NDIS guide you can actually understand
We're a family-run NDIS provider in South West Sydney supporting participants across Liverpool, Fairfield and Bankstown. This page gives you a clear NDIS guide so you can understand funding, plan management, and your next steps — explained the way we'd explain it to our own family.
What is the NDIS?
The NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) provides funding for eligible Australians with disability. It helps people access supports that improve daily life, safety, independence, and community participation.
You set goals that matter to you and your daily life.
Funding is based on how your disability affects your function, safety and independence.
You can choose support workers and providers depending on how your plan is managed.
Who is eligible for the NDIS?
To access the NDIS, you need to meet a few key rules about your age, where you live, and how your disability affects your everyday life.
Age
You're under 65 years of age when you apply.
Where you live
You live in Australia and meet residency rules (citizen, permanent resident, or eligible visa).
Disability impact
You have a permanent and significant disability that makes everyday activities harder and means you need ongoing support.
Reasonable & necessary
The supports you need must be reasonable and necessary for your situation.
Age
Under 65 when you apply
Location
Live in Australia (citizen/resident)
Disability
Permanent & affects daily life
Support
Reasonable & necessary
How does the NDIS work?
You don't need to understand everything at once. This is a calm overview of how the NDIS usually works, step by step.
The NDIS gives eligible Australians individual funding so they can access the supports they need in everyday life. The goal is to help you live safely, build independence, and take part in your community.
Your NDIS plan is built around your personal goals — not just your diagnosis. These goals are talked through at your planning meeting and help shape what supports can be funded.
Once approved, your funding is usually organised into three main areas: Core Supports, Capacity Building, and Capital Supports.
You also have choice over who supports you and how your services are delivered. This depends on how your NDIS plan is managed.
Most NDIS plans run for 12 to 24 months. If your needs change, your plan can be reviewed.
"At Blue Bird Aged Care and Disability Services, you're never just a number — you receive support shaped around your goals, your pace, and your daily life."
Your NDIS Application Journey
Check Eligibility
Review the age, residency, and disability requirements to see if you might be eligible.
Gather Evidence
Collect medical reports, specialist letters, and functional assessments showing how disability affects daily life.
Submit Access Request
Complete the NDIS Access Request Form and submit with your evidence documents.
Wait for Decision
NDIA reviews your application (usually 21-28 days). They may request additional information.
Planning Meeting
If approved, you'll meet with an NDIS planner to discuss your goals and required supports.
Receive Your Plan
Your NDIS plan arrives with your funding budgets and approved supports listed.
Start Support
Choose your providers, set up services, and begin using your NDIS funding.
What "reasonable and necessary" means
This is the key NDIS rule. It decides what the NDIS will fund.
Linked to your disability
The support must clearly relate to your disability and daily function.
Improves daily life
It should support safety, independence, communication or participation.
Value for money
The NDIA compares cost with benefit and long-term outcomes.
Not another system's role
Supports already covered by health, education or housing may be declined.
Safety risk? Carer burnout? Isolation?
That answer matters — and it's what helps the NDIS understand why you need support.
NDIS funding and budget categories
Most plans group supports into three budgets. Here's what they usually include, with simple examples.
| Budget | What it's for | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Core | Everyday supports and routines | Personal care, daily living, community access, transport |
| Capacity Building | Skills, therapy, and increasing independence | OT, physio, speech therapy, behaviour supports, support coordination |
| Capital | Equipment and modifications | Assistive technology, mobility equipment, home modifications |
Real Example: Sarah's $42,000/year NDIS Plan
Here's how one participant's funding is allocated and used:
What Sarah uses this funding for:
- Core ($28,000): Personal care support 3 days/week, transport to appointments, community access on weekends
- Capacity Building ($12,000): Occupational therapy weekly sessions, physiotherapy fortnightly, support coordination
- Capital ($2,000): Shower chair, bathroom grab rails, phone accessibility app
What the NDIS usually won't fund
These costs usually sit outside the NDIS. This is where many people get confused.
- Everyday living costs like rent, groceries and bills
- Medical treatment such as GP visits, hospital care and medications
- Mainstream education costs like school fees or tutoring
- General lifestyle expenses not linked to disability
NDIS WON'T Fund
- Rent, groceries, bills → These are everyday costs everyone pays
- GP visits and medications → Covered by Medicare and PBS
- School fees and tutoring → Education Department responsibility
- Car purchases or home loan → Not disability-related
- Gym memberships or hobbies → General lifestyle costs
- Travel or holidays → Unless disability-specific
NDIS WILL Fund
- Support worker to help you shop and cook → Disability support
- Support worker to take you to GP → Transport assistance
- Support worker for school drop-off/pick-up → Access support
- Vehicle modifications for disability → Reasonable modification
- Support worker for community activities → Social participation
- Support worker to assist with travel → If disability-related
The key difference: NDIS funds the support you need to do things, not the everyday costs themselves.
