NDIS Supports Transition Period Ended: What Providers Must Do Now

The NDIS supports transition period has been a crucial phase in clarifying how participant funds should be used and it has now ended. This period gave participants, plan managers, and providers time to understand the difference between supports the NDIS will fund and those it won’t.

The purpose was simple: to make sure every NDIS dollar is spent fairly, consistently, and in line with participant goals. During this time, the NDIA focused on education over enforcement, helping providers adjust to new claiming rules without the risk of immediate penalties.

That grace period has now ended. From 3 October 2025, any spending on goods or services not defined as an NDIS support, a debt may be raised. Even if it costs less than $1,500. 

For providers, this marks a permanent shift: stronger clarity, greater accountability, and a need for more robust internal checks to ensure participant funds are spent appropriately.

What Is the NDIS Supports Transition Period?

The transition period was a temporary measure to support the rollout of two definitive lists:

• Supports that are NDIS supports – the goods and services that can be purchased using NDIS funding.
   
• Supports that are not NDIS supports – those that cannot be purchased because they are everyday or unrelated costs.

Between October 2024 and October 2025, the NDIA focused on education and guidance. Participants who made small mistakes were not penalised, and plan managers were encouraged to learn the correct processes.

That learning phase has now concluded. Starting October 3, 2025, the rules are fully enforceable, and all purchases must align with the approved lists.

What Counts as ‘NDIS Supports’

According to the NDIA’s official list, there are 37 categories of supports and services that the NDIS may fund. These are grouped below for clarity.

1. Daily Living and Personal Support

These are everyday supports that directly assist participants with tasks they cannot do independently because of their disability:

• Assistance with daily personal activities such as showering, dressing, eating, and mobility.
   
• Household tasks including cleaning, cooking, and basic maintenance where disability prevents independent completion.
   
• Assistance with travel or transport arrangements to access work, community, or education activities.

2. Capacity Building and Skill Development

Supports that build independence, confidence, and community participation:

• Development of daily living and life skills (budgeting, cooking, communication).
   
• Support coordination to help participants connect with and manage providers.
   
• Plan management to assist with financial administration of plans.
   
• Employment-related supports, including job readiness training and workplace assistance.

3. Therapeutic and Allied Health Supports

Professional therapies designed to improve or maintain function:

• Therapeutic supports such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychology, or speech pathology.
   
• Early childhood supports delivered under the Early Childhood Approach.
   
• Behaviour support, including development of behaviour support plans.
   
• Specialised driver training for participants whose disability affects driving ability.

4. Home and Living Supports

Supports that enable participants to live safely and independently at home:

• Home modifications (e.g., accessible bathrooms, ramps).
   
• Assistance with tenancy obligations.
   
• Supported Independent Living (SIL) and Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA).
   
• Assistance with daily life tasks in a group or shared living arrangement.

5. Health and Assistive Technology

Supports that provide or maintain functional independence:

• Assistive products and technology such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, prosthetics, or communication devices.
   
• Equipment repairs, maintenance, and rental related to disability.
   
• Consumables needed for personal care or safety (continence aids, catheters, etc.).
   
• Training for use of assistive technology.

6. Community and Social Participation

Supports that connect participants with community and recreation:

• Assistance with social and community participation, such as attending events or activities.
   
• Community-based group supports.
   
• Short-term accommodation (STA) and respite to provide temporary relief for carers and participants.
   
• Innovative community participation programs designed to foster inclusion.

7. Specialist and Complex Supports

Supports requiring specialist knowledge or additional risk safeguards:

• Specialist positive behaviour support services.
   
• Nursing and health-related supports related to a participant’s disability.
   
• Vehicle modifications where directly related to disability.
   
• Assistance with decision-making, daily planning, and transitions.

These 37 categories represent the full scope of what can be purchased with NDIS funds when they are reasonable, necessary, and disability-related.

What Is Not Covered Under the NDIS?

The NDIA has identified 15 categories of goods and services that are not NDIS supports. These are items that most Australians pay for as part of everyday life or that fall outside the NDIS’s responsibility.

1. Everyday Living Expenses

• Rent, mortgage payments, or utility bills.
   
• Groceries, food, and takeaway meals.
   
