NDIS funding is released in instalments called funding periods rather than being available as a full annual budget upfront. Depending on the support type, funding may be released quarterly, monthly, or in full at the start of the plan. The total amount does not change. What changes is when the funding becomes available. Funding periods can be set at 1, 3, 6, or 12 months, and a single plan can have different period lengths for different support categories. For participants re

The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (commonly called the NDIS Price Guide) sets the maximum price a registered provider can charge for each funded support. It is updated annually, usually effective 1 July, though interim updates can occur during the year. The document covers more than 600 line items and applies to all NDIA-managed and plan-managed participants. Self-managed participants can choose to pay above the listed maximum. For most participants, the Price Gu

NDIS Core funding pays for the support you need right now: support workers, consumables, and transport. Capacity Building funding pays for therapy and skill development to build independence over time. Psychology, behaviour support, occupational therapy, and speech pathology typically fall under Capacity Building. Core covers "today"; Capacity Building covers "tomorrow." Each has different flexibility rules, and understanding the distinction early makes it easier to plan serv

There is a specific feeling every Support Coordinator knows. You receive a comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan. It is 40 pages long. It looks professional. You look at the bill: a huge chunk of the “Improved Relationships” budget is gone. Then you read the strategies. For a participant with a severe intellectual disability who is non-speaking, the plan suggests: “Ask them to take three deep breaths” or “Remind them to make ‘good choices’.” You have just witnessed “Generic B

As a Support Coordinator, you know the cycle. You have a participant with complex needs, perhaps a mix of intellectual disability and high-risk behaviours. You send out five referrals. You cross your fingers. One provider responds within an hour: “Yes! We have immediate capacity. Send the plan.” No questions about the behaviour support needs. No check on the complexity. Just a “yes.” You breathe a sigh of relief. You’ve ticked that box. You report back to the family that help

A Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA) is a structured and evidence-based process used to understand why a person engages in challenging behaviour. Rather than simply addressing the behaviour itself, an FBA aims to uncover the underlying reasons for it, offering insight into how best to support the individual in achieving their needs in more positive and constructive ways. Understanding the purpose behind behaviour is essential in creating interventions that are not only eff

Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is an evidence-based, person-centred approach supported by the NDIS that helps individuals reduce behaviours of concern while enhancing their quality of life. At its core, PBS isn’t about controlling behaviour, it’s about understanding it. Rather than focusing on the surface-level behaviour, PBS digs deeper to uncover the reasons behind it. Often, behaviours of concern are expressions of unmet needs, communication challenges, or environmental

Restrictive practices are a deeply sensitive and highly regulated area of disability support. They involve interventions that intentionally limit the rights or freedom of movement of a person, and their use is considered a serious matter under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). While restrictive practices may sometimes be necessary to prevent immediate harm, they must always be used as a last resort and with the person’s dignity and rights firmly in mind. Unders