Please contact Carolyn if you would like to add to this document as she is no longer checking this google doc carolynfitzgibbon1@gmail.com

NDIS supports list

NDIS OT Community of practice response

Please add your comments to the headings.

You can navigate to the areas that you would like to comment on by using the contents page. These page numbers may not be exact once everyone starts writing in them but will at least give you the order of the content.

Table of Contents

NDIS supports list NDIS OT Co-op response        1

1.        Supports that are ‘NDIS supports’        4

2.        Accommodation/ tenancy assistance        5

3.        Assistance Animals        6

4.        Assistance In Coordinating or Managing Life Stages, Transitions and Supports        7

5.        Assistance to Access and Maintain Employment or higher education        8

6.        Assistance With Daily Life Tasks in a Group or Shared Living Arrangement        9

7.        Assistance With Travel/Transport Arrangements        10

8.        Assistive Equipment for Recreation        11

9.        Assistive Products for Household Tasks        12

10.        Assistive Products for Personal Care And Safety        13

11.        Specialist Positive Behaviour Support        14

12.        Communication And Information Equipment        15

13.        Community Nursing Care        16

14.        Customised Prosthetics (includes Orthotics)        17

15.        Daily Personal Activities        18

16.        Development Of Daily Care And Life Skills        19

17.        Disability-Related Health Supports        20

18.        Early Intervention Supports For Early Childhood        21

19.        Exercise Physiology & Personal Well-being Activities        22

20.        Group And Centre Based Activities        23

21.        Hearing Equipment        24

22.        High Intensity Daily Personal Activities        25

23.        Home Modification Design and Construction        26

24.        Household tasks        27

25.        Innovative Community Participation        28

26.        Interpreting and Translation        29

27.        Management of Funding for Supports        30

28.        Participation in Community, Social and Civic Activities        31

29.        Personal Mobility Equipment        32

30.        Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)        33

31.        Specialised Driver Training        34

32.        Specialised Hearing Services        35

33.        Specialised Supported Employment        36

34.        Specialised Support Coordination        37

35.        Therapeutic Supports        38

36.        Vehicle Modifications        39

37.        Vision Equipment        40

38.        Supports that are not ‘NDIS supports’        41

Day-to-day living costs        41

39.        Supports that are not ‘NDIS supports’        42

40.        Supports that are not ‘NDIS supports’        43

41.        Supports that are not ‘NDIS supports’        44

42.        Supports that are not ‘NDIS supports’        45

43.        Supports that are not ‘NDIS supports’        46

44.        Supports that are not ‘NDIS supports’        47

45.        (this section is in response to the “Supports that are not ‘NDIS supports’)        48

46.        Not value for money/not effective or beneficial        49

47.        Not value for money/not effective or beneficial        50

48.        Not value for money/not effective or beneficial        51

49.        Not value for money/not effective or beneficial        52

50.        Mainstream – Health        53

51.        Mainstream – Mental Health        55

52.        Mainstream – Child Protection and Family Support        56

53.        Mainstream – Early Childhood Development        57

54.        Mainstream – School Education        58

55.        Mainstream – Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training        59

56.        Mainstream – Employment        60

57.        Mainstream – Housing and Community Infrastructure        61

58.        Mainstream – Transport        63

59.        Mainstream – Justice        64

60.        Mainstream – Aged Care        65

61.        Unlawful goods and services        66

62.        Income replacement        67

  1. Supports that are ‘NDIS supports’

The below contains 36 categories of NDIS supports, a description of the category, and any carve outs to the description that are not ‘NDIS supports’.

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

Carve outs is not a useful term for people with disabilities. We recommend changing the language to NDIS supports do not include….

  1. Accommodation/ tenancy assistance

Description

Supports that guide, prompt, or assist a participant to undertake activities that ensure they obtain/retain appropriate accommodation.

This may include assisting a participant to apply for a rental tenancy or to undertake tenancy obligations in line with the participant’s tenancy agreement.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

Does not include:

  • rental costs,
  • bond costs,
  • mortgage repayments etc

See the ‘Day-to-day living costs’ category.

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Assistance Animals

Description

An animal specially trained by an accredited assistance animal provider to help a participant with tasks. These are things the animal wouldn’t naturally do otherwise, like guiding a participant through crowded places. Includes ongoing maintenance costs such as vet fees, transport and special diets for the assistance animal.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Assistance In Coordinating or Managing Life Stages, Transitions and Supports

Description

Supports to establish assistance within the participant’s home or community to develop skills. Includes support coordination, mentoring, peer support and individual skill development such as attending appointments, shopping, bill paying, taking part in social activities and maintaining contact with others.

