You might have heard the rules changed and wondered what that means for your plan. The short version is that the reasonable and necessary test still applies, and now there is an extra step: your support also needs to appear on the NDIS supports list, or fit a narrow replacement option.
Official list: https://www.ndis.gov.au/changes-ndis-legislation
(This page links to the “what is” and “what is not” NDIS support lists.)
Naming the reality
Keeping up with a changing NDIS is tiring, and your worries are valid. The new approach is more restrictive. Short Term Accommodation used to be used more broadly and, for many people, it reduced stress, supported families, and kept home life steady. Tightening has not only touched STA. It has also affected the way providers bill for transport and travel, the kinds of technology that can be purchased, some wellness or coaching services that lack evidence, parts of day program costs that sit with mainstream systems, and home and household items that are now clearly out. This guide aims to explain the changes in plain language so you can make informed decisions.
What changed, in plain language
-
The test stays the same. Planners still check that a support relates to your disability, is effective and beneficial, offers value for money, and is not the responsibility of another system.
-
The lists now apply. Plans created or reassessed under the new rules fund items classed as NDIS supports, do not fund items on the not an NDIS support list, and allow a replacement supportonly in limited circumstances with written agreement.
What this means for you: if a support clearly sits on the “NDIS supports” list and meets the criteria, decisions are simpler. If it is on the “not” list, it generally will not be funded unless it qualifies as a replacement support.
What counts as an NDIS support (common categories)
Whether something is funded still depends on your evidence and goals.
-
Daily personal activities such as personal care and prompting
-
Therapeutic supports from allied health
-
Positive behaviour support
-
Home and living supports, including SIL where appropriate
-
Assistive technology and equipment
-
Support coordination
-
Transport supports related to disability needs
What is not an NDIS support (practical guide)
These areas commonly trip people up. If an item sits here, it generally will not be funded under the current lists.
Lifestyle and tech
Phones and plans, standard computers and tablets, gaming consoles or subscriptions, smart watches and standard wearables, tickets or entry fees for leisure and tourism.
Travel and holidays
Holiday packages, flights and accommodation for leisure, cruises and tours, petrol and registration, buying vehicles or recreational mobility devices such as e-scooters.
Beauty, clothing and personal services
Hairdressing and salon services, cosmetic procedures, standard clothing and footwear, body art and tattooing.
Wellness and non-evidence services
Reiki or energy therapies, cuddle therapy, general life or mindset coaching that is not tied to disability evidence.
Health system responsibilities
Hospital and medical treatment, pharmaceuticals, ambulance or health transport, prescription glasses and routine clinical care.
Education and employment responsibilities
School, TAFE or university fees and standard school items, job tools and workplace adjustments that should be provided by employers or other systems.
Housing and household costs
Rent and mortgage costs, bonds and rates, standard furniture and appliances, general home maintenance, security systems and non-disability renovations.
Pets and animals
Costs of pets or companion animals. (Assistance animals are assessed separately under strict rules.)
Justice and aged care
Supports that belong to the justice system or residential aged care.
Illegal, risky or income-replacement
Anything unlawful, supports likely to cause harm, or payments meant to replace income.
Short Term Accommodation (STA): what is different now
STA is still an NDIS support, but the line between respite and holidays is tighter. STA covers personal care, accommodation, meals and agreed activities that relate to your disability needs during a short stay, often to give carers a break or to trial new routines.
What has changed is the boundary with tourism and leisure:
-
STA is not a holiday. Tourism items like event tickets, tours and leisure travel costs sit on the “not” list and cannot be bundled into STA claims.
-
Activities need a support purpose. Skill building, daily living or appropriate community participation aligns better than general leisure purchases.
-
Inclusions depend on the setting. In many centre-based or group settings, meals and reasonable activities are part of the daily rate. In hotel or individual settings, some inclusions may not be claimable the same way and must be invoiced correctly.
What this means for you: plan STA around support outcomes. If a provider markets STA like a holiday package with tickets and tours, expect parts of the bundle to be non-fundable.
Replacement supports (a narrow “swap” option)
If a standard item would directly replace a more expensive disability-specific support and help you rely less on workers, you can ask for a replacement support. It is a substitution for something already in your plan, not an add-on, and it needs clear evidence and written agreement. Approvals are limited.
Putting it into practice
-
If you are unsure, check the official list at the link above to see whether the item is listed as a support or a not-support.
-
Ask your plan manager if you are not sure. Keep in mind plan managers may take a conservative view because the NDIA has warned they can be held responsible for invoices that do not align with the new guidelines. If you end up in conflict with your plan manager, ask a support coordinator or independent advocate to help you navigate the decision.
-
For anything that could be a replacement support, get approval first. Do not assume it will be accepted after purchase.
-
It is your NDIS. These changes are publicly framed as reducing rorting, but they affect everyone, including the majority who are trying to do the right thing.
Outlook
Based on recent directions and what we see on the ground, further attempts to narrow choice and control are likely. That does not mean you have done anything wrong. It means the system is being steered toward stricter boundaries, and clear, specific evidence will matter more than ever.