What Counts as High-Intensity Support Under the NDIS?
When you hear the term “high-intensity support”, it might sound a little confusing. In the NDIS world, it has a very specific meaning. High-intensity supports are day-to-day care tasks that carry higher health risks and therefore require workers with specialised training.
If you or someone you support needs this type of care, the NDIS may fund it at a higher rate to make sure it’s delivered safely and by the right people.
The 8 Types of High-Intensity Support
The NDIS sets out eight areas that qualify as high-intensity daily personal activities:
- Complex bowel care
- Enteral feeding (tube feeding)
- Severe swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) management
- Tracheostomy care
- Urinary catheter management
- Ventilator support
- Subcutaneous injections (like insulin)
- Complex wound care
What Makes Them “High-Intensity”?
- They carry medical or safety risks if not done correctly.
- Workers must follow a clear support plan and be trained by a qualified health professional.
- They usually involve close monitoring and quick response if something changes.
For example, if you’re on a ventilator, your support worker needs to know how to safely operate the machine, watch for signs of distress, and respond immediately if something goes wrong.
Do You Need a Nurse for High-Intensity Support?
Not always. The NDIS allows trained support workers to provide most high-intensity supports, as long as they’ve been properly trained and are supervised where required.
How the NDIS Funds High-Intensity Supports
High-intensity supports are usually funded under Core Supports – Assistance with Daily Life. The NDIA recognises that they require extra training and risk management, so the funding rates are set higher than for standard personal care.
Sometimes your plan will include a mix of standard supports (e.g. meal prep, showering) and high-intensity supports (e.g. insulin injections or tracheostomy care), depending on your needs.
How Unidex Can Help
At Unidex, we specialise in supporting people with complex needs. Our support workers are trained to deliver high-intensity care safely and confidently, and we also have a clinical team to provide training and oversight.
Whether you need daily help with wound care, tube feeding, or ventilator support, we’ll work with you to make sure the right training, support plan, and staff are in place.
Key Takeaways
- High-intensity supports are eight specific care activities identified by the NDIS.
- They require trained workers because of the health risks involved.
- Funding is available under Core Supports – Assistance with Daily Life, often at higher rates.
- Providers like Unidex can ensure these supports are delivered safely, with clinical oversight.
Need high-intensity support?
Get in touch with our team to find out how we can help you or a loved one access the right care and workers.
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