Some health tasks carry too much clinical risk to get wrong. Suctioning a breathing tube, running a feeding pump overnight, or changing a catheter requires specialised skill. For many people living with a disability, these interventions are part of daily life.
That is where NDIS complex nursing care steps in.
Quick answer: NDIS complex nursing care refers to clinical assessment, management, and direct interventions delivered or overseen by a Registered Nurse (RN) or Enrolled Nurse (EN). It supports participants whose disability-related health needs require professional clinical judgment rather than standard disability support alone.
This guide explains what counts as complex care, who qualifies, what it costs, and how to get the support into your plan.
What is considered complex care in the NDIS?
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission identifies key higher-risk health activities under its High-Intensity Daily Personal Activities framework.
| Support | What it means |
| Complex bowel care | Management beyond routine bowel care, such as enemas or suppositories. |
| Enteral feeding management | Managing nutrition, fluids, and medication via PEG or NASO tubes. |
| Severe dysphagia management | Mealtime management for participants with severe swallowing risks. |
| Tracheostomy management | Airway suctioning and stoma care for a breathing tube. |
| Ventilator management | Daily clinical oversight for mechanical breathing support. |
| Urinary catheter management | Care and changing of indwelling or suprapubic catheters. |
| Subcutaneous injections | Managing specialised injections under clinical direction. |
| Complex wound management | Treating chronic, slow-healing pressure injuries or surgical wounds. |
A Registered Nurse also manages broader clinical needs, including complex diabetes care, continence assessments, respiratory monitoring, seizure management plans, and severe pressure injury prevention.
What is the difference between complex nursing and high-intensity support?
While high-intensity health needs and complex nursing overlap, they are not the same thing:
High-Intensity Support refers to specific daily tasks. A competent support worker can perform many of these routine tasks if trained and assessed by a qualified health professional.
Complex Nursing Care refers to the clinical judgment, assessment, and oversight provided by a nurse. A support worker carries out routine tasks, but only a nurse can assess health changes, write care plans, manage high-risk procedures, and train care teams.
Support Worker vs Enrolled Nurse vs Registered Nurse
| Role | Typical part in complex care |
| Support Worker | Carries out the routine tasks they’ve been specifically trained and signed off to do. Doesn’t make clinical judgements. |
| Enrolled Nurse | Delivers clinical care under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. |
| Registered Nurse | Conducts clinical assessments, creates and updates care plans, trains and delegates tasks to support workers, and handles high-risk interventions. |
Who is eligible for complex nursing care under the NDIS?
To access funding for complex nursing care NDIS, you must be an NDIS participant. Approval depends on your daily functional needs, not a specific medical diagnosis.
The NDIS evaluates funding eligibility based on four key criteria:
- Is the care directly linked to your permanent impairment?
- Will this support help you live safely at home and in your community?
- Is this care outside the scope of public hospitals or Medicare?
- Is it a cost-effective solution for your long-term health needs?
While conditions like spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, motor neurone disease, muscular dystrophy, acquired brain injury, and severe epilepsy often involve high-intensity health needs, funding is determined by your specific daily nursing requirements, not your diagnosis alone.
Does the NDIS pay for nursing care?
Yes, provided it qualifies as a disability-related health support. The NDIS can fund:
- Registered Nurses or Enrolled Nurses to deliver or oversee care.
- Professional clinical training for your support workers.
- Specific clinical consumables, such as wound dressings, catheter equipment, or enteral feeding supplies.
- Clinical assistive technology, including pressure-relieving equipment or cough-assist devices.
What won’t the NDIS pay for?
The NDIS does not fund medical supports that belong to the mainstream public health system, such as:
- Hospital stays or emergency admissions.
- Ambulance transport.
- Prescription medications.
- Maternal or pediatric early childhood health checks.
- Palliative or end-of-life care.
- Treatment or diagnosis for temporary medical conditions.
For example: A fresh surgical wound is a health system job. A pressure sore that keeps coming back because someone with a spinal cord injury can’t shift their weight can be funded as an NDIS disability-related health support.
How much does an NDIS nurse cost per hour?
The NDIA sets maximum price limits for nursing services. Below are the national daytime weekday limits:
| Nurse Type | Weekday Daytime | Weekday Evening | Weekday Night | Saturday | Sunday | Public Holiday |
| Enrolled Nurse (EN) | $103.44 | $114.10 | $116.22 | $147.55 | $169.62 | $191.67 |
| Registered Nurse (RN) | $128.05 | $141.27 | $143.90 | $182.75 | $210.09 | $237.43 |
Note: Remote-area services may have higher rates. These are the maximum price limits providers can charge.
How do I get nursing care included in my NDIS plan?
You can request disability-related health supports during a plan review or by submitting a plan variation request.
- Consult Your Medical Team: Speak with your GP, specialist, or allied health providers to document your clinical requirements.
- Obtain a Nursing Assessment: A detailed Nursing Needs Assessment from a Registered Nurse outlines your exact clinical care hours and delegation requirements.
- Submit Clinical Evidence: Send your reports to the NDIA via your Support Coordinator, NDIS contact, or online portal.
- Review Decisions: If your request is declined, you can request an internal review under Section 100 of the NDIS Act.
How do I choose a complex nursing provider?
All nurses practising in Australia must hold active AHPRA registration. When choosing a provider for NDIS complex nursing care, ensure they are registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission for high-intensity clinical activities.
Key questions to ask each provider:
- Who oversees my clinical care plan, and how often does an RN review it?
- Are support workers trained and assessed specifically for my clinical needs?
- Are high-intensity supports explicitly listed on your NDIS registration?
- What protocol is in place if my health condition changes after hours?
- Will I have a consistent team of nurses and support workers?
Where Love Home Nursing fits in
At Love Home Nursing, we are a registered, nurse-led NDIS provider founded by a Registered Nurse with extensive experience across emergency, aged care, and community health. We structure clinical supports around your personal goals, daily routines, and health requirements.
If you or a family member require clinical care or ongoing disability support, reach out to our team:
Support coordinators, plan managers and health professionals: Refer a participant to us directly through our NDIS Referral process.
Participants and families: Start by completing our Participant Intake Form.
Not sure where to begin? Contact us to talk about disability support and complex nursing needs.