Active involvement in planning and transition supports on the basis of a person having reached a point of stability in regard to functional capacity, prior to hospital discharge (or equivalent for other healthcare settings) wherever there is a need for ongoing maintenance support.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

ome people do not reach a point of stability so this needs to not be part of the criteria. It may be better to word it as “transitions such as leaving school, gaining employment, moving house, leaving a domestic violence situation, leaving a correctional facility,

  1. Assistance to Access and Maintain Employment or higher education

Description

Workplace assistance that enables a participant to successfully obtain and/or retain employment in the open or supported labour market, including individual employment support, employment preparation and support in a group and school leaver employment supports to assist students transitioning from school to employment.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

Does not include:

  • learning and support needs of students that primarily relate to their education and training attainment,
  • work-specific support related to recruitment processes, work arrangements or the working environment,
  • funding or provision of employment services and programs

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

The carve outs listed, literally cover the description of supports. Needs to be clearer if the carve outs are supposed to be for non-disability specific programs

  1. Assistance With Daily Life Tasks in a Group or Shared Living Arrangement

Description

Assistance with and/or supervision of tasks of daily life in a shared living environment, which is either temporary or ongoing, with a focus on developing the skills of each individual to live as autonomously as possible, including short term accommodation and respite.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Assistance With Travel/Transport Arrangements

Description

Transport assistance, including training, activity-based transport, provider travel, and costs associated with the use of taxis/private transport, where the participant cannot travel independently or use public transport due to the impact of their impairment/s on their functional capacity.

This includes transporting participants to funded supports and other activities including school, educational facility, employment, or the community.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

I recently had a participants transport funding cut in their plan. Reasons given were (1) that NDIS do not fund travel to get to NDIS funded therapy appointments; and (2) because the participant is learning to drive. If this is the case, and the participant cannot travel independently or via public transport due to their impairment - how do they access therapy appointments?

  1. Assistive Equipment for Recreation

Description

Specialist products used in competitive and non-competitive sports and other recreational pursuits.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

Specialist products is not a clear term. Limiting products to disability specific rather that items used for disability specific purposes will increase cost per item in many cases.

  1. Assistive Products for Household Tasks

Description

Specialist products to enable cooking, cleaning, washing, home maintenance and other tasks.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

Specialist products is not a clear term. Limiting products to disability specific rather that items used for disability specific purposes will increase cost per item in many cases.

  1. Assistive Products for Personal Care And Safety

Description

Specialist products for personal care or safety including beds and pressure mattresses, toilet and bathroom equipment, specialised clothing and continence needs.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

The wording of “Specialist products” needs to change so that it can include some products that do the same function and are cheaper, more sensory friendly or meet the participants needs in other ways. For example a young person wearing a specialised falls detection device may prefer a smart watch that has falls detection.

  1. Specialist Positive Behaviour Support

Description

Support provided by professionals with specialist skills in positive behaviour support including assessment, development and delivery of a comprehensive plan that aims to reduce and manage behaviours of concern, and training and ongoing monitoring of staff in plan implementation.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Communication And Information Equipment

Description

Products to assist with alternate communication or to access written or spoken communication via electronic or other means.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Community Nursing Care

Description

Provision of specialist care for participants who have high care needs requiring a high level of skill, and for the training of support workers to respond to the participant’s complex needs.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Customised Prosthetics (includes Orthotics)

Description

Prescription and manufacture of customised prostheses or orthoses requiring specialist skills.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Daily Personal Activities

Description

Assistance with and/or supervision of personal tasks of daily life to enable a participant to live as autonomously as possible in a range of environments, including but not limited to, the participant’s own home.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Development Of Daily Care And Life Skills

Description

Development of daily living and life skills focuses on training and development activities undertaken by a participant or their carer to increase their ability to live as autonomously as possible, including supports that will enhance the ability of the participant to travel and use public transport independently.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Disability-Related Health Supports

Description

Disability-related health supports where the supports are a regular part of the participant’s daily life, and result from the participant’s disability. This includes continence, dysphagia, respiratory, nutrition, diabetic management, epilepsy, podiatry and foot care, and wound and pressure care supports.

