If you’ve been an NDIS parent for a while, you might be noticing a big shift in how your child’s plan can be used.
That’s thanks to the October 2024 legislation changes, which quietly (and not so quietly) rewrote the rulebook on flexibility.
Quick refresher: Core vs Capacity Building vs Described Supports
- Core: Mostly flexible. You can move funds around to where you need them most — but always check your plan in case something’s locked in.
- Capacity Building: More “locked in” — supports are tied to specific categories (like therapy, finding a job, or learning new skills).
- Described Supports: The new kid on the block. This is where the NDIA tells you exactly what you can buy, who you can buy it from, and how much you can spend on each.
What’s changed?
Before October 2024, families had more wiggle room. Now, the NDIA’s updated guidance means:
- Funding is tied to specific services and providers
- Less flexibility to swap or reallocate funds
- You have to follow exactly what’s written in your plan
Think of it like grocery shopping with a voucher that says: “$10 for apples, $15 for bread, $5 for milk.” Even if you desperately need more bread, you can’t shift the apple money over.
How this looks in real life
Example 1:
Sarah’s plan says:
Improved Daily Living Skills: $10,000 for a physiotherapist + $7,642 for a psychologist.
This means: She can only spend this funding on physio and psychology — and only up to the amounts listed for each. No swapping. No sneaky “let’s put more towards physio this term.”
Example 2:
Tom’s plan says:
Support for a physiotherapist, occupational therapist, and speech pathologist.
This means: He can choose how many hours with each, but he can’t bring in other types of therapists or training. It’s just those three professions, nothing more.
Example 3:
Leah’s plan says:
Any therapy under Improved Daily Living Skills.
This means: She can choose the type of therapy (OT, speech, physio, psych, etc.) but still can’t use it for parent training or non-therapy supports.
Example 4:
Max’s plan says:
15 hours for dietitian, 25 for psychology, 40 for OT, 20 for a therapy assistant.
This means: He has flexibility within those therapies but can’t shuffle hours between them or use the money for anything outside that list.
What can you do as a parent?
- At plan reassessment: Ask for funding described at the category level (not specific providers) and explain why flexibility matters for your child.
- Submit an s100 or s47a (with help): Talk to your support coordinator or NDIS contact first — going solo can accidentally impact other funding areas.
- Request written permission: Sometimes the NDIA will allow flexibility on your current plan if you explain why.
💬 Still scratching your head?
Don’t worry — this stuff is tricky, and the NDIS isn’t exactly famous for plain-English explanations.
That’s why we teamed up with Hayley from Alee Disability Support to break it all down in our Decoding the NDIS webinar series.
🎥 The full webinar goes into great detail — but here’s a quick snippet to help you make sense of Described Supports → View HERE
