The NDIS — the National Disability Insurance Scheme — is Australia’s national system for funding supports for people with permanent and significant disability. It is run by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and funded by Australian governments. Eligible people work with the NDIA to build a plan, and the scheme funds the “reasonable and necessary” supports they need to pursue their goals and take part in everyday life. It is not income support and it is not means-tested.
Key points
- The NDIS funds disability supports; it is administered by the NDIA and funded by federal, state and territory governments.
- It is for people with permanent and significant disability, and for some children through early intervention.
- It funds “reasonable and necessary” supports tied to your goals — not everyday living costs everyone has.
- It is separate from the Disability Support Pension (DSP) and is not means-tested.
Who runs it, and who pays
The scheme is delivered by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), an independent statutory agency, and jointly funded by the Commonwealth and the states and territories. Its job is to assess access, help eligible people plan, and fund supports — alongside the separate NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, which regulates providers and handles complaints.
It helps to know the language: the NDIS is the scheme, the NDIA is the agency that runs it, and a participant is a person whose access to the scheme has been approved. You’ll see all three terms used across official material.
What it funds — and what it doesn’t
The NDIS funds supports that are “reasonable and necessary” and connected to your disability-related goals — things like personal care, therapies, assistive technology, help to build skills, and support to work or take part in your community. Funding is grouped into budget categories and set out in your plan (we cover this in Understanding your plan).
It is not a payment you receive as income, and it doesn’t cover everyday costs that everyone has (like rent or groceries) or supports already funded by other systems such as health, education or aged care. Where another system is responsible, the NDIS is designed to work alongside it rather than replace it.
How people engage with the scheme
The journey is broadly the same for everyone: you check eligibility and make an Access Request to the NDIA; if approved, you meet to build a plan around your goals; the plan is then funded and used to buy supports; and it is reviewed over time as your needs change. We walk through who can apply in NDIS eligibility.
The NDIS is undergoing significant reform, so specific rules, processes and figures change from time to time. This guide explains the stable concepts — for anything current or decision-specific, the official source is always ndis.gov.au, and the NDIA contact line is 1800 800 110.
Official help: for current rules, forms and decisions, use ndis.gov.au or call the NDIA on 1800 800 110. This guide is independent general information.
Frequently asked questions
Is the NDIS the same as the Disability Support Pension?
Does the NDIS cover everyday living costs?
Who actually runs the NDIS?
Last reviewed 12 June 2026. General information only — not legal, financial, clinical or NDIS-planning advice, and not affiliated with the NDIA. NDIS rules and figures change; always confirm current details at ndis.gov.au or call the NDIA on 1800 800 110.