Supports for people with complex communication needs or challenging behaviours while accessing health services, including hospitals and in-patient facilities.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Early Intervention Supports For Early Childhood

Description

Provision of a mix of therapies, and a key worker for the family. Supports for all children 0-9 years with developmental delay or disability and their families to achieve better long-term outcomes, regardless of diagnosis.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Exercise Physiology & Personal Well-being Activities

Description

Physical wellbeing activities to promote and encourage physical well-being, including exercise.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Group And Centre Based Activities

Description

Assistance for participants to access and participate in community, social and recreational activities provided in a group setting, either in the community or in a centre.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Hearing Equipment

Description

Specialist hearing supports (excluding surgical services) where these supports directly relate to a person’s permanent impairment.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

General hearing services or supports otherwise provided by Hearing Australia

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. High Intensity Daily Personal Activities

Description

Assistance with and/or supervision of tasks of daily life to enable a participant with complex needs to live as autonomously as possible in a range of environments, including but not limited to, the participant’s own home.

These supports are provided by a worker with additional qualifications and experience relevant to the participants’ complex needs.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Home Modification Design and Construction

Description

Design and subsequent changes or modification to a participant’s home, including installation of equipment or changes to building structures, fixture or fittings to enable participants to live as independently as possible or to live safely at home.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

Design and subsequent changes or modifications to state or territory owned public housing

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Household tasks

Description

Essential household tasks that a participant is not able to undertake because of their disability, including meal preparation and delivery, house or yard maintenance, cleaning and laundry.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Innovative Community Participation

Description

Activities not included under other community participation registration groups; for mainstream providers who want to enable participants to access mainstream activities.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Interpreting and Translation

Description

Assistance to a participant to enable independent communication in essential personal, social or community activities where translation is not available from a mainstream service.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Management of Funding for Supports

Description

Management of funding for supports by a registered plan management provider – both defined in the Act.

Section 9:

registered plan management provider means an NDIS provider who is registered to manage the funding for supports under plans as mentioned in paragraph 73E(2)(a).

Section 42:

(1) For the purposes of this Act, managing the funding for supports under a participant’s plan means doing one or more of the following:

(a) purchasing the supports identified in the plan (including paying any applicable indirect costs, such as taxes, associated with the supports);

(b) receiving any funding provided by the Agency;

(ba) managing any funding provided by the Agency;

(c) acquitting any funding provided by the Agency.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Participation in Community, Social and Civic Activities

Description

Assisting a participant to participate actively in community, social and civic activities; including supporting participants during these activities and developing participants’ ability to partake in these activities.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Personal Mobility Equipment

Description

Products to enable personal mobility, including equipment for walking, wheelchairs and transfer aids.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)

Description

As defined in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Specialist Disability Accommodation) Rules 2020:

specialist disability accommodation:

  1. means accommodation for a person who requires specialist housing solutions, including to assist with the delivery of supports that cater for the person’s extreme functional impairment or very high support needs; but
  2. does not include supports delivered to the person while the person is living in the accommodation.

These rules also govern participant eligibility and requirements for SDA dwellings.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Specialised Driver Training

Description

Driver training using adapted equipment or vehicle modification.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

Driver training needs to include people with psychosocial disabilities and autism who do not need adapted equipment or vehicle modification but benefit from specialised support to be able to drive.

Specialist driver training provided to people with cognitive impairments (eg following acquired brain injury) may not require adapted equipment. Specialist training /lessons are provided in consultation with OT driving assessor to facilitate adaption to functional impairment as consequence of cognitive (not just physical) deficits.

There is a full body of evidence that demonstrates the functional impact of different disabilities can and does impact on learning to drive. These disabilities include autism, ADHD, intellectual disability and cerebral palsy just to name a few. While they may not require adapted equipment, they do require specialist driver training (in conjunction with the OT driving assessor) to develop skills.  Cognitive impairment can impact on the way people learn and develop the skills needed for driving. There are times when a learner driver has a restriction on their learner permit stating they can only learn in a dual control vehicle (until an OT assessment indicates this can be removed) - this is directly related to the disability and is not a restriction that other similar aged learner drivers have on their permit.

