♿ 🇦🇺 NDIS · Australia · GP-written

The NDIS, explained by someone
who isn't trying to sell you anything.

Eleven plain-English guides covering every stage — applying, your first planning meeting, budgets, support coordination, reviews, turning 65, and what's actually there for you as the carer. Every fact is sourced from ndis.gov.au.

🩺 Written by a GP 📚 15 guides 🔗 ndis.gov.au sourced Updated August 2026
Wayfinding

Where are you right now?

Tap the one that matches your situation today — you don't need to read all eleven to get what you need this week.

All guides

Every stage, in order

Read start to finish if you're new to the NDIS, or jump straight to your stage above.

START HERE NDIS or My Aged Care — which one applies?

The age boundary, the exceptions, and why dementia is usually treated differently.

🩺 GP written · ⏱ 8 min
01 · APPLYING How to apply — the access request process

Who's eligible, what evidence you need, and what happens in the 21 days.

🩺 GP written · ⏱ 9 min
02 · PLANNING Your first NDIS planning meeting

What actually happens, who to bring, and how to talk about goals.

🩺 GP written · ⏱ 8 min
03 · BUDGET NDIS budget categories explained

Core, Capacity Building, and Capital Supports — what each actually funds.

🩺 GP written · ⏱ 9 min
04 · SETUP Self-managed, plan-managed, or NDIA-managed

A plain-English comparison of the three ways to manage your funding.

🩺 GP written · ⏱ 9 min
05 · USING IT What a support coordinator actually does

The coordinator-vs-plan-manager mix-up, cleared up — and how to find one.

🩺 GP written · ⏱ 8 min
06 · PROVIDERS How to find and choose NDIS providers

Registered vs unregistered, service agreements, and switching if it's not working.

🩺 GP written · ⏱ 8 min
07 · REVIEWS NDIS plan reviews — when and how

Requesting a review because circumstances changed (not the same as an appeal).

🩺 GP written · ⏱ 8 min
08 · APPEALS Your request was declined — what to do next

Internal review, the Administrative Review Tribunal, and free advocacy support.

🩺 GP written · ⏱ 9 min
09 · TRANSITIONS Turning 65 on the NDIS — the decision guide

A deeper look at the high-stakes choice between staying on the NDIS or moving to aged care.

🩺 GP written · ⏱ 10 min
10 · FOR CARERS What family carers can access under the NDIS

What's funded for you indirectly, plus Carer Payment, Carer Allowance, and Carer Gateway.

🩺 GP written · ⏱ 9 min
11 · RESPITE Short Term Accommodation & respite funding

How STA is assessed and funded, STA vs MTA vs SIL explained, and what to do in a genuine crisis.

🩺 GP written · ⏱ 9 min
12 · PROVIDERS Changing NDIS providers mid-plan

You don't need NDIA approval to switch — how service agreements and notice periods actually work.

🩺 GP written · ⏱ 8 min
13 · MONEY The NDIS and private health insurance

Two separate systems explained — plus the Medicare Levy Surcharge and where the line actually sits.

🩺 GP written · ⏱ 8 min
14 · CONTACTS NDIS contacts by state and territory

The one national number to know first, what a Local Area Coordination partner is, and how to find yours.

🩺 GP written · ⏱ 7 min
Quick answers

Common questions

Where do I start if I don't know whether we even qualify?
Begin with the access request guide (#01 above). It covers the two eligibility pathways, the age rule, and exactly how to submit a request — then come back here for whatever comes next.
Is this hub official NDIS information?
No — CarerCompass is an independent, GP-authored site, not the NDIA. Every factual claim in these guides is sourced directly from ndis.gov.au and linked in that article's sources box. For your specific situation, always confirm current details with the NDIA on 1800 800 110 or at ndis.gov.au.
My family member is turning 65 and already has an NDIS plan — what happens?
They don't automatically lose NDIS access at 65 — see guide #09. It's a genuine choice with high stakes, so the guide walks through what to weigh up and who to talk to before deciding.
I'm the carer, not the person with the plan — is there anything here for me?
Yes — guide #10 exists specifically for you. The NDIS funds the participant, not the carer directly, but that still has real implications for your life, and there are separate Centrelink and Carer Gateway supports available to you as a carer.
What if our request gets declined?
See guide #08. There's a free internal review process, an external review pathway through the Administrative Review Tribunal, and free advocacy organisations that can help — you're not expected to navigate it alone.
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NDIS Plan Help & Navigation Guide 📞 NDIS Helpline — 1800 800 110 📞 Disability Gateway — 1800 643 787 🧠 DASS-21 Mental Health Screening 📊 PHQ-9 Depression Test (free)
helplines.com.au — free, GP-reviewed. Not medical advice.
General information only — not medical, legal, or financial advice. These guides explain how Australian government systems work in plain English. They do not replace advice from the NDIA, a qualified disability advocate, or your own GP and treating professionals. Programme details, contact numbers, and processes change — always verify current information directly with the relevant government body before acting.