If your child has a developmental delay or disability, you've probably heard the acronym "NDIS" more times than you can count. But what does it actually mean for your family — and where do you even start?
This guide explains the NDIS in plain English. It covers how the scheme works for children, the two main pathways for kids, what's funded, and the steps to access support. It's written for Australian parents who are new to the system and feeling overwhelmed.
A heads-up before you read on: NDIS rules change. This guide reflects the scheme as of April 2026, but always check ndis.gov.au for the latest information or take the 2-minute quiz to get a personalised starting point for your child's situation.
What the NDIS is
The National Disability Insurance Scheme — the NDIS — is an Australian Government programme that funds disability supports and services for eligible Australians. It is run by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
The NDIS funds what the scheme calls "reasonable and necessary" supports. That means services, equipment, and skill-building that relate directly to your child's disability and help them reach their goals, grow their independence, and take part in everyday life.
A few important points up front:
- The NDIS is not means-tested. Eligibility is based on your child's support needs, not your income.
- The scheme is open to Australians aged under 65. Your child can start at any age — even as a baby — as long as the other eligibility criteria are met.
- The NDIS funds disability supports specifically. It does not replace mainstream services like Medicare-funded therapy, standard childcare, or public school.
The scheme recognises that early support makes a real difference. As Reimagine Australia puts it: "When a child is able to access intervention as early as possible, the positive effects for their learning and development are significantly increased."
Two pathways for kids
There are two main ways children access the NDIS, depending on age.
The Early Childhood Approach (for children younger than 9)
Children under 9 access the NDIS through the Early Childhood Approach (also called the EC Approach). This pathway was expanded in July 2023 to cover children up to — but not including — their ninth birthday.
The EC Approach is delivered through Early Childhood Partners: local organisations funded by the NDIA and staffed by paediatric professionals such as occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and early childhood educators. Rather than going directly to the NDIA, your first contact is usually your local EC Partner.
The NDIS describes the EC Approach as "family-centred and strengths-based" — recognising that parents and carers know their child best.
Standard NDIS (for children aged 9 and over)
Children aged 9 and over who have a confirmed disability can apply for a standard NDIS plan. Instead of an EC Partner, families work with a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) — a similar support role that helps families understand the scheme, apply, and connect to services across their lifetime.
If your child already has an NDIS plan through the EC Approach, their EC Partner should begin discussing the transition around 12 months before they turn 9. Children with clear, ongoing disability support needs continue to be eligible through the standard pathway after they turn 9.
At a glance
| Early Childhood Approach | Standard NDIS | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Children younger than 9 | Children aged 9 and over (up to 65) |
| Contact point | Early Childhood Partner | Local Area Coordinator (LAC) |
| Diagnosis required? | Not always — see eligibility section | Yes — confirmed disability required |
| Plan type | NDIS plan (if eligible) or early connections support | Standard NDIS plan |
| Transition | Moves to standard NDIS at age 9 | Continues through adulthood |
Am I eligible?
Eligibility depends on your child's age, where you live, and the nature of their disability or developmental delay.
Residency
Your child must be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or a Protected Special Category Visa holder. They must also be living in Australia. If you're unsure whether your visa status qualifies, check the residency requirements at ndis.gov.au.
Age and disability criteria
Children younger than 6 can access the EC Approach without a formal diagnosis if there are concerns about their development. The delay must be significant — many months behind age peers, not just a few weeks — in areas like communication, play, mobility, or self-care. A health or education professional needs to have identified these concerns.
Children aged 6, 7, or 8 are still within the EC Approach age range, but the pathway for this group is different. To access the NDIS, children in this age group generally need to meet the same disability requirements as older applicants — meaning a confirmed disability is typically required, not developmental delay alone. Do not assume that a 7-year-old with developmental delay but no diagnosis will automatically qualify. The rules here are not straightforward. Check ndis.gov.au or speak to an Early Childhood Partner for your specific situation.
Children aged 9 and over must have a disability caused by a permanent impairment that is intellectual, cognitive, neurological, sensory, physical, or psychosocial in nature. That impairment must substantially reduce their ability to do everyday things — like communicate, learn, look after themselves, move around, or engage socially. Or, if the functional impact is not yet severe, the child may qualify if early support now will reduce their need for support in the future.
Examples of qualifying disabilities include autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, and vision or hearing impairment.
A note on what the NDIS does — and does not — fund
Since October 2024, a legislative change clarified that the NDIS should only fund supports that are genuinely NDIS supports. Supports that should be provided by health, education, or other mainstream systems are not the NDIS's responsibility. This matters in practice: some therapies are funded by Medicare, and others by state government services. Your EC Partner or LAC can help you work out what falls where.
What does the NDIS fund?
The NDIS funds supports that are "reasonable and necessary" — meaning they must relate to your child's disability, be likely to be effective, represent value for money, and take into account other supports already available.
Therapy and services
For children, funded supports typically include:
- Speech pathology and speech therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Psychology and behaviour support
- Early childhood intervention programmes
- Social skills groups
These are covered under your plan — there are no standard dollar figures to quote here, as every plan is individual.
Equipment (assistive technology)
If your child needs equipment because of their disability, the NDIS may fund it. This includes mobility aids, communication devices, hearing and vision aids, and other disability-related equipment.