  1. Specialised Hearing Services

Description

Specialised hearing services for children and adults with complex needs.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Specialised Supported Employment

Description

Assistance in specialised supported employment/Australian Disability Enterprise.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Specialised Support Coordination

Description

The provision of Support Coordination within a specialist framework necessitated by specific high-level risks in the participant’s situation. Support focuses on addressing barriers and reducing complexity in the support environment, while assisting the participant to connect with supports and build capacity and resilience. It may also involve development of an intervention plan which will be put in place by disability support workers.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Therapeutic Supports

Description

Evidence-based therapy supports provided to assist a participant to apply their functional skills to improve participation and independence in daily, practical activities in areas such as language and communication, personal care, mobility and movement, interpersonal interactions and community living. This includes funding further assessment by health professionals for support planning and review as required.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

Therapeutic supports requires further detail. We note that the 2023/2024 pricing guide included details of who could provide the Therapeutic supports (refer table ) “these types of supports can only be delivered by the following types of professionals…. and by  therapy assistants”

Table 1: NDIS price guide therapeutic supports

  1. Vehicle Modifications

Description

Vehicle modifications including the installation of, or changes to, equipment in a vehicle to enable a participant to travel safely as a passenger or to drive.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

  • Purchase of a vehicle of any kind, including motor vehicles, motorbikes, watercrafts, all terrain vehicles and other recreational vehicles,
  • Mechanical repairs,
  • Tools
  • Vehicle registration

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Vision Equipment

Description

Products for navigation, orientation, braille, magnifiers and note taking equipment.

Carve outs that are not ‘NDIS supports’

Prescription glasses

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

Vision is more than acuity (being able to see text clearly), vision is a sensory system that reaches into every aspect of our lives - even when our eyes are closed.  [a]

  1. Supports that are not ‘NDIS supports’

The below contains 15 categories of goods and services that are not an ‘NDIS support’, a description of the category, and any carve outs to the description that are considered an ‘NDIS support’.

Day-to-day living costs

Description

Accommodation and household related:

  • Rent, rental bonds, home deposits, mortgage deposits, strata fees, rental bonds and home deposits.
  • Standard home security and maintenance costs, fencing, gates and building repairs
  • General furniture removal and services, unwanted furniture pick up
  • Pools, pool heating and maintenance, spa baths, saunas, steam rooms
  • General home repairs, general renovations and maintenance.
  • Water, gas, and electricity bills, council rates
  • Water filters, purifiers, or aerators.
  • Electricity generators, solar panels, and batteries
  • Standard household items (dishwasher, fridge, washing machine, non-modified kitchen utensils and crockery, fire alarms, floor rugs, beanbags, lounges, standard mattresses, and bedding), replacement of appliances, including hot water services, solar panels, etc.  

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

Fencing and gates in cases of safety with bsp in place?

Agreed - there are times when fencing and gates are needed for safety reasons, and are recommended in conjunction with a behaviour support plan to address restrictive practice.

  1. Supports that are not ‘NDIS supports’

Finance and payments related:

  • Donations, tithes, gifts, and political contributions,
  • Fines penalties, and court-ordered amounts
  • Travel insurance, life insurance, home and contents insurance, car insurance and excess insurance for Novated vehicles (Salary Sacrifice).
  • Superannuation for participants or related parties (exceptions apply for arm’s length Employment arrangements)
  • School / education fees including TAFE and university.
  • Legal costs
  • Child support fees, debt repayments, gift cards
  • Business development costs, business skills development costs
  • Debts, liabilities, and taxes, other than those necessarily incurred in the receipt of supports

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Supports that are not ‘NDIS supports’

Food, Beverage related:

  • Groceries (except for modified foods required as a result of a person’s your disability e.g. PEG feeding),
  • Fast food services and takeaway food
  • Alcohol

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Supports that are not ‘NDIS supports’

Lifestyle related:

  • Cigarettes, vapes and smoking paraphernalia, legal cannabis
  • Gambling
  • Internet services, land line phone, mobile phones, mobile phone accessories, and mobile phone plans and smart phones.
  • Gaming PCs, consoles and games, subscriptions for streaming services
  • Standard toys, balls, racquets, uniforms, membership costs and other costs associated with recreational sports
  • Wedding, honeymoon, funeral, other events.
  • Musical instruments, music production, social media production
  • Tickets to music, theatre, cinema or sporting events, and general conference fees
  • Sex work
  • Sex toys
  • Surrogacy, Menstrual products, IVF
  • Trampolines
  • General play equipment, indoor or outdoor.
  • Membership of a recreational club

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

Sex is an important (and stigmatised) human occupation, NDIS needs to clarify whether all sex related services and items are meant to stop or if disability related AT will continue to be funded.

