daily life. NDIS is the system that funds support for those people.
Who can access NDIS
To be eligible for NDIS, you generally need to meet four criteria. You need to be under 65 when you first apply (people who turn 65 while on NDIS can choose to stay on it). You need to be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold certain visas. You need to live in Australia. And you need to have a permanent disability that significantly affects your ability to do everyday activities.
That last point is the most contested. The NDIA looks at whether the disability is permanent (not expected to improve over time, even with treatment) and whether it substantially reduces your functional capacity in at least one of: communication, social interaction, learning, mobility, self-care, or self-management. They look at evidence — letters from your GP, specialists, occupational therapists, psychologists — to make this call.
In Queensland, the most common eligible conditions are autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, psychosocial disability (mental health conditions like schizophrenia or severe depression that meet the criteria), acquired brain injury, cerebral palsy, vision and hearing impairment, and physical disabilities including spinal injuries.
If you're not sure whether you qualify, the safest thing to do is start an access request. The application is free, and the NDIA will assess your evidence and make a decision. You don't lose anything by trying.
How NDIS plans work
If you're approved, you get an NDIS plan. The plan is a written document — usually 15 to 20 pages — that lists your goals, the supports the NDIA has agreed to fund, and the budget for those supports. Plans are typically issued for 12 months at first, and longer periods (up to three years) once your situation is more stable.
Your plan budget is broken into three categories. Core supports cover the day-to-day things: a support worker helping with personal care, getting to appointments, household help. This is the most flexible budget — you can generally move money around between Core sub-categories without approval. Capacity Building covers things designed to build your skills or independence: therapy, support coordination, life skills programs, employment support. Capital supports cover one-off purchases like wheelchairs, hearing aids, vehicle modifications, and home modifications.
Each support has a price limit set by the NDIA in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements. Providers can't charge above those limits. For example, the standard hourly rate for personal care during weekday hours in Queensland in 2025–26 is $70.23. Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays cost more.
Three ways to manage your plan
How your plan gets managed is one of the most important decisions you'll make. There are three options.
Agency-managed. The NDIA pays your providers directly. You don't see invoices. The catch is you can only use NDIS-registered providers, which limits your choice in some areas.
Plan-managed. A plan manager (a separate registered service) pays your invoices on your behalf, tracks your budget, and gives you statements. You can use both registered and non-registered providers. Plan management itself is funded separately in your plan, so it doesn't reduce your support budget. For most people, this is the practical choice.
Self-managed. You manage everything yourself. You receive your funding, you pay your providers, you keep records, and you submit claims to NDIA. You have the most flexibility — including hiring family or paying market rates for unregistered services — but the admin load is real.
You can have a mix. Some parts of your plan can be plan-managed while others are self-managed. You can change management types at a plan review.
How to apply in Queensland
The first step is making an access request. You can do this by calling NDIA on 1800 800 110, downloading the access request form from ndis.gov.au, or asking a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) in your region to help. In Queensland, LACs are run by organisations like Carers Queensland and Feros Care depending on your postcode.
You'll need to provide evidence of your disability. This usually means letters from health professionals describing your condition, how it affects your daily life, and confirming it's permanent. Get clear, specific letters — not vague ones that say things like "patient struggles with daily activities." The NDIA wants to see concrete examples of impact.
Once your request is submitted, NDIA decides whether you're eligible (this can take a few weeks to several months). If you're eligible, you'll be invited to a planning meeting.
What to expect at your first planning meeting
The planning meeting is where the NDIA planner or LAC sits down with you and works out what supports you need. It usually takes 60 to 90 minutes and can be done in person, by phone, or online.
Bring evidence. Bring someone you trust. Be specific about what you need help with and why. The single biggest mistake people make at planning meetings is being too humble — playing down their needs and ending up with a thin plan. The planner is not testing you. They're trying to figure out what to fund, and they need details.
After the meeting, you wait. Plan approval can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Once it's approved, you receive the plan in writing, and you can start using your funding from the start date listed.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get an NDIS plan?
From access request to approved plan, the process typically takes three to six months in Queensland, sometimes longer. Access decisions alone can take several weeks once you've submitted everything.
Is NDIS means-tested?
No. NDIS is not means-tested. Your income, assets, and savings don't affect your eligibility or the size of your plan budget.
Can I get NDIS if my child has autism?
Children with autism may qualify under the Early Childhood approach (under 9) or the standard pathway (over 9). The diagnosis alone isn't enough — there needs to be evidence of how it affects daily functioning. ASD level 2 and 3 generally meet eligibility; level 1 sometimes does, depending on functional impact.
What's the difference between NDIA and NDIS?
NDIS is the scheme. NDIA is the agency that runs it. People use the terms loosely, but technically you have an NDIS plan, administered by NDIA.
If you'd like help understanding your plan or getting started with services across Queensland, contact Seareal. We work with NDIS participants in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, and the Sunshine Coast.