Living with complex needs means that daily life often involves specific supports, clinical routines, and higher levels of care. For many NDIS participants, tasks that others might take for granted, such as eating, managing equipment, or medication routines, require specially trained staff who can deliver safe, consistent, and risk-aware care.
These essential supports fall into what the NDIS calls high-intensity daily personal activities, and they are crucial for participants who face increased health or clinical risks in everyday life.
At Support Point, our role is to make these supports accessible, safe, and person-centred. With trained staff and a dedicated clinical nursing team, we support participants across a wide range of high-intensity tasks.
This guide will walk you step-by-step through what counts as high-intensity support, how to gather the right evidence, and how to secure funding approval through the NDIS.
Whether your needs are related to disability, long-term medical conditions, mobility, or neurological challenges, this guide is designed to empower you with clarity, confidence, and practical next steps.
What Are NDIS High-Intensity Daily Personal Activities?
The NDIS funds a broad range of personal care support, but not all daily tasks are equal. Some tasks carry a higher clinical risk and therefore require workers with additional training, capability, and ongoing supervision.
These supports are known as NDIS high intensity personal activities, and they include tasks that must be delivered carefully, consistently, and often with nursing oversight.
Why the NDIS Classifies Some Supports as “High-Intensity”
High-intensity supports are required when:
- A participant has ongoing clinical risks
- A task requires skilled or competency-trained staff
- Medical, behavioural, or physical safety must be actively managed
- Daily supports involve specialised equipment
- The risk of injury, aspiration, infection, or adverse outcomes is higher
These supports also require providers to meet strict NDIS Practice Standards.
Examples of High-Intensity Daily Personal Activities
The NDIS identifies several tasks as high intensity because of their clinical risk or complexity. These may include:
1. Severe dysphagia and mealtime management
Participants who have difficulty swallowing require trained support to prevent choking or aspiration.
2. Enteral feeding (PEG feeding)
Tube feeding requires precision, hygiene management, and trained workers.
3. Ventilation support and tracheostomy care
Highly specialised tasks requiring exact procedures and emergency readiness.
4. Complex bowel care
Includes manual evacuation, stoma care, and structured clinical bowel routines.
5. Catheter management
Indwelling and suprapubic catheter care must be completed by trained staff.
6. Diabetes managementrequiringclinical oversight
This may involve monitoring blood glucose, administering insulin, or managing symptoms of hypo- or hyperglycaemia.
7. Complex wound care
Supports requiring clinical knowledge of dressings, infection control, and wound monitoring.
8. Seizure management
Participants with frequent or severe seizures may need constant monitoring and emergency procedures.
9. High-risk medication support
Includes subcutaneous injections, medications with complex dosing, or medications requiring clinical monitoring.
These activities go beyond standard personal care and must be delivered by workers trained and supervised to manage risk appropriately.
Why These Supports Matter for People With Complex Needs
For participants living with significant physical, neurological, or medical challenges, high-intensity daily supports are not optional, they are essential for safety, health stability, and quality of life.
1. Support That Prevents Clinical Complications
Appropriate support reduces the risk of:
- Aspiration and choking
- Equipment failure
- Infections
- Hospitalisation
- Pressure injuriesMedication errors
2. More Independence and Stability
Participants can live at home, go out, engage with community activities, and maintain routines with confidence.
3. Reduced Pressure on Family and Carers
Skilled workers ensure that carers are not solely responsible for high-risk tasks.
4. Consistent, Compliance-Focused Care
Providers trained in high-intensity standards ensure that clinical and NDIS requirements are met.
5. Improved Daily Comfort and Emotional Wellbeing
When support is predictable, professional, and safe, participants experience:
- Less stress
- Greater autonomy
- Better routine management
- Higher overall quality of life
How to Access NDIS High-Intensity Personal Activities: A Step-by-Step Guide
This section outlines the exact steps to securing funding approval for these supports in your NDIS plan.
Step 1: Confirm That Your Needs Qualify as High-Intensity
Some signs you may require high-intensity supports include:
- You rely on medical equipment (PEG, ventilator, catheter, or specialised mobility systems).
- Your daily care includes risk-heavy tasks (like mealtime safety or bowel care).
- You need nursing-led assessments or clinical oversight.
- Support workers must be trained specifically for your techniques or routines.
- You have a disability or condition that makes daily tasks clinically complex.
If you have trouble determining whether your needs qualify, Support Point can guide you through your options and help you understand the NDIS criteria.
Step 2: Gather the Correct Clinical and Medical Evidence
Evidence is the single most important factor in NDIS funding approval.
