We're updating this guideline with new legislation
Please download the guideline for the latest information, while we update the website over the coming weeks.
Mainstream and community supports
There are many services outside the NDIS that all Australians can use, whether or not they have a disability.
Mainstream supports are the supports you can get from other government funded services, like health, mental health and education.
There are also many support services available through community organisations, like religious groups and supports from local councils. We call these community supports.
Supports that should be funded by mainstream or community supports are not NDIS supports. We can only fund NDIS supports that are related to your disability.
Governments across Australia work together to make it clear what the NDIS and other government services can fund.
This guideline explains how we work out what supports are NDIS supports, and what supports should be funded by another service.
When we say ‘disability support needs’, we mean supports you need for the impairments that meet the disability or early intervention requirements, or both.