Nursing support,
for your needs.

NDIS nursing or the health system: who provides what

The NDIS and the health system do different jobs. The NDIS may fund disability-related health supports. These are health supports you need on an ongoing basis because of your disability, to help with daily life.

The health system includes Medicare, hospitals, GPs and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. It diagnoses and treats illness and injury. You can keep using Medicare when you are an NDIS participant.

• Usually the health system: diagnosing and treating health conditions, including chronic conditions, care after surgery or an injury, hospital in the home, medicines, and palliative care. Your regular disability supports can continue alongside palliative care.
• May be part of your NDIS plan: nursing for health needs caused by your disability, such as catheter changes, PEG feeds, or care for slow-to-heal wounds and pressure areas.
• An NDIA example: if you cut your hand in a fall and need the dressing changed, the health system provides that care, because the wound is not related to your disability.

How community nursing can be funded in your NDIS plan

Nursing support items are listed in the Core - Assistance with Daily Life category and in Capacity Building - Improved Daily Living. Your plan needs funding for disability-related health supports before you can use it for nursing.

The NDIA needs evidence to decide, and the type of evidence depends on the support. A good place to start is your treating health professional. If you are leaving hospital, your discharge summary or nurse care plan shows what care you need.

Whether nursing is funded depends on your plan and what the NDIA agrees is reasonable and necessary. NDIS price limits are different for enrolled nurses, registered nurses, clinical nurses, clinical nurse consultants and nurse practitioners.

When a support worker can do a health task

Some health tasks can be done safely by a trained support worker. This is called delegation and supervision of care. In one NDIA example, a support worker was trained to test a person's blood sugar each day, so a daily nurse visit was not needed.

A registered nurse decides whether a task can be delegated, and stays responsible for it. The worker must be trained in that task for you and be competent to do it. The nurse must be available to supervise.

What to expect when you start

Call 1800 148 857, email admin@heartforcare.com.au or use our online referral form. Health professionals and family members can refer too.

• Share what you have, such as your NDIS plan, nurse care plan, discharge summary or letters from your doctor.
• Complete our intake form so we know your health needs and daily routine.
• Sign a written service agreement before support starts.
• We complete a risk assessment and a support plan for your nursing care.
• We review your care regularly and whenever your health needs change. Tell us if you go into hospital, because hospital staff provide your care while you are there.