What Is Palliative Care Under the NDIS?
Palliative care under the NDIS refers to disability supports that assist participants whose conditions significantly affect mobility, daily activities, or personal care needs. These supports are intended to complement medical and clinical care, not replace it.
NDIS palliative care focuses on:
- Supporting daily comfort and wellbeing
- Assisting with personal and in-home care needs
- Helping participants maintain independence for as long as possible
- Providing emotional and social support
The NDIS assesses eligibility based on functional impact, rather than a specific medical diagnosis.
What Palliative Care Supports Are Funded by the NDIS?
NDIS funding decisions are guided by the reasonable and necessary criteria. When approved, palliative care supports are most commonly funded under Core Supports, with some supports included under Capacity Building depending on individual needs.
Personal Care and Daily Living Support
Participants may receive assistance with essential daily activities such as showering, dressing, toileting, grooming, mobility, and transfers. Non-clinical medication prompts and overnight support may also be included where required.
These supports are typically delivered through dedicated NDIS personal care services, which focus on maintaining dignity, safety, and comfort in the participant’s home.
In-Home Palliative Care Support
In-home palliative care focuses on providing consistent, flexible assistance in familiar surroundings. This may include help with positioning and movement, monitoring daily wellbeing, emotional reassurance, and adapting support as needs change.
Participants who require ongoing comfort-focused assistance often access this through specialised NDIS palliative care services, delivered in the home or community.
Domestic Assistance
As conditions progress, routine household tasks can become difficult or unsafe. The NDIS may fund domestic assistance for activities such as cleaning, laundry, changing bed linen, and basic household upkeep where these tasks relate directly to a participant’s disability.
Many participants combine palliative support with NDIS domestic assistance to maintain a safe and hygienic living environment.
Meal Preparation and Nutrition Support
Nutrition plays an important role in overall wellbeing during palliative care. Funded supports may include help with meal planning, cooking, and assistance during meals, particularly where disability impacts strength, coordination, or energy levels.
These supports are commonly provided through NDIS meal preparation services, aligned with the participant’s dietary and personal needs.
Transport Support
NDIS transport funding may apply when a participant cannot use public transport independently. This can include support for attending medical appointments, essential community activities, and wellbeing-related outings.
Participants who need help accessing the community often combine palliative care supports with NDIS transport services as part of their Core Supports.
Community and Emotional Support
Maintaining social connection and emotional wellbeing is an important aspect of palliative care. The NDIS may fund one-to-one support for social outings, meaningful activities, and community engagement to reduce isolation and support mental wellbeing.
This type of support is often delivered through NDIS community participation services, tailored to the participant’s interests and capacity.
What the NDIS Does Not Fund in Palliative Care
The NDIS does not fund medical or clinical services. This includes hospital care, hospice care, nursing services, medical treatments, and prescribed medications. These supports fall under the responsibility of the health system rather than the NDIS.
Who Is Eligible for NDIS Palliative Care Supports?
A participant may be eligible for palliative care supports if:
- They are an approved NDIS participant
- Their condition is permanent or progressive
- The condition has a significant impact on daily functioning
- The requested supports relate directly to disability-related needs
- The supports align with the participant’s NDIS goals
Eligibility is determined by how the condition affects everyday life, not by diagnosis alone.
How Palliative Care Is Included in an NDIS Plan
Palliative care supports are usually funded under:
- Core Supports – Assistance with Daily Living
- Core Supports – Transport
- Capacity Building Supports, where appropriate
Clear evidence of functional impact, well-defined goals, and professional documentation can help strengthen funding requests.
How to Access Palliative Care Through Your NDIS Plan
Participants can access palliative care supports by reviewing their current plan, identifying unmet daily living or comfort needs, and requesting a plan review if required. Support coordinators and providers can assist with navigating this process.
Families and coordinators often begin by using an NDIS participant referral to connect with suitable service providers.
Choosing the Right NDIS Palliative Care Provider
When selecting a provider, it is important to consider experience with complex and palliative needs, flexibility in service delivery, clear communication with families and coordinators, and a respectful, participant-centred approach.
Working with a local provider can also support better continuity of care and faster response times.
Official NDIS Guidance
For authoritative information on what supports may be funded, visit the official NDIS guidance on funded supports:
NDIS Palliative Care With All About You Disability Services
All About You Disability Services provides compassionate, flexible NDIS palliative care support focused on comfort, dignity, and independence. Our team works closely with participants, families, and support coordinators to deliver personalised in-home and community-based care.
You can learn more about our approach to NDIS palliative care and how we support participants throughout every stage of their journey.
