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NDIS Core Supports

Get clarity on NDIS Core Supports and the everyday assistance that helps participants manage daily life and live more independently. This guide covers:
  • The types of everyday supports that commonly fall under the Core Supports budget.
  • How Core Supports are used in daily life and the community.
  • How to find suitable providers based on your needs, plan and location.
If your NDIS plan includes Core Supports funding, Care Decisions can help. We’ll compile and send a personalised shortlist of suitable providers, matched to what matters most to you.
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What Are Core Supports Under the NDIS?

Core Supports funding is designed to help with everyday activities and day-to-day support needs and can include:
  • Help with personal care and household tasks
  • Support to take part in community, social or economic activities
  • Everyday items like continence products or low-cost assistive technology
  • Transport delivered by a support provider to activities
Supports in the Core category can be flexible or stated, meaning:
  • Flexible Core Supports let you move funding between Core support types (like Daily Activities to Social Participation) as needs change, provided they share the same fund management type (e.g. all self-managed).
  • Stated Core Supports are allocated for specific services (e.g. 20 hours of personal care per fortnight) and generally cannot be used for other types of supports or categories.
For example: Flexible funding of $5,000 might cover transport one month and consumables the next. Stated funding for assistive technology, like a shower chair, stays locked to that item type; you can’t swap it for transport.
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Who This Support May Be Helpful For

The Core Supports budget is provided for people who need practical assistance with everyday tasks. This might include:
  • Support with personal care, preparing meals or keeping up with household tasks.
  • Help from a support worker to attend appointments, go shopping or socialise
  • Funding for transport to activities and appointments
  • Everyday items like continence products or low-cost assistive technology.
You might be living independently and need some help with daily routines, or you might need more regular support at home or in the community. Core Supports are designed to be flexible and fit your circumstances

What Core Supports Can Help With

Core Supports funding can help you live as independently as possible by providing practical, everyday assistance when disability-related barriers make tasks harder to do alone.​

They can support your safety and wellbeing by providing help at home and in the community, including assistance to attend appointments, join community activities and maintain social connections.
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Many participants find Core Supports help increase independence and participation over time by making it easier to practise daily routines consistently and connect with the community in meaningful ways.

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Support Categories in the Core Supports Budget

Your Core Supports budget includes several support categories. What you can use depends on what’s funded in your individual plan. Flexible support categories: These support categories are flexible, meaning you can often move funding between them as your needs change (as long as they have the same fund management type).

Assistance with Daily Life

Supports to assist or supervise you with personal tasks during day-to-day life so you can live as independently as possible, including support provided in your own home.

Supports to help or supervise you to take part in community, social, recreational or economic activities, delivered in the community or other settings.

Supports to purchase everyday items you need because of your disability, such as continence products, low-cost assistive technology and Home Enteral Nutrition (HEN) products.

Supports to pay a provider to transport you to an activity that is not itself a support, or to a support delivered by another provider.

Note: If you receive funding for day-to-day transport (like taxis or public transport), this is usually funded under the Transport Recurring support category, not Core Transport.

Supports to help you live as independently as possible. Your plan will specify which Home and Living supports you can use, such as:
  • Supported Independent Living (SIL) – help or supervision with daily tasks like personal care or cooking, for people with higher support needs who need some level of help at home all the time.
  • Medium Term Accommodation (MTA) – somewhere to live for up to 90 days if you can’t move into your long-term home yet because your supports aren’t ready.
Individualised Living Options (ILO) – lets you choose your home and set up supports in the way that best suits you, with help from paid supports, family and friends.
Funding for people under 65 living in residential aged care. This can include:
  • Assistance with daily life tasks – extra funding if you need to pay additional daily care or accommodation costs because of your support needs.
Cross-Billing – funding for some fees and charges covered by an agreement with the Department of Health and Aged Care

How Core Supports Are Funded Through the NDIS

Core Supports are funded when they’re included in your individual NDIS plan, and every plan is based on your unique needs and goals.

Because plans are individual, you may not have funding for all Core Support categories. What’s included depends on what’s considered reasonable and necessary for you. Supports you use must be directly related to your disability, effective and beneficial, and represent value for money.

If you’re unsure what your Core Supports budget covers, or how to use it confidently, getting help early can reduce stress and prevent mistakes.

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How Care Decisions Helps You Find the Right Core Supports

Care Decisions is a no-cost, provider-neutral service that simplifies the search for disability support.​

Instead of sorting through long lists yourself, you work with a dedicated NDIS specialist who listens to what matters to you, then provides a personalised shortlist of providers with real availability.​

We help reduce the risk of choosing the wrong provider by giving you transparent options matched to your goals, location and preferences.​

You stay in control of the decision, with clear next steps and support from start to finish—without any pressure to choose a particular provider

How It Works

Finding the right NDIS provider shouldn’t be overwhelming. We make it easier by connecting you with dependable, available support services that meet your needs. Our FREE service takes the hassle out of the search. Here’s how it works.
Step 1

Let’s Get Started

Share your support needs, goals, location, and preferences with your dedicated NDIS matching specialist. We’ll help you find the right providers to suit your unique situation.
Step 2

Get a Tailored Provider Options Report

Our team of trained local NDIS support specialists create a personalised report, showing only NDIS providers who are available and matched to your specific requirements, location, and the type of support you’re looking for.
Step 3

Let Us Help You Make the Most of Your NDIS Plan

Once we have sent a list of options, providers will then be in touch. We’ll also help you understand how the NDIS works, how to get the most value from your allocated budget, and how to maximise the care and support available to you. We can also assist you in comparing provider pricing and service options.

Do I have to spend all my Core Supports funding?

Do I have to spend all my Capacity Building Supports funding?

No, you don’t have to spend every dollar if you don’t need to. However, NDIS funding does not roll over to your next plan. If you have unspent funds at the end of your plan period, they return to the NDIS and cannot be used later.

Yes, as long as your plan includes funding for those supports, you can use them together. Most Core Support categories are flexible, meaning you may use the funds across categories depending on how your plan is managed

This is very common. If you’re unsure, you can check your plan, speak with your support coordinator or plan manager, or get guidance before booking services to make sure the support fits your funding and goals.

Often, yes. Most Core Support categories are flexible, meaning you can use funding across them. However, stated supports (like Home and Living) must be used exactly as described.

Yes. Core Supports are commonly used in a range of settings, including your home, the community or other environments, depending on the type of support and what’s approved in your plan.

Your plan can be reviewed and changed over time as your needs evolve. If you think your current Core Supports aren’t enough or the categories funded don’t match your needs, you can discuss this with your NDIS contact or support coordinator.