• General cleaning products and household supplies.

These are normal living costs, not disability-specific expenses.

2. Personal and Lifestyle Costs

• Holidays, entertainment, or gambling.
   
• Hobbies, pets, and leisure goods unrelated to disability support.
   
• Gifts, donations, or memberships that are not disability-related.

3. General Health and Medical Services

• Hospital and GP fees, medication, or allied health not related to disability.
   
• Dental, optical, or surgical procedures.
   
• Vaccinations, weight-loss programs, or general health check-ups.

These fall under the broader healthcare system, not the NDIS.

4. Cosmetic and Elective Services

• Cosmetic surgery, hairdressing, beauty treatments, or aesthetic procedures.
   
• Standard clothing or fashion accessories.

5. Non-Specialised Goods and Services

• Standard household furniture and appliances (e.g., fridges, televisions).
   
• Standard mobile phones, tablets, and subscriptions not modified for accessibility.
   
• General vehicle repairs or fuel.

6. Legal and Financial Costs

• Fines, penalties, or legal fees.
   
• Private insurance premiums.
   
• Charitable donations or investments.

7. Supports Outside NDIS Responsibility

• Education costs, such as tuition or school fees (covered by education systems).
   
• Employment services under mainstream programs.
   
• Aged-care supports funded through other government schemes.

These 15 categories serve as the clear boundary of what the NDIS will not fund, helping providers and participants focus on genuine, disability-related supports.

Replacement Supports: The Only Exception

There is one narrow allowance called replacement supports. This applies when a participant needs to replace a support already funded in their plan with an alternative item or service.

For a replacement support to be approved, it must:

• Provide the same or greater benefit to the participant.
   
• Cost the same or less than the original support.
   
• Be approved in writing by the NDIA before purchase.

For example, if a specific model of a wheelchair listed in a plan is discontinued, a participant may replace it with a newer equivalent model of equal or lower cost. However, they cannot use replacement rules to upgrade to a higher-cost item or add a new, unrelated support.

This exception ensures flexibility without expanding funding or compromising accountability.

What This Means for NDIS Providers

The end of the transition period introduces a new standard of accountability. Providers must now ensure all claims align strictly with the supports lists. Delivering or billing for unapproved items could result in participant debts and compliance action.

To stay compliant:

• Review your services against the official supports list.
   
• Train staff on what’s allowed under the NDIS rules.
   
• Implement internal claim-checking processes before submission.
   
• Keep communication open with participants about allowable purchases.

Being proactive now will protect both your organisation and your clients.

How Providers Can Stay Prepared

To stay compliant and confident in service delivery:

• Keep the official lists on hand. The NDIA updates them online with the most current versions.
   
• Integrate checks into your booking, invoicing, and plan management systems.
   
• Communicate clearly with participants about what their funds can purchase.
   
• Update service agreements and pricing documents to reflect the finalised framework.
   
• Host information sessions to help participants understand the new rules.

By embedding these practices, providers reduce risk, maintain trust, and support participants in using their funding effectively.

Conclusion
The end of the NDIS supports transition period brings lasting clarity. The 37 approved supports and 15 excluded categories now form a stable foundation for all NDIS spending and claiming.

Providers who align their services and systems with this framework will avoid compliance issues, protect participant funding, and strengthen confidence in their business.

The message is clear: build the supports lists into your everyday processes. With accuracy, transparency, and communication, providers can lead the way in a stronger, fairer NDIS.

Stay one step ahead of the NDIS changes. Contact Labour Care for tailored compliance and training support designed for NDIS providers like you.

FAQs about NDIS Supports Transition Period:

1. What safeguards apply before a debt is raised?

Before raising a debt, the NDIA manually reviews the claim, contacts the participant or their nominee if something appears incorrect, and considers individual circumstances. Participants can request a review, waiver, or write-off, and payment plans are available if a debt is confirmed.

2. Have participant planning resources been updated for these rules?

Yes. The NDIA has updated the “Your Plan” operational guideline to help people manage their plan under the new supports definition.

3. Who do the new rules apply to?

They apply to everyone: participants, plan managers, registered and unregistered providers. All claims and purchases must follow the official NDIS supports lists.