NDIS access after an acquired brain injury

An acquired brain injury can change how a person thinks, feels, moves and manages daily life. Some changes are easy to see. Others, like memory problems or fatigue, are harder to notice but can have a large impact.

This guide explains how acquired brain injury and the NDIS fit together. It covers the access rules, when to apply, what evidence helps and how compensation schemes can affect support. It is general information, so please speak with a qualified professional about your situation.

What is an acquired brain injury?

Brain Injury Australia describes acquired brain injury (ABI) as disability arising from damage to the brain acquired after birth. Common causes include:

• accidents and trauma, such as falls, car accidents or assaults
• stroke
• brain tumour
• infection
• poisoning or toxins
• lack of oxygen to the brain (hypoxia or anoxia)
• degenerative neurological diseases.

An ABI can affect thinking, physical, emotional and independent functioning. Brain Injury Australia calls it a hidden disability, because changes in thinking, emotion and behaviour can be much harder to recognise than physical changes.

Can you get the NDIS after a brain injury?

Many people with an ABI are NDIS participants. To be eligible, you must be under 65 when you apply, meet the residence rules, and meet either the disability requirements or the early intervention requirements.

The NDIS disability requirements include cognitive and neurological impairments. You need to show the impairment is, or is likely to be, permanent, and that it substantially reduces your ability to do everyday tasks. The areas the NDIA looks at are communicating, socialising, learning, moving around, self-care and managing your life.

List A and brain injury

The NDIA’s Applying to the NDIS guideline includes brain injury resulting in paraplegia, quadriplegia or tetraplegia on List A. People with a List A condition will likely meet the disability requirements. Most people with an ABI do not fit this category, so their application depends on evidence of functional impact.

When to apply: recovery and permanence

The brain can keep recovering for months or longer after an injury. This makes timing important. The applying guideline says the NDIA generally considers whether an impairment is permanent after all known, available and appropriate treatments have been tried, including rehabilitation.

The same guideline also says that in some situations it may be clear an impairment is likely to be permanent while you are still in treatment or rehabilitation. This may be the case, for example, after some very severe injuries.

Some points to keep in mind:

• Talk with your rehabilitation team about when an application makes sense.
• The early intervention requirements may apply if early support is likely to reduce your future needs.
• Tell the NDIA if your situation is urgent, for example if you are about to leave hospital.

Support while you wait

The NDIS is only one source of help. While you are recovering or waiting for a decision, support may come from hospital and community rehabilitation services, your GP, a compensation scheme if your injury is covered, and state-funded disability or brain injury services. Brain Injury Australia and state brain injury organisations can also point you to local information and peer support. Keep copies of all reports along the way, as they can become useful NDIS evidence later.

Evidence that helps after a brain injury

Good evidence comes from treating professionals who know you, such as a neurologist, rehabilitation physician, GP, neuropsychologist, occupational therapist or speech pathologist. It should describe the injury, treatment and rehabilitation so far, and whether further improvement is expected.

Functional assessment tools

The NDIS lists example assessment tools for acquired brain injury in people aged 17 and over, including the Care and Needs Scale (CANS) and WHODAS 2.0. These measure how much support a person needs in daily life.

神经心理学评估

A neuropsychological assessment uses standardised tests to measure thinking skills such as memory, attention, processing speed, language, planning and problem-solving. It can show the NDIA how hidden changes affect real tasks, such as managing money, cooking safely or keeping appointments.

Why family input matters

After a brain injury, some people have reduced awareness of their own changes. This is a result of the injury, not a choice. A person may say they are managing well when family members see a different picture. Statements from family, carers or support workers can help fill this gap.

Common changes to describe

Your evidence is stronger when it links the injury to everyday tasks. Changes worth describing, with examples, include:

• Fatigue. How long you can concentrate or be active before you need to rest, and what happens if you push on.
• Memory. Whether you forget appointments, medicines, conversations or whether you have eaten.
• Planning and organising. Whether you can plan a meal, pay bills, use public transport or manage a routine without help.
• Behaviour and emotions. Changes in irritability, impulsivity, mood or social judgement, and how these affect relationships and safety.
• Communication. Trouble finding words, following conversations or understanding written information.
• Physical changes. Weakness, balance problems, headaches, or changes to vision or hearing.

It helps to say what a task looked like before the injury and what it looks like now. Include how much prompting, supervision or hands-on help is needed, and who currently provides it.

Compensation schemes and the NDIS

If your brain injury happened in a car accident, at work or in another situation covered by insurance, you may have a claim with a compensation scheme. Examples include the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) in Victoria, WorkSafe and Lifetime Care and Support in NSW.

The NDIS says you can still apply to the NDIS if you get compensation. However, the NDIS cannot fund supports that a statutory scheme should provide. The NDIA may also reduce plan funding or recover an amount from a compensation payment. Tell the NDIA about any compensation claim, and get legal advice about how the two interact.

Changes to NDIS access

New NDIS laws passed in August 2026. The NDIA says that from 1 January 2028, access decisions for new applicants will use a new standardised assessment of functional capacity, with more consistent assessment of permanence. Existing participants will be reassessed over 3 years. See the Securing the NDIS for Future Generations page for updates, as details are still being developed.

Invictus Health 能提供哪些帮助

Our neuropsychologists provide neuropsychological assessments after brain injury. Neuropsychology reports are reviewed by Dr Judy Tang OAM, clinical neuropsychologist. We also provide NDIS assessments and reports that describe functional impact.

If your injury is part of a compensation or legal claim, we also provide medico-legal assessments. You can book most assessments without a GP referral. See our fees page for costs.

A report adds information to an application. It does not guarantee NDIS access or funding.