NDIS plan management options
This affects which providers you can use, and how invoices get paid. Choosing the right option can make your life easier.
| Type | What it's like | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Self-managed | You pay invoices and manage spending yourself. | Maximum choice and flexibility with providers. |
| Plan-managed | A plan manager pays invoices and tracks budgets for you. | Choice + less admin. Still flexible provider options. |
| NDIA-managed | NDIA pays providers directly (registered providers only). | Simple structure, but limited to registered providers. |
Which Plan Management Option Is Right for You?
Limited to registered providers only
How we can support your NDIS journey
At Blue Bird Aged Care and Disability Services, our role is to make your NDIS experience simpler, clearer and far less stressful.
Plan and budget support
We help you understand your budgets, what you can access, and how your funding is tracking.
Matching you to supports
We help organise services like personal care, community access, transport and more — based on your goals.
Clear communication
You'll always know what's happening. You can give feedback anytime — we take it seriously and improve from it.
Reliable, long-term support
We focus on consistent care and long-term relationships — not quick visits or constant worker changes.
having a trusted team guiding you means fewer mistakes, less stress, and a smoother NDIS experience. Your goals shape the journey — we're here to walk it with you.
Your Journey After NDIS Approval
You've been approved—great! Here's what happens next, week by week.
📧 Plan Arrives in Your Email
Review your budgets (Core, Capacity Building, Capital). Check the amounts and what's approved. If something looks wrong, contact NDIA within 3 months to request a review.
📞 Book Your Provider
Choose providers that match your needs. Have your NDIS number ready. Set up initial meetings and confirm service availability. This is when you call us!
👤 First Shifts Begin
Meet your support workers. Go through your routine together. It's okay to ask questions or request adjustments—this is the "getting to know you" phase.
✓ Check-In: Is Everything Working?
Review how supports are going. Are workers arriving on time? Do you feel comfortable? Is the care plan working? Good providers will check in with you proactively.
📋 Mid-Plan Check (Optional)
If your needs have changed significantly, you can request an early plan review. Most people wait for their regular review, but you have options if circumstances change.
📅 Plan Review Meeting
Time to review what worked, what didn't, and what you need going forward. Prepare evidence of progress and any new goals. This shapes your next plan.
Who we support & where we work
We're a family-run provider supporting participants, families and carers who want reliable, personalised care across Sydney.
NDIS participants
We support self-managed, plan-managed and NDIA-managed participants.
Families and carers
For people who want a consistent team they can trust and rely on.
Everyday support needs
Daily living, community access, transport, and therapy-aligned routines.
Relationship-based care
Warm, respectful support that feels personal and steady.
Where we work
Liverpool and surrounds
Warwick Farm, Casula and nearby suburbs.
Fairfield area
Fairfield, Canley Vale, Cabramatta and nearby suburbs.
Bankstown area
Bankstown, Yagoona, Georges Hall and nearby suburbs.
Greater Sydney
Selected nearby suburbs depending on support needs and availability.
Evidence checklist (what you should collect)
The NDIS cares about function, not just a label. Good evidence explains what daily life looks like on your hardest days — and why you need support.
- Medical letters confirming diagnosis and permanence (GP/specialist).
- Functional reports (OT/physio/speech) showing daily impact.
- Risk notes (falls, choking, wandering, self-care risks, carer burnout).
- Real examples (showering, meals, medication, mobility, community access).
Evidence Priority Guide
Organize your evidence by importance - start with critical items first.
- GP letter confirming permanent disability diagnosis
- Functional assessment report from OT or Physiotherapist showing daily impact
- Evidence of how disability affects at least ONE core daily activity (showering, dressing, eating, mobility)
- Specialist letters (neurologist, psychiatrist, etc.) with specific functional detail
- Risk assessments (falls risk, choking risk, self-care safety concerns)
- Carer statements describing daily support needs and impacts
- Examples of specific tasks that are difficult (e.g., "needs supervision for showering due to balance issues")
- Hospital discharge summaries
- School reports (for children/young people)
- Allied health progress notes
- Photos or videos showing accessibility challenges
- Community participation records
Common mistakes that slow people down
- Only submitting diagnosis letters with no functional detail.
- Being too "brave" in the meeting and minimising your actual support needs.
- Not explaining risks (safety, supervision, carer strain).
- Asking for supports without linking them to goals and function.
Mini glossary (quick jargon breaker)
- Core Supports: everyday help (routine + participation).
- Capacity Building: therapy and skills development.
- Capital: equipment and modifications.
- Support Coordination: help understanding and using your plan.
- Reasonable and necessary: the funding test for supports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready for support that actually makes sense?
If you're unsure where to start, we can help. Check your eligibility first, then prepare for your plan meeting.
What do you need help with — your evidence, your goals, understanding your budget, or finding the right supports?
Family-run • Fully insured • Police-checked staff • NDIS Quality & Safeguards Compliant