Will disability related mobile phones (such as KISA) continue to be funded?

Will disability specific recreational sporting programs be funded? There is a paucity of options available to my Autistic paeds clients in our region, which means there is almost no ability for them to meaningfully access (by this I mean actually feeling safe to join in rather than only being able to sit and watch for the entire season) sporting or other movement activities that meet their specific needs.

  1. Supports that are not ‘NDIS supports’

Clothing related:

  • Jewellery, watches (including smart watches[b][c][d])
  • Makeup, cosmetic treatments, wigs, and cosmetics
  • Standard clothing and footwear

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

Smart watches offer a lower cost option to meet disability specific needs

Current research highlights a clear link between interoception impairments and various disabilities, including autism and traumatic brain injury. Interoception, the sense that detects signals from the body’s internal sensory systems, plays a crucial role in recognizing and responding to emotional and physical states. For individuals with impaired interoceptive awareness due to their disability, smartwatches offer valuable features that enhance their well-being and daily lives.
Heart Rate Monitoring:

  • Smartwatches come equipped with built-in heart rate monitors, allowing users to track their heart rate continuously. For people with disabilities, this feature provides real-time insights into their physiological state.
  • Individuals can monitor their heart rate during physical activities, stress-inducing situations, or even while at rest. Detecting abnormal heart rates promptly can be life-saving, especially for those with conditions like arrhythmias or autonomic dysregulation.

Automatic Alerts:

  • Smartwatches can automatically alert users when their heart rate exceeds a predefined threshold. This feature is particularly beneficial for people with disabilities who may struggle to recognize physical cues.
  • High heart rates can indicate stress, anxiety, or other health issues. By receiving timely alerts, individuals can take appropriate actions, such as practicing relaxation techniques or seeking medical attention.

Guided Breathing Exercises:

  • Many smartwatches offer guided breathing exercises to promote relaxation and stress reduction. These exercises help regulate heart rate variability and improve overall well-being.
  • For individuals with disabilities, managing stress and anxiety is essential. Guided breathing sessions accessible directly from their wrist empower them to proactively address emotional states.

Enhanced Emotional Regulation:

  • By fostering self-awareness and providing tools for emotional regulation, smartwatches contribute to regulation goals.
  • Individuals can learn to recognize patterns in their heart rate and correlate them with emotions. Over time, this awareness enables better emotional self-regulation.

Participation in Daily Activities:

  • Smartwatches facilitate engagement in daily routines and social interactions. Notifications, reminders, and calendar alerts help users stay organized and punctual.
  • For people with disabilities, maintaining a structured routine is vital. Smartwatches serve as discreet companions, assisting with reminders and keeping them connected to their environment.

In summary, smartwatches empower individuals with disabilities by bridging the gap between their internal sensory experiences and external cues. These wearable devices enhance interoceptive awareness, emotional regulation, and active participation in daily life. As technology continues to evolve, smartwatches play an increasingly essential role in promoting independence and well-being for all users, regardless of their abilities.

  1. Supports that are not ‘NDIS supports’

Travel related:

  • Cruises, holiday packages, holiday accommodation, including overseas travel, Airfares, passports, visa, meals and activities.
  • Tickets to theme parks, tourism and entertainment operators.
  • Motor vehicles, motorbikes, watercraft, all-terrain vehicles and other recreational vehicles, mechanical repairs, tools, vehicle registration.
  • Petrol

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Supports that are not ‘NDIS supports’

Pet Related:

  • Animals (other than approved NDIS funded assistance animals),
  • pet food for animals other than for approved NDIS assistance animals,
  • veterinarian costs, pet boarding, pet grooming, taxidermy, pet cremations/funeral

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. (this section is in response to the “Supports that are not ‘NDIS supports’)

Carve outs that may be considered ‘NDIS supports’ for certain participants

The following day to day living costs may be funded under the NDIS if they relate to reasonable and necessary supports:

  • Additional living costs that are incurred by a participant solely and directly as a result of their disability support needs
  • Services delivered in a gym or recreational club related to the participant’s disability support needs (excluding  the cost of membership, entry, or basic equipment[e]).
  • Play equipment where it is specialist sensory equipment could be funded under Assisted Technology
  • Additional insurance costs that arise from modified vehicles
  • Additional costs to upgrade standard household items to household items that include accessibility features

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Not value for money/not effective or beneficial

Description

Alternative and complementary therapies:

  • Crystal therapy
  • Tarot card reading, Clairvoyants
  • Cuddle therapy
  • Reflexology
  • Aromatherapy
  • Sound therapy
  • Yoga Therapy
  • Wilderness Therapy
  • Alternative or complementary medicine

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

Trauma sensitive yoga has been shown to support people experiencing CPTSD, and is a recommended intervention of support.

