نفسیات اور تشخیصات کے لیے NDIS کیپیسیٹی بلڈنگ فنڈنگ کا استعمال

If you are an NDIS participant, your plan may include funding to help you build skills and independence. This is called NDIS capacity building funding. It can sometimes be used for psychology, but there are clear rules about what it covers.

This guide explains how psychology fits into your plan, which assessments the NDIS may fund, and changes to budgets that started in October 2026. It is general information, so please speak with a qualified professional or your plan manager about your plan.

What are capacity building supports?

The NDIA says capacity building supports help you build your skills to do things for yourself and work toward your goals. They are one of the main budget types in an NDIS plan.

Capacity building funding is split into categories:

• Support coordination
• Improved living arrangements
• Increased social and community participation
• Finding and keeping a job
• Improved relationships
• Improved health and wellbeing
• Improved learning
• Improved life choices
• Improved daily living

The NDIA says capacity building funding is a stated support. This means you cannot move funding from one category to another.

Where psychology fits

Therapy supports, including psychology, occupational therapy and speech pathology, are usually funded under Improved daily living. This category covers assessments, training or therapy to help build skills and independence.

Specialist behaviour support usually sits under Improved relationships. It is delivered by practitioners with specialist skills in positive behaviour support.

What NDIS-funded psychology is for

The NDIA’s therapy supports guideline says therapy supports are evidence-based supports that help you build or maintain your skills and independence. Psychology can help you build your capacity to do things in everyday life and take part in your community.

For example, NDIS-funded psychology might focus on:

• building skills to manage daily routines and planning
• strategies for coping with change, stress or sensory demands so you can take part in work, study or community life
• social and communication skills linked to your goals
• training family members or support workers in strategies that help you.

What it does not cover

The guideline says that if you need support from a psychologist for a mental health diagnosis or treatment, this is the responsibility of the health system, not the NDIS. This applies even if you are an NDIS participant.

So you may use both systems. For example, you might see a psychologist through a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan for depression treatment, and use NDIS funding for a separate goal about daily living skills. Your providers should be clear about which system is funding which service. It also helps to let each provider know about the others, with your consent, so the work fits together.

Can NDIS funding pay for assessments?

This depends on the type of assessment.

Diagnostic assessments

The NDIS list of supports that are not NDIS supports includes diagnostic assessments and screening services. The diagnosis and clinical treatment of health conditions is also excluded. This means an assessment done mainly to diagnose a condition, such as ADHD, autism or dementia, is generally not funded by the NDIS. If you are not sure what kind of assessment is being offered, ask the provider to explain its purpose in writing.

Functional and planning assessments

The therapy supports guideline says the NDIS may fund functional assessments that help plan your supports and work out your therapy needs, including assessments for assistive technology. For example, a psychologist might assess how thinking or behaviour affects your daily tasks, to guide strategies and recommendations.

Whether a particular assessment is funded depends on your plan, your goals and whether it is reasonable and necessary. Check with your plan manager, support coordinator or the NDIA before booking.

Choosing a provider

The NDIA says therapy supports must be delivered by qualified allied health professionals, registered with AHPRA or accredited by the relevant professional body. Psychologists must be registered with the Psychology Board of Australia through AHPRA.

How you can choose also depends on how your plan is managed:

• NDIA-managed: you can only use NDIS-registered providers.
• Plan-managed or self-managed: you can use registered or unregistered providers, as long as the support is an NDIS support.

Prices

Maximum prices for NDIS supports are set in the NDIS pricing schedule. The 2026 to 27 pricing schedule took effect on 24 September 2026, under the first pricing determination made by the Minister for the NDIS. Ask your provider for a service agreement that sets out prices, what is included, and cancellation terms.

Making therapy funding work for you

Therapy funding is limited, so it helps to plan how you use it. Some practical steps:

• Start with your goals. Check your plan goals and agree with your psychologist which goal the work links to.
• Agree on a plan. Ask how many sessions are likely, how progress will be measured, and when you will review it together.
• Ask about non-face-to-face time. Report writing, phone calls and preparation may be charged. Your service agreement should explain this.
• Track your spending. Use the my NDIS app or portal, or ask your plan manager for regular updates, so funding does not run out early.
• Keep progress reports. The therapy supports guideline says the NDIA looks for evidence of progress. Reports help at your next check-in or reassessment.

If a support is not helping, it is fine to talk about changing the approach or the provider. You have choice and control over who you work with.

Budget changes from October 2026

New NDIS laws passed in August 2026. The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing says budget allocations for social, civic and community participation supports will be reduced by 50 per cent, and capacity building daily activity budget allocations will be reduced by 10 per cent.

The NDIA says these reductions apply as plans are created or reassessed from 1 October 2026, or renewed from 1 February 2027. Some supports are protected, and the NDIA has said it will publish a full list. Because therapy is usually funded from the daily activity budget, it is worth planning therapy use carefully and talking with your providers about priorities.

These changes are new, and details are still being published. Check the NDIS website for current information.

Invictus Health کیسے مدد کر سکتا ہے

If you would like to use NDIS funding with us, please check with us first about how we can work with your plan and how it is managed.

ہمارا این ڈی آئی ایس پروگرامز, My Strengths and My Goals, focus on building skills toward your goals. We also provide NDIS assessments and reports that describe functional capacity and recommend supports. For mental health treatment outside the NDIS, our مشاورت اور طبی نفسیات team can help. See our fees page for costs.