Understanding NDIS Funding for Children Under Nine

Capacity Building Supports

Capacity Building funding helps children develop skills, increase their independence and participate more fully in everyday life

Improved Daily Living

Improved Daily Living is one of the most common Capacity Building categories for children. It can fund assessments, training, early childhood supports and therapies that help your child work towards their goals.

Depending on your child’s plan and needs, this may include support from:

• Occupational Therapists
• Speech Pathologists
• Physiotherapists
• Psychologists
• Early chilhdood key workers

A Key Worker takes a whole-child and family-centred approach. They deliver most of your child’s therapy through play, routines and everyday activities while bringing in expertise from a broader therapy team when needed.

These supports can help your child:

• Develop communication and social skills
• Understand and manage emotions
• Build gross and fine motor skills
• Participate in play and learning
• Become more independent in everyday routines
• Build confidence at home, childcare, school and in the community

Improved Relationships

If your child needs positive behaviour support, their plan may include funding under Improved Relationships.

This funding can support services such as:

• Positive behaviour support assessments
• Development of a behaviour support plan
• Strategies that build skills and support positive behaviour
• Support for family members and other important people in your child’s life

The support available will depend on what is included in your child’s individual plan.

Core Supports

Important: Not all children receiving Early Childhood Supports through the NDIS will have Core Supports funding in their plan. Funding is based on your child’s individual circumstances, goals and assessed support needs.

These supports help with everyday activities, disability-related needs and participation in the community. Core funding is generally more flexible than Capacity Building funding, although it must still be used for eligible supports that relate to your child’s disability and plan.

Assistance with Daily Life

Some children may receive funding for a support worker to help with disability-related everyday activities and routines.

The type of assistance funded will depend on your child’s age, needs and goals.

Assistance with Social and Community Participation

This funding can pay for assistance that helps your child participate in social, recreational and community activities.

Depending on your child’s plan, a support worker might help them:

• Participate in community activities
• Develop greater independence
• Build social confidence
• Take part in hobbies and interests
• Practise skills in everyday environments

Consumables

Important: Consumables funding is not included in every child’s NDIS plan. If approved, it is based on your child’s individual disability-related needs and the supports considered reasonable and necessary during the planning process.

Consumables funding covers eligible everyday products and low-cost items your child needs because of their disability.

Depending on their needs and what is included in this plan, this may include:

• Continence products
• Modified eating and drinking aids
• Disability-related wound care or skin-protection products
• Low-cost communication, mobility or daily living aids
• Other eligible disability-related items that support independence or safety.

Low-cost assistive technology generally costs less than $1,500 and can often be purchased through the Consumables budget. It must still be related to your child’s disability, support their goals and meet the NDIS funding rules.

Assistive Technology

Important: Assistive Technology funding is not included in every child’s NDIS plan. Where it is funded, the type and cost of equipment approved will depend on your child’s individual needs, goals and NDIS plan.

Assistive technology is equipment that helps your child complete activities, communicate, move around or participate more safely and independently.

Depending on a child’s needs, this might include:

• Communication devices
• Mobility equipment
• Specialised seating and positioning equipment
• Personal care or daily living equipment
• Equipment that supports participation, independence or safety

Higher-cost assistive technology is generally funded through the Capital Supports budget. Some equipment may require an assessment, professional recommendation, quote or approval before it can be purchased.

What funding will my child receive?

Not every child will receive funding in every category. The supports included in your child’s plan will depend on their individual needs, goals and circumstances.

Funding can also have different rules. Some categories are flexible, while others must be used only for the specific purpose described in the plan. Before purchasing a support, check:

• Which budget and support category it comes from
• Whether the support is included in your child’s plan
• Whether it meets the current NDIS funding rules
• Whether an assessment, quote or approval is required

Your my NDIS contact, plan manager or support coordinator can help you understand your child’s funding. A therapy provider can also explain how its services relate to your child’s goals and funding categories.

Building the right support around your child

Funding categories explain how supports are organised, but the most important question is how those supports will help your child participate in everyday life.

At Everyday Independence, we deliver supports using the Early Childhood Keyworker approach, an evidence based best practice model recommended within the NDIS Early Childhood approach.

An Early Childhood Keyworker works alongside your family to understand what’s important to your child and the changes you want to achieve. They deliver therapy through everyday routines, play and activities while bringing in occupational therapy, speech pathology, physiotherapy and other expertise when needed.

This gives your family one coordinated approach focused on helping your child build skills, confidence and independence.

Talk to our team about the goals that matter to your child and how their NDIS funding may be used to access the right supports.

Funding arrangements vary between plans. Always check your child’s plan and the current NDIS funding rules before purchasing a support. Official guidance is available through the NDIS information about support budgets, Capacity Building Supports and Core Supports.

Ready to Get Started with Early Childhood Supports?

Talk to our team about the goals that matter to your child and how their NDIS funding may be used to access the right supports.

Frequently Asked Questions