Thousands of Australians rely on NDIS-funded community nursing each year to safely manage complex health needs while remaining independent in their own homes. Understanding how this support works can help participants make informed decisions about their care.
If you or someone you love has a disability with complex health needs, you may have heard the term “community nursing care” while planning your NDIS supports. It can sound technical. But the idea behind it is simple: it means getting nursing care at home or in the community, instead of only in a hospital or clinic.
This guide walks you through what community nursing care is, what it covers, who can get it, and how to add it to your NDIS plan.
Quick Summary
- Community nursing care is clinical nursing support delivered in your home or community, not in a hospital.
- It is provided by a Registered Nurse (RN) or Enrolled Nurse (EN).
- It is usually funded through your Core Supports budget or as a Disability-Related Health Support.
- It covers things like wound care, medication support, continence care, and training your support team.
- It does not replace your GP, hospital, or Medicare-funded health care.
- You need evidence from a health professional to show the support relates to your disability.
What Is NDIS Community Nursing Care?
NDIS community nursing care is a nursing service that helps people with disability manage health needs that are directly linked to their disability. A qualified nurse visits you at home, or wherever you feel most comfortable, instead of you having to travel to a hospital or clinic each time.
The NDIS explains that disability-related health supports, including nursing, are supports that help you manage the impact of your disability on your everyday life. They are not a replacement for the mainstream health system. Things like hospital treatment, GP visits, and prescription medicine are still provided through Medicare and the public health system, not the NDIS.
In simple terms, community nursing care under the NDIS fills the gap between hospital care and everyday support. It gives people the clinical help they need to stay safe, healthy, and independent at home. Learn more about the difference between hospital care and community nursing in our guide:
In-Home Nursing vs Hospital Care under NDIS
What Does Community Nursing Care Include?
Every participant’s needs are different, so nursing support is tailored to you. Common examples include:
| Type of Support | What It Looks Like |
| Wound and pressure care | Dressing changes, monitoring healing, preventing pressure injuries |
| Medication support | Administering or supervising medication, checking for side effects |
| Continence care | Catheter care, bowel care, and continence management |
| Diabetes management | Blood glucose monitoring, insulin support, health education |
| Dysphagia (swallowing) support | Safe eating and drinking plans, working with speech pathologists |
| Respiratory support | Suctioning, oxygen support, tracheostomy care |
| Nutrition support | Tube feeding (enteral feeding) and nutrition monitoring |
| Training and capacity building | Teaching family members or support workers to safely manage a health task |
The NDIA sets out detailed guidance for many of these areas, including continence, wound and pressure care, dysphagia, nutrition, diabetes, and podiatry supports, in its official operational guidelines.
Who Delivers Community Nursing Care?
Community nursing care must be delivered by a suitably qualified nurse, such as a Registered Nurse (RN) or Enrolled Nurse (EN). These are health professionals registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), which means they must meet strict national training, safety, and conduct standards.
Beyond delivering clinical care, Registered Nurses assess each participant’s health needs, develop individualised care plans, monitor ongoing health changes, and collaborate with GPs, specialists, and allied health professionals to ensure care remains safe, coordinated, and responsive to changing needs.
A Registered Nurse can also train family members or support workers to safely carry out simple, repeatable health tasks, such as preventing pressure injuries. This is a common and encouraged part of community nursing because it helps build the skills and confidence of a participant’s everyday support network, supporting safer care and greater independence.
How Is Community Nursing Care Funded Under the NDIS?
This is often the most confusing part, so let’s break it down.
1. Core Supports budget
If your nursing need is more of a personal care task with some clinical oversight (for example, a nurse assisting with a shower routine that involves wound dressings), it may sit under Assistance with Daily Life in your Core Supports budget.
2. Capacity Building budget
If the goal is to teach you, your family, or your support workers to manage a health condition independently over time, this may be funded under Capacity Building supports, such as Improved Daily Living.
