NDIS Supports Final List Released: Participant funding determined

On Tuesday the Hon. Bill Shorten MP released the lists of what NDIS participants can and cannot spend their funding on.  The list will come into effect on 3 October 2024. 

The list will operate as transitional rule under the amended NDIS Act until a formal NDIS Rule is made. The date for this is yet to be confirmed.   

OTA made a submission in August calling for more clarity, specific references to OT services and prescriptions, and removal of some banned items/services. Here’s Samantha Hunter’s, Chief Executive of Occupational Therapy Australia, response to this announcement:

"OTA are committed to ensuring that occupational therapists have the tools and support to deliver life-changing care to NDIS participants. This new list, which reflects some of our key recommendations around early childhood intervention, assistive products, and therapy supports, is a step in the right direction. 

However, our focus remains on the long-term value OT’s deliver to participants through the NDIS. Occupational therapy is not just an upfront cost — it’s an investment in the future. By empowering participants to build independence today, we reduce the need for more expensive interventions down the line. 

Critical gaps remain in areas such as home modifications and personal mobility equipment. These are essential to enabling participants to thrive, and we will continue to advocate for their inclusion. OTs have the clinical knowledge to deliver practical, cost-effective solutions, and we are determined to ensure NDIS policy reflects the true value and future cost benefits of occupational therapy services."

OTA welcomes the adoption of some of our recommended inclusions in the list of NDIS supports, which will guide participants and their families on what NDIS plan funds can and cannot be spent on from 3 October 2024.

The draft shared with the community several weeks ago raised a great deal of concern and contained significant omissions and errors in terminology, some of which have now been addressed.

OTA welcomes the clarification that occupational therapy services will be funded under early childhood intervention services and the provision on prostheses and orthoses, the provision of assistive products and equipment, disability-related health supports and of course therapy supports.

Our concerns:

OTA provided strong feedback that the blanket exclusion of standard household and garden items may exclude innovative, low-cost solutions that save the scheme money and increase independence, when prescribed by an occupational therapist for a disability specific need. We are disappointed that this has not been adopted. The new list enables a participant to apply to the NDIA CEO for a ‘Replacement Support Determination’ that will allow standard commercially available household items to be funded if there is an identified support need. We are concerned that this may involve a lengthy administrative process to access sensible low-cost solutions, and we urge the NDIA to rely on the deep clinical knowledge of occupational therapists to prescribe necessary and sensible solutions.

We are concerned that the list doesn’t specifically enable for assessment of need in the areas of specialised driving by a driver trained occupational therapist – which is key to ensure that a person is supported to safely gain driving skills.

The list is also silent on funding for assessment for home modifications (and costs for maintenance/repair or project management), which is concerning as this is a core role for occupational therapists.

OTA will be seeking further clarification from NDIA about our concerns, and we will keep members updated.

You can read the full NDIS Supports List here. Look out for more information in the next edition of OT Today.

You can read more about the NDIS legislation changes here

OTA are here to support its members around this ongoing issue and are here to answer any questions you have. You can contact us at: info@otaus.com.au