The NDIS must be able to clearly see:
- What your needs are
- Why they are high intensity
- What risks are involved
- Why trained workers are essential
The Most Valuable Evidence Includes:
1. GP or Specialist Letters
These outline your diagnosis, risks, and why high-intensity support is required.
2. Nursing Assessments
These describe your clinical routines and the level of training required for safe daily support.
3. Allied Health Reports
Occupational therapists (OTs) and speech pathologists (SPs) are especially important for:
- Dysphagia
- Feeding
- Equipment usage
- Transfers
- Safety protocols
4. Hospital or Discharge Summaries
Useful when your needs are new, recent, or worsening.
5. Risk Assessments and Behaviour Plans
These help explain the safety and clinical structure needed.
Why Evidence Must Be Detailed
General reports are usually not enough.
The NDIS needs specifics, including:
- Daily frequencies
- Risks
- Procedures
- Equipment requirements
- The skill level needed
- Consequences if support isn’t provided
Support Point’s clinical nurses can complete assessments and evidence that are aligned with NDIS requirements.
Step 3: Request High-Intensity Supports During Your Planning or Review Meeting
The funding for high-intensity daily supports falls under Core Supports – Assistance with Daily Life.
During your meeting, ensure you communicate:
- How often you need these supports
- Why they are necessary for your daily functioning
- The clinical risks you face without proper support
- Why general personal care support is not enough
- That these supports must be delivered by trained staff
- The impact these supports have on your independence
The planner will assess your evidence against your statements, so clarity matters.
Step 4: Make Sure the Right Language Is Used in Your Plan Submission
The NDIS is particular about wording.
Using the correct terminology increases your chance of approval.
Include This Language in Your Requests:
- “NDIS high intensity personal activities”
- “Complex needs requiring skilled support workers”
- “Clinical nursing oversight”
- “High-risk daily support tasks”
- “Support workers trained in competency-based strategies”
- “Daily personal care support with clinical risk factors”
Correct terminology helps the NDIS understand your needs quickly and accurately.
Step 5: Choose a Qualified Provider With Clinical Capability
High-intensity supports cannot be delivered by just any provider.
Only approved and trained organisations are allowed to provide them under the NDIS Practice Standards.
Your Provider Should Offer:
✔ Clinical nursing oversight
✔ Competency-trained support workers
✔ A risk-based approach
✔ Incident and emergency response structures
✔ Medication and clinical training
✔ Up-to-date compliance
✔ Person-centred planning
✔ Consistency and safety in routine deliver
Support Point is one of the few providers structured specifically for complex, high-intensity care, supported by clinical nursing leadership and trained support teams.
Personal Care Support vs High-Intensity Daily Personal Activities
Many participants receive personal care support, but this does not always mean high-intensity care.
Personal Care Support Includes:
- Showering
- Dressing
- Grooming
- Toileting
- Eating assistance
- Mobility support
These supports are straightforward and typically involve minimal clinical risk.
High-Intensity Care Applies When:
- There is choking or aspiration risk
- Equipment is used daily
- The support involves medical procedures
- Staff need specific training
- The task poses risk without specialist supervision
Examples of the Same Task Split Into Two Categories
Everyday Task | Standard Support | High-Intensity Support |
Mealtime | Assistance with eating | Feeding with dysphagia management |
Medication | Simple prompting | Subcutaneous injections |
Showering | General care | Showering with seizure risk |
Toileting | Standard assistance | Toileting with complex bowel care |
Understanding the difference helps ensure you request the correct level of support from the NDIS.
Final Thoughts: You Deserve Safe, Skilled and Reliable High-Intensity Support
Navigating the NDIS can be challenging, especially when your daily needs involve clinical risk. But with the right evidence, planning, and provider, you can secure the NDIS high intensity personal activities funding needed to live safely, confidently, and independently.
Support Point is committed to supporting participants with complex needs, providing access to trained support workers, clinical nursing oversight, and tailored care plans designed around your goals and daily routines.
If you’re ready to learn about how Support Point can help with your high-intensity or clinical care, contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Not necessarily. Most high-intensity supports can be delivered by trained support workers, with nurses overseeing clinical aspects.
Can these supports be added to my current plan?
You can submit new evidence or ask for an internal review. Many refusals occur due to insufficient evidence—not because the need isn’t valid.
No. They can be delivered in community settings, Supported Independent Living (SIL), or Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA).
Hours are based on need, safety, and the reasonableness principle, supported by your evidence.