3. Disability-Related Health Supports
Since October 2019, the NDIS has funded a specific pathway called disability-related health supports. This covers ongoing health needs that are a direct result of your disability, are not a one-off event, and are not already provided by the public health system. Nursing is one of the support types funded through this pathway, alongside things like continence products, wound dressings, and assistive breathing equipment. [1][3] The right funding category depends on your assessed needs, your goals, and the evidence in your plan. Your Support Coordinator, Local Area Coordinator (LAC), or NDIA planner can help you work out where nursing fits in your specific plan.
Good to know: NDIS support prices are set out in the official NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Rates can vary depending on the nurse’s qualification level (Enrolled Nurse, Registered Nurse, or Nurse Practitioner) and the time of day the service is provided. Always ask your provider for their current published rates, since prices are reviewed and can change.
Am I Eligible for Community Nursing Support?
To receive any NDIS-funded support, including community nursing, you first need to be a NDIS participant. The general access requirements are:
- You have a permanent disability that significantly affects your everyday life, or you meet the early intervention requirements.
- You are under 65 years of age when you first apply.
- You are an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a Protected Special Category Visa, and you live in Australia. [4]
For nursing to be included in your plan, the NDIS also needs evidence that:
- The support is directly related to your disability, not a short-term illness or injury.
- The need is ongoing, not a one-off task.
- The support cannot be safely or appropriately delivered by a non-nursing support worker.
- The support is not already available through the public health system. [1]
A letter or report from your GP, specialist, or hospital discharge team is usually the best way to provide this evidence. Your Support Coordinator or LAC can guide you on what to include.
What Community Nursing Does Not Cover
It’s just as important to know what sits outside NDIS community nursing. The NDIS is not designed to replace Australia’s mainstream health system. This means the following are not funded as community nursing:
- Hospital admissions or emergency department care
- Ambulance transport
- GP appointments and prescription medicine
- One-off treatment for an injury or illness unrelated to your disability
- Palliative care, which is provided through the health system
For example, if someone cuts their hand in a one-off accident and needs stitches, the follow-up dressing changes would usually be arranged through their GP or the hospital, not funded as NDIS community nursing, because the need is short-term and not related to their disability.
How to Access Community Nursing Care in Your NDIS Plan
Here is a simple step-by-step outline:
- Get health evidence. Ask your GP, specialist, or hospital team for a letter describing your health condition and why nursing support is needed.
- Talk to your planner or LAC. Explain your health needs during your planning meeting or plan reassessment.
- Check your plan. Once nursing is included, check which budget it sits under (Core, Capacity Building, or disability-related health supports).
- Choose a provider. Select a nursing provider that is a good fit for you. If your plan is NDIA-managed, you may need a registered provider.
- Set up a service agreement. Your chosen provider will work with you to create a service agreement and start delivering care.
- Review regularly. Your needs may change over time, so nursing supports are usually reviewed at each plan reassessment.
Benefits of Community Nursing Care for Participants and Families
- Comfort and dignity. Receiving care in your own home, on your own terms.
- Fewer hospital visits. Proactive care can help prevent complications before they become emergencies.
- Peace of mind for families. Knowing a qualified nurse is monitoring health needs can ease pressure on family carers.
- Building independence. Nurses can train you or your support team, so you rely less on clinical visits over time.
- Continuity of care. A consistent nurse can build trust and understand your needs better than a rotating hospital team.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Community nursing under the NDIS is focused on ongoing, disability-related health needs. It does not replace acute hospital-in-the-home programs run by state health services.
Yes. A registered nurse can train a family member or support worker to safely carry out certain repeatable tasks, which can reduce the need for frequent nurse visits over time. [1]
Palliative care is generally provided through the health system, not funded as a NDIS support.
The NDIA makes funding decisions based on evidence from your treating health professionals, alongside your assessed needs and goals.
Yes. Participants can choose a provider that suits them and can change providers if their needs or preferences change, subject to their service agreement.
Get Support from a Trusted Local Team
At ABE Nursing and Support Services, our experienced Registered and Enrolled Nurses provide respectful, person-centred community nursing care for NDIS participants across South Australia. If you or a loved one would like to understand whether community nursing could be included in your NDIS plan, we’re happy to discuss your needs, explain your options, and help you understand the next steps. Contact ABE Nursing and Support Services for a free, no-obligation conversation. Contact ABE Nursing and Support Services.
