If you've recently had community nursing added to your NDIS plan — or you're trying to work out whether it's something you should request — this guide covers what it actually involves, who's eligible, and how to get started.
Community nursing under the NDIS isn't complicated, but the way it's documented in plans and funding categories can make it feel that way. This guide strips it back to the practical information you need.
Community nursing is registered nursing care delivered outside of a hospital. Instead of you going to a clinic, a nurse comes to your home, your supported living arrangement, or another community setting.
Under the NDIS, community nursing is designed for participants whose disability creates a need for ongoing or regular clinical care. That might be daily medication administration, weekly wound dressing changes, catheter management, or monitoring of a chronic condition like diabetes.
The key distinction from mainstream health services is that NDIS community nursing is focused on disability-related health needs that require regular, repeated attention — not one-off GP visits or acute hospital care.
The scope of community nursing under the NDIS is broad. Common services include:
Wound care — Assessment, cleaning, dressing, and monitoring of wounds including surgical sites, pressure injuries, and chronic ulcers.
Medication administration — Giving prescribed medications, managing Webster packs, monitoring for side effects, and coordinating with pharmacists when prescriptions change.
Continence support — Assessment, product recommendations, management plans, and catheter care.
Chronic disease management — Regular monitoring and management of conditions like diabetes, COPD, epilepsy, and cardiovascular disease.
High-intensity nursing — Complex clinical care including tracheostomy management, ventilator support, PEG feeding, seizure response, and complex bowel care. This requires nurses with additional specialised training.
Health monitoring — Blood pressure checks, blood glucose monitoring, vital signs tracking, and early identification of health changes.
Clinical training — Teaching participants, family members, and support workers to carry out basic clinical tasks independently where safe and appropriate.
Community nursing is funded under the Capacity Building section of your NDIS plan, specifically in the category called Improved Health and Wellbeing (CB Health).
This funding is separate from your Core Supports (daily living assistance) and your Capital Supports (equipment, home modifications). It's specifically earmarked for health-related interventions delivered by qualified nurses.
Some participants may also have nursing-related funding under Core Supports — Assistance with Daily Life if they require high-intensity daily nursing care. The way it's categorised depends on how your plan was structured at your planning meeting.
If you're unsure where nursing sits in your plan, your support coordinator or plan manager can help you identify the relevant budget line.
You may be eligible for NDIS community nursing if:
Eligibility isn't automatic — it's based on your individual circumstances and assessed needs. The NDIA considers whether the nursing support is "reasonable and necessary" in relation to your disability.
Look at your NDIS plan to see if community nursing is already funded. If it is, you can choose a registered provider and get started.
If you need community nursing but it's not in your current plan, you can request a plan review (also called a change of circumstances). You'll need supporting evidence from your GP or specialist explaining why community nursing is needed and how it relates to your disability.
Once funding is in place, you choose a community nursing provider. If your plan is Agency-managed, you'll need to use a registered provider. If it's plan-managed or self-managed, you have broader options — though using a registered provider is still generally recommended.
Your chosen provider carries out a clinical assessment and develops a nursing care plan. This plan outlines the services you'll receive, how often, and what outcomes you're working towards.
Nursing visits begin according to your care plan. The plan is reviewed regularly and adjusted as your needs change.
Not exactly. Home care typically refers to personal care and domestic assistance — help with showering, dressing, cooking, and cleaning. Community nursing is clinical care delivered by registered nurses. Some participants need both, but they're different services funded from different parts of your NDIS plan.
Support workers can carry out certain tasks if they've been trained and delegated by a registered nurse. This is called "delegation of nursing care." However, regulated health tasks must be performed by a registered nurse unless there's a formal delegation arrangement in place.
Good providers assign a consistent nurse wherever possible. Continuity of care is important — your nurse gets to know your health baseline and can pick up on changes faster. At MediHealth Connect, we prioritise consistent nurse allocation across all our service areas.
Your care plan is a living document. If your needs increase, decrease, or change in nature, your nurse adjusts the plan in consultation with your GP and support coordinator. If the changes are significant enough, a plan review may be needed to adjust your NDIS funding.
Community nursing also exists outside the NDIS through mainstream health services (such as Hospital in the Home programs or state-funded community health centres). However, these services are typically short-term and not designed for ongoing disability-related nursing needs. The NDIS fills the gap for long-term, disability-specific nursing care.