Capacity-building
Capacity-building supports help your child grow their skills — and help you as a parent grow yours. This can include:
- Training for parents in strategies to support your child's development at home
- Support coordination (help navigating the NDIS system and connecting with providers)
- Key worker services
Reimagine Australia notes that "children learn best from the adults who have the deepest relationships and spend the most time with them" — which is why parent capacity-building is considered a core part of early childhood intervention.
What the NDIS does NOT fund
The NDIS does not cover everyday living costs like food, clothing, or standard childcare fees. It also does not fund school tuition or supports that should be provided by the health or education system. Since October 2024, participants can only use NDIS funds for items formally listed as NDIS supports.
A note on funding periods
Plans approved after October 2024 have defined funding periods. From May 2025, funding periods are generally set at three-month intervals within a plan. This is a significant recent change, and the rules around unspent funds within a quarterly period are still being clarified. If this affects your plan, speak with your NDIS planner or check the NDIS guidelines at ndis.gov.au for the current position.
How to access
Step 1: Talk to someone who knows your child
Start by speaking to your GP, paediatrician, child health nurse, or early childhood educator. Share your concerns. Ask them to document what they observe. Their reports will be valuable later in the process.
You do not need a GP referral to contact an Early Childhood Partner — you can reach out to them directly.
Step 2: Find your local Early Childhood Partner
For children under 9, the EC Partner is your gateway into the system. They will meet with you — usually at home or at childcare — and learn about your child through conversation, observation, and assessments.
Find your nearest EC Partner at ndis.gov.au/contact/locations or call the NDIA on 1800 800 110.
Note: EC Partners are not present in remote and very remote areas. In those areas, the NDIA works directly with families. If you're in a regional or remote community, your GP, child health nurse, or early childhood educator can help you gather evidence and submit directly to the NDIA.
For children aged 9 and over, contact a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) instead. The same NDIA number applies: 1800 800 110.
Step 3: Apply for NDIS access
If your EC Partner or LAC agrees that your child may be eligible, the next step is completing the NDIS Access Request Form. This is available from the NDIA, online, or through your EC Partner or LAC.
You will need to submit supporting information — medical reports, professional assessments, and therapist reports — that show the nature of your child's condition and how it affects their daily life.
For children under 6 with developmental delay, the EC Partner can often gather the evidence needed without requiring a formal diagnosis from a specialist.
For any questions about evidence or timeframes for submission, check ndis.gov.au/applying-access-ndis/how-apply for current requirements.
The NDIA aims to make a decision within 21 days of receiving a complete application.
Step 4: Planning meeting
If your child is approved, you'll have a planning meeting with your EC Partner or an NDIA planner. Together, you'll develop an NDIS plan — an individualised document that sets out funded supports, goals, and the budget for the plan period.
Your plan reflects what your child needs right now. It can be reviewed if things change.
Step 5: Using the plan
Once your plan is active, you choose providers and book services. Depending on how your plan is managed — by the NDIA (agency-managed), by a registered plan manager, or by yourself (self-managed) — the process for paying providers differs. Your EC Partner or LAC can explain the options.
Plans are managed through the myplace portal or the my NDIS mobile app.
Common questions
Do we need a diagnosis first?
Not always. Children younger than 6 do not need a formal diagnosis to access the EC Approach — concerns raised with a health or education professional are enough to start the process. For older children, a confirmed disability is generally required.
Are there waitlists?
The NDIS does not have a formal eligibility waitlist. Once a complete access request is submitted, the NDIA must decide within 21 days. That said, wait times to see an EC Partner in the first place, and then to start receiving funded supports, can vary depending on where you live. In some areas, EC Partner availability is limited — if you're having trouble getting an appointment, call 1800 800 110 and explain your situation.
Can we top up NDIS funding with other money?
Yes. Families can access Medicare-funded therapy, state government disability services, and private services alongside NDIS funding. The NDIS itself does not fund supports that other systems should be providing — but there is no restriction on families privately funding additional services on top of what the NDIS covers.
Can we switch providers?
Yes. NDIS participants have the right to choose and change providers. For agency-managed and plan-managed plans, you end the service agreement with one provider and start one with another. You do not need NDIA permission to switch.
What happens to unspent funding?
From May 2025, plans use quarterly funding periods. The rules around what happens to unspent funds at the end of a quarterly period are a recent change and were still being clarified as of April 2026. Speak with your planner about how this applies to your plan.
What if we disagree with a decision?
If you are unhappy with an NDIS decision — for example, if your child's access request is rejected — you can request an internal review. If the internal review outcome is still unsatisfactory, there is a further appeal pathway through the Administrative Review Tribunal. Ask your EC Partner, LAC, or a disability advocacy service for help with this process.
What to do next
The NDIS can feel like a maze at first. But you do not have to figure it out alone.
A good starting point is to connect with an Early Childhood Partner or Local Area Coordinator — even if you're not sure your child qualifies. That first conversation is free and does not commit you to anything. Call 1800 800 110 or search for your nearest partner at ndis.gov.au.
If you'd like help working out which supports might suit your child's specific needs, take the 2-minute quiz on EarlyBloom. It's designed for Australian parents and will give you a personalised view of the types of services and programmes worth exploring.
When you're ready to find a therapist or early intervention provider, browse verified NDIS-registered providers near you — all listed on EarlyBloom with their areas of practice, locations, and NDIS registration status.
The most important step is simply the first one: reaching out. Early support makes a genuine difference, and you have every right to ask for it.
Information in this guide is general in nature and is current as of April 2026. NDIS rules change regularly. Always confirm details at ndis.gov.au or by calling the NDIA on 1800 800 110.