Understanding NDIS Nutrition Supports
NDIS nutrition supports are designed to help people with disabilities meet their specific dietary needs. If your disability impacts the type of nutrition you require or how you eat, the NDIS may fund assistance. This can include:
Dietitian consultations to create a disability-related meal plan.
Support workers to help follow a meal plan, prepare balanced meals, or assist with feeding.
Home Enteral Nutrition (HEN) or Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) equipment and supplies.
Products like food thickeners for safe swallowing.
Training for carers, family members, or support workers on managing your nutrition needs.
📖 Learn more: NDIS Guide for – home enteral nutrition
How Nutrition Supports Are Delivered
Most people take in nutrition orally, but some may require HEN, where a feeding tube delivers nutrients directly to the stomach. This may be needed if you have dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) or other conditions affecting your ability to eat.
Types of feeding tubes:
NGT (Nasogastric Tube): Through the nose into the stomach.
PEG (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy): Through the skin into the stomach.
You might use a combination of oral intake and feeding tube nutrition, depending on your needs.
NDIS vs Health System Responsibilities
The Australian health system offers nutrition support programs for all Australians, such as the Eat for Health guidelines. However, NDIS funding is only provided if your nutrition needs are directly related to your disability.
Examples:
If you have cerebral palsy and require a dietitian to maintain your weight, this could be funded by the NDIS.
General healthy eating advice without disability-related needs would be covered by mainstream services or Medicare.
📖 Learn more: NDIS Guidelines – Disability-Related Health Supports
Medicare & PBS Nutrition Supports
Medicare: Covers short-term allied health professional services for nutrition concerns, medical assessments, and clinical PEG/HEN support during hospital stays.
Learn more: Medicare ServicesPharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS): Funds certain nutritional supplements and HEN formulas.
Learn more: PBS Nutrition Products
If the required products are available through PBS, the NDIS will not fund them.
What the NDIS Can Fund
The NDIS may fund:
Nutritional supplements related to your disability.
HEN or PEG formulas, feeding tubes, pumps, feed bags, syringes, and giving sets.
Support workers to help manage PEG/HEN, prepare meals, or assist with feeding.
Training for carers or support staff.
Dietitian reviews to ensure your plan meets your ongoing needs.
Important: The NDIS will not fund nutrition supports for unrelated health issues like weight loss, food allergies, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease.
Meal Preparation Supports
If your disability impacts your ability to prepare meals:
Support workers can assist with shopping, meal planning, and cooking.
Prepared & delivered meals can be funded temporarily during recovery or isolation, but food costs are not covered—only preparation and delivery fees.
Flexible funding:
If your plan includes meal preparation supports, you can use the funding for either in-home support or delivered meals during short-term changes in circumstances.
📖 Learn more: Food & Meal Preparation Supports
Evidence Needed for Funding
To include nutrition supports in your NDIS plan, you’ll need:
A nutrition plan from a qualified dietitian.
Reports from health professionals explaining why supports are required.
Details of your current supports, who provides them, and any expected changes.
If Your Request Is Declined
If the NDIS decides nutrition supports don’t meet funding criteria:
You will receive written reasons for the decision.
You can request an internal review within 3 months.
Learn more: NDIS Decision Reviews
Final Thoughts
Nutrition plays a vital role in health, independence, and quality of life. If your disability impacts how you access and consume nutrition, NDIS nutrition supports can help you stay healthy and safe. By gathering the right evidence and understanding funding responsibilities, you can increase the likelihood of having these supports included in your plan.
At Complete Money Management, we assist participants in preparing strong applications, managing NDIS budgets, and ensuring funding covers essential supports.