Getting started
Where do I even start with the NDIS?
Written September 2026 · 5 min read
Maybe a GP said it. Maybe a teacher, a therapist, or another parent. "You should look into the NDIS." Then you opened the website, saw a wall of new words, and closed it again. That's a completely normal reaction. This is the short version.
What the NDIS actually is
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funds support for people with a permanent disability that makes everyday life harder. It's run by the National Disability Insurance Agency, which you'll see written as the NDIA. The NDIS is the scheme, the NDIA is the organisation you deal with.
The funding goes into a plan, built around the person's needs and goals. It can pay for things like therapy, support workers, equipment, or help to join in the community.
The one idea that clears up most confusion
Access to the NDIS is based on how much a disability affects daily life, not on whether a diagnosis appears on a list. Two people with the same diagnosis can get different outcomes, because their daily lives are affected differently.
That's why the evidence you gather matters so much, and why "they said my condition isn't covered" is often not the full picture.
The basic checks
To be eligible, a person generally needs to:
- be under 65 when they apply
- be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or hold a Protected Special Category visa, and live in Australia
- have a disability that's permanent, or likely to be, and that makes everyday things harder, or be a young child who would benefit from support early
For children under 9, there's an early childhood approach. It's worth talking to an early childhood partner first, because some support can start without a full application.
New from 1 October 2026: Thriving KidsIf your child is 8 or under and has autism or developmental delay with low to moderate support needs, some of what used to run through the NDIS is now moving to a new program called Thriving Kids, which is separate from the NDIS. PaperCalm currently covers NDIS paperwork only, so for the moment PaperCalm doesn't cover Thriving Kids. We'll keep watching this and update if that changes.
Source: Australian Government, Thriving Kids and Raising Children Network, Thriving Kids: your questions answered
Your first three steps
- Check the basics above. If they mostly fit, keep going.
- Talk to someone local. A Local Area Coordinator (LAC), or an early childhood partner for young children, can explain how applying works in your area. You can also call the NDIA on 1800 800 110.
- Start gathering evidence. Ask the GP or specialist for a letter about the condition and how it affects daily life. This takes the longest, so start early.
You don't have to do it all today
The NDIS process has several stages, and you only need to deal with the one in front of you. Right now that's usually just: check eligibility, then ask for evidence.
Sources
NDIS rules and processes change. If anything here doesn't match what the NDIS says now, go with the NDIS, and
let us know so we can fix it.
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PaperCalm is an independent tool. It isn't affiliated with the NDIS or the NDIA, and this isn't legal, medical, or financial advice.