  1. Not value for money/not effective or beneficial

Wellness and coaching related:

  • General massage
  • Sports or athletic supplements
  • Life/wellness/career coach/cultural coach
  • Hypnotherapy
  • Neurofeedback
  • Gaming therapy
  • Mastermind coaching
  • Somatic therapy
  • Kinesiology

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

Have not had the time to review the methodology of this SR but a glance suggests there is evidence for the efficacy of neurofeedback as an adjunct intervention for PTSD - https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1323485/full

  1. Not value for money/not effective or beneficial

Energy and Healing Practices related:

  • Reiki (including intuitive reiki), Scalar Lounge, Frequency Healing and Energy balanced massage, Deep Energy Clearing, Spinal Flow Technique, Shamanic Healing

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Not value for money/not effective or beneficial

Beauty Services related:

  • Hair therapy, hair and beauty services including nail salons

Carve outs that may be considered ‘NDIS supports’ for certain participants

  • Therapeutic massage that is directly related to a participant’s disability support needs

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

What about salon or mobile hairdressing services for participants with impaired u/l function?

  1. Mainstream – Health

Description

  • The diagnosis and clinical treatment of health conditions, including ongoing or chronic health conditions
  • Diagnostic assessments and screening services.
  • Time-limited, goal-oriented services and therapies:
  • where the predominant purpose is treatment directly related to the person’s health status, or
  • provided after a recent medical or surgical event, with the aim of improving the person’s functional status, including post-acute rehabilitation or post-acute care
  • Any pharmaceutical
  • Any equipment or assistive technology prescribed as a result of clinical care, treatment or management from a medical practitioner delivered in the context of clinical care.
  • Acute, subacute,  emergency and outpatient clinical services delivered through public or private hospitals.
  • Prescription medicines, non-prescription medicines, biological medicines, vaccines, sunscreens, weight loss products, vitamins, sport and athletic supplements, homeopathic medicines, prescription glasses
  • Nursing services (where related to treatment of a health event)
  • Ambulance services or membership
  • Health transport services
  • Hospital in the home services
  • Sleep consultant services.
  • Health retreats
  • New-born follow-up provided in the health system, including child and maternal health services
  • Palliative care

Carve outs that may be considered ‘NDIS supports’ for certain participants

  • Disability-related health supports where the supports are a regular part of the participant’s daily life, and result from the participant’s disability. This includes continence, dysphagia, respiratory, nutrition, diabetic management, epilepsy, podiatry and foot care, and wound and pressure care supports.
  • Jointly with other parties, provision of specialist allied health, rehabilitation and other therapy, jointly with health services, to facilitate enhanced functioning and community re-integration of people with recently acquired severe conditions such as newly acquired spinal cord and severe acquired brain injury.
  • Thickeners and nutritional supplements related to disability-related nutrition supports.

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Mainstream – Mental Health

Description

  • Any pharmaceutical
  • Treatment for drug and alcohol dependency, eating disorders, gambling and other addictions.
  • Acute, subacute emergency and outpatient clinical services delivered through public and private hospital mental health services.
  • Supports related to mental health that are clinical in nature, including acute, ambulatory and continuing care, rehabilitation
  • Any residential care where the primary purpose is for inpatient treatment or clinical rehabilitation, or where the services model primarily employs clinical staff

Carve outs that may be considered ‘NDIS supports’ for certain participants

  • Ongoing psychosocial recovery supports

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Mainstream – Child Protection and Family Support

Description

  • Out of school hours care
  • Vacation care, excluding respite.
  • Travel and accommodation for parents with children in OOHC
  • Guardianship services
  • Family therapy
  • Parenting programs
  • Babysitting or nannying services, au pairs
  • Dating or relationship services including VR/match makers/Apps
  • Marriage and relationship counselling
  • Statutory child protection services required by families who have entered, or are at risk of entering, the statutory child protection system
  • General parenting programs, counselling or other supports for families, which are provided to families at risk of child protection intervention and to the broader community, including making them accessible and appropriate for families with disability
  • Funding or providing out-of-home care or support to carers of children in out-of-home care where these supports are not additional to the needs of children of similar age in similar out-of-home care arrangements

Carve outs that may be considered ‘NDIS supports’ for certain participants

  • Parenting programs specific to a disability need (could be considered under capacity building supports)

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

Does marriage and relationship counselling include relationship support that focuses on building a partner’s awareness of the impact of the participant’s disability, development of strategies that will support the relationship etc??

