To join the NDIS you need to meet access requirements
This includes your age, your residency status and the nature of your disability.
If want to learn more about disability supports, including the NDIS, you can:
- find out more about disability supports on our website
- call us on 1800 800 110
- connect with an NDIS partner.
If you contact us directly, we will connect you with an NDIS partner. If you are over 9 you will connect with a local area coordinator. For children younger than 9, you will be connected to an early childhood partner.
If you are in a remote or very remote area, live in an area without an NDIS partner, have complex support needs, or are in a hospital or justice setting, we will refer you to a person at the NDIA.
NDIS partners can help all people with disability, including NDIS participants, their families and carers to find the supports you need to be more independent and do more of the things you enjoy in your local area.
Community connections
Your NDIS partner can work with you to develop a community connections plan if you want one, even if you are not eligible for the NDIS.
Community connections are all about helping you find the supports you need in your local community. These supports are called mainstream and community supports .
Mainstream supports are the supports from other government funded services, like health, mental health and education.
Community supports are supports you can get through community organisations, like peer-to-peer and community-based groups, religious groups, and services from local councils.
Learning about and connecting with community supports generally happens over one or two meetings. For some people it may be a regular conversation they have with their NDIS partner. There is no limit to the number of times you can contact your NDIS partner.
Checking your identity
Your NDIS partner will ask for documents to check your identity when you first meet with them.
Checking your identity is one of the ways that we protect your privacy, by making sure we only discuss your information with the right people.
Your NDIS partner will also ask to check your identity documents if you are a child representative, nominee, or authorised representative.
Applying to the NDIS
If you think you are eligible and want to apply to become an NDIS participant, there are different ways to complete your NDIS application. You can choose the way that best suits you.
You can:
- visit your local area coordinator or early childhood partner. Your NDIS partner can talk to you about the evidence we need and help you complete your application
- download and complete the NDIS Access Request Form (PDF 1MB) on your computer and email it to [email protected] with supporting information (PDF 244KB)
- download the NDIS Access Request Form (PDF 1MB) on your computer, print it out, and mail it to PO Box 700, Canberra, ACT 2601 with supporting information (PDF 244KB)
- contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 and ask us for an NDIS Access Request Form (PDF 1MB). We can mail or email it to you
- visit an NDIS office and ask for a copy of the NDIS Access Request Form (PDF 1MB). They can print it out for you, and you can email or mail it to us with supporting information (PDF 244KB).
If you send us a completed application directly, we will share it with the NDIS partner in your area and ask them to get in contact with you.
Your NDIS partner will make a time to go over your application and supporting evidence with you.
You can find more resources about applying to the NDIS in accessible formats on the booklets and factsheets page.
