NDIS guide: a plain-English introduction
If you're new to the NDIS, it can feel like a lot to take in. This guide covers the basics, and our team is happy to talk anything through with you.
Last reviewed October 2026. This is general information, not advice. Always check ndis.gov.au for current rules.
What is the NDIS?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funds reasonable and necessary supports for eligible Australians with disability. It's run by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
The aim is to give you more choice and control over the support you receive, so you can work towards your own goals.
Who can access the NDIS?
In general, to access the NDIS you need to be under 65 when you apply, live in Australia and be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or hold a Protected Special Category Visa, and have a disability that is likely to be permanent and significantly affects your everyday life. There are also early intervention pathways, including for young children.
The NDIA decides who is eligible. Check the official NDIS website for current requirements and how to apply.
Your NDIS plan
If you're eligible, you'll have a plan that sets out your goals and the funding for supports to help you reach them. Funding is often grouped into budgets. Day-to-day help, like assistance with daily life and community participation, usually comes from your Core supports.
A Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or the NDIA can help you understand your plan. A support coordinator, if your plan includes one, can help you find and arrange providers.
The NDIS is introducing a new way of planning in stages over several years. Existing plans stay in place until participants move to the new approach, so check ndis.gov.au for what applies to you.
How your plan is managed
There are three main ways funding can be managed: NDIA-managed (the agency pays providers directly), plan-managed (a plan manager pays providers for you), and self-managed (you pay providers and claim from the NDIS). You can have a mix.
This matters when choosing a provider. For example, if your plan is NDIA-managed, you can generally only use providers registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Ask us which arrangements we can work with.
Choosing a provider
You can choose who supports you. It can help to ask providers how they would fit support around your routine, whether you can choose your support workers, how they communicate, and how they handle feedback and complaints.
Before support starts, providers usually agree a service agreement with you that explains what support you'll receive, when, and the costs.
How Rising Sun Care can help
We provide daily living and community support across Western Sydney, including the Hills District, Blacktown and Parramatta areas (see all suburbs). We can explain how our support could fit with your plan and your goals.