  1. Mainstream – Early Childhood Development

Description

  • Childcare fees, including any fees associated with specialist or segregated childcare service models.
  • Teaching aids or supports related to educational attainment
  • Building modifications for early childhood educational and care settings.
  • Meeting the early childhood education and care needs of a child

Carve outs that may be considered ‘NDIS supports’ for certain participants

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Mainstream – School Education

Description

  • Out of school hours care
  • School fees including any fees associated with specialist or segregated schooling models.
  • School uniforms, shoes, lunchboxes, drink bottles or other school equipment unless a specially adapted item is required to address a participant’s functional impairment.
  • Personalised learning or supports for students that primarily relate to their educational attainment
  • Aids and equipment for educational purposes (e.g. modified computer hardware, education software, braille textbooks)
  • Aids and equipment which are fixed or non transportable in schools that enable a student access to education (e.g. hoists)
  • Reasonable adjustment to campuses, including capital works (e.g. ramps, lifts, hearing loops)
  • Services from a person employed at the participant’s school or the relevant department of education for education purposes
  • Textbooks and teaching aids (including alternative formats)
  • Tutors, scribes
  • Educational supports associated with home schooling
  • School refusal programs
  • School camp fees
  • Transport between school activities

Carve outs that may be considered ‘NDIS supports’ for certain participants

  • In-kind Personal Care in School and Specialist School Transport

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

I would like to see school/room rental fees for therapists included, QLD schools (both BCE and public school policies have changed) and are now charging therapists. Considering OT rates have not gone up in 5 years this has a big impact.  

Inclusion of therapist in-service/programs to educate and support school would also improve outcomes

  1. Mainstream – Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training

Description

  • School fees
  • Any supports for students that primarily relate to their education and training attainment
  • Building modifications to TAFEs and university campuses
  • Services from a person employed at the participant’s higher education facility
  • Learning assistance and aids
  • Teaching assistance and aids
  • Textbooks and teaching aids (including alternative formats)
  • Transport between education or training activities
  • General education to employment transition supports

Carve outs that may be considered ‘NDIS supports’ for certain participants

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Mainstream – Employment

Description

  • Disability Employment Services
  • Work-specific aids and equipment required to perform a job (including modified hardware and software)
  • Reasonable adjustments to access a workplace
  • Work-specific support related to:
  • recruitment processes,
  • work arrangements or the working environment, including workplace modifications, work-specific aids and equipment,
  • transport within work activities and
  • work-specific support required in order to comply with laws dealing with discrimination on the basis of disability
  • Employment services and programs, including both disability-targeted and open employment services, to provide advice and support to:
  • people with disability to prepare for, find and maintain jobs
  • employers to encourage and assist them to hire and be inclusive of people with disability in the workplace (i.e. support, training and resources, funding assistance to help employers make reasonable adjustments, and incentives for hiring people with disability, e.g. wage subsidies)

Carve outs that may be considered ‘NDIS supports’ for certain participants

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Mainstream – Housing and Community Infrastructure

Description

  • The provision of accommodation for people in need of housing assistance, including routine tenancy support
  • Ensuring that appropriate and accessible housing is provided for people with disability, other than participants eligible for specialist disability accommodation (SDA)
  • Ensuring that new publicly-funded housing stock, where the site allows, incorporates Liveable Housing Design features
  • Homelessness-specific services including homelessness outreach and emergency accommodation.
  • The improvement of community infrastructure, i.e. accessibility of the built and natural environment, where this is managed through other planning and regulatory systems and through building modifications and reasonable adjustment where required
  • Postal services
  • Housing subsidies (e.g. rental bonds, mortgage relief and assistance with buying a home)
  • Crisis housing (excluding discharge from hospital, aged care)
  • Mortgage payments.
  • Rental payments
  • Mobile homes, caravans, campervans, tents
  • Purchase of land, or house and land packages
  • Land taxes and levies
  • Council rates and taxes

Carve outs that may be considered ‘NDIS supports’ for certain participants

  • Medium term accommodation if you have a long-term home you will move into after MTA but you can’t move into your long term home yet because your disability supports aren’t ready and you can’t stay in your current accommodation while you wait for your long term home.
  • Delivery fees for NDIS supports (e.g. delivery of assistive technology)

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Mainstream – Transport

Description

  • Accessible public transport
  • Public transport fares
  • Concessions to facilitate use of public transport
  • Airline lounge memberships
  • Transport costs for pets and companion animals.
  • Transport infrastructure, including road and footpath infrastructure
  • Community transport services
  • Modifications to public transport and taxis

Carve outs that may be considered ‘NDIS supports’ for certain participants

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Mainstream – Justice

Description

•        Supports in secure mental health facilities which are primarily treatment focused (clinical in nature)

•        Supervision and monitoring of offenders

•        The day-to-day care and support needs of a person in custody, including supervision, personal care and general supports

•        Pre-sentence psychological and psychiatric reports

•        Secure accommodation facilities where the purpose of this accommodation is to safeguard the community or prevent reoffending, including secure mental health facilities.

 

Carve outs that may be considered ‘NDIS supports’ for certain participants

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Mainstream – Aged Care

Description

  • Aged care services

Carve outs that may be considered ‘NDIS supports’ for certain participants

  • Supports for an NDIS participant under the age of 65 who chooses to live in residential aged care and purchase support from an aged care provider

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

  1. Unlawful goods and services

Description

  • A support the provision of which would be contrary to:
  • a law of the Commonwealth
  • a law of the State or Territory in which the support would be provided.
  • Assistive technology, vehicle modifications or home modifications that do not meet state and territory laws, the National Construction Code or relevant Australian standards
  • Supports involving restrictive practices that are not authorised in the participant’s state or territory of residence
  • Illicit drugs or other consumable products that are against the law
  • Firearms and weapons
  • Seclusion rooms

Carve outs that may be considered ‘NDIS supports’ for certain participants

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

It is important to note that some Assistive Technology will not be required to meet the laws and standards mentioned. This is different to not meeting the standards. Can this be clarified please?

 Special interest in the impact of this on disability care seats that don't meet standard codes

  1. Income replacement

Description

  • Income support payments
  • Rent subsidy
  • Loan repayments or buy now pay later payments.
  • Income protection insurance
  • Fringe Benefits for staff or contractors
  • Cryptocurrency, shares, investment products

Carve outs that may be considered ‘NDIS supports’ for certain participants

N/A

NDIS OT Community of Practice response

NDIS OT Community of Practice response which includes overall comments

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[a]As a ND practitioner with visual processing impairment and lived experience of how this manifests functionally across the lifespan, I do a lot of work with Autistic and ADHD children whose motor development is significantly impacted by ocular motor control issues (it's more complex than this but simply put, a big part of this comes down to the brain's ability to coordinate eye movements and process/integrate sensory information coming from extra-ocular proprioceptors and the vestibular system). There has been a notable uptick in research investigating eye movements and Autism in the past few years - mostly focussed on the social implications. I work closely with a behavioural optometrist (one of 2 or 3 in the country at present who swim in these waters) who uses specialised lens protocols in really novel ways to support what I am doing for their motor development and we are getting significantly faster, better and sustained outcomes in the kids’ motor development and functional motor skills than with standard motor interventions alone. So I see these as really important pieces of equipment that support progress towards functional goals, and are ultimately much better value for money as we get there much faster than kids on my caseload whose parents have chosen not to go down this route. These need to be reviewed and changed every few months until they are no longer required and aren’t the stock standard +/- lenses so at this level they aren’t covered by medicare or standard private health extras - which usually cover 1 pair/year - they cost around $400/ review and are usually changed every 8-10 weeks.

[b]Smart watches are also a really effective solution for people with executive functioning challenges. It's much harder to miss an alert or reminder from something that is attached to you than it is from your phone/ipad/computer which is easily left out of sight/earshot.

[c]there was a fb post recently that outlined reasons why a smart watch can be reasonable and necessary. Perhaps we can list them here.

[d]Yes good thinking

[e]What other costs are there when it comes to these services? As in, what does this mean? That if an EP works out of a gym then the cost of the gym membership to access the space would not be covered but the EP's time would be?