What’s a replacement support, and what can it replace?

By now you’ll know all about the National Disability Insurance Scheme’s (NDIS) new spending rules and how they’ve changed the way funding is allocated and used.

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has defined the supports participants can’t and can’t purchase, and clarified the rules around requesting a substitute – known as a ‘replacement support’.

The question is, what exactly is a replacement support, what can it replace, and when?

The NDIA defines a replacement support as a service, an item, or equipment a participant would like to use instead of the NDIS support or supports in their plan, with the Agency confirming replacements are substitutes and not additional supports.

Currently, the list of replacement supports is limited to:

• standard commercially available household items; and
• smart watches, tablets, smart phones and apps for accessibility and/or communication purposes.

Standard commercially available household items

Replacing an approved support with a standard commercially available household item may be considered when there’s clear evidence that the need relates specifically to a participant’s impairment.

You can discover more about impairments and how they relate to NDIS eligibility here.

A replacement may also be considered if it’s seen to increase ‘whole task’ independence and reduce or remove the need for a support worker or disability specific assistive technology (e.g., a blender to prepare meals aligned to a modified diet).

Smart watches, tablets, smart phones and apps for accessibility and/or communication purposes

The NDIA may consider a replacement when a participant needs a device or app to meet communication and accessibility needs arising from disability. An example could include a non-verbal participant utilising a tablet to communicate with their loved ones and service providers.

Any smart device used for tracking purposes could be considered a restrictive practice and needs to be considered in this context.

Having a replacement support approved by the NDIA

The NDIA needs to be satisfied that a replacement support will provide the same or better outcomes and cost the same or less than a support that’s already included in a participant’s plan. Participants must apply for – and receive – approval of a replacement support before purchasing the support. To do that, they can fill out an application for a replacement support, or provide the NDIA with information to support their request by email or via a phone call to the Agency. Only some supports can be replaced and only if the NDIA agrees in writing.

If an application for a replacement support isn’t approved, the participant must wait 12 months before they can request it again. The NDIA’s decisions about replacement supports aren’t reviewable, meaning participant can’t seek to have the decisions reversed.

To keep up to date with changes to the NDIS as they come up, be sure to bookmark and visit these pages:

NDIS website

Summary of legislation changes | NDIS

Frequently asked questions about legislation

DSS website (external)