For many NDIS participants, daily support may involve help with personal care, household tasks, community access or transport. However, some participants require more specialised support because their daily needs involve higher health, safety or clinical risks. In the NDIS, this is often referred to as high-intensity support or High Intensity Daily Personal Activities.
Understanding what high-intensity support means can help participants, families and support coordinators choose the right type of care. It can also help ensure that support is delivered safely, respectfully and according to the participant’s individual needs.
At Benity Care, high-intensity support is approached with a focus on safety, dignity, person-centred care and appropriately trained workers. This article explains what high-intensity support means under the NDIS, who may qualify and what families should look for when choosing a provider.
What Is High-Intensity Support in the NDIS?
High-intensity support refers to specialised support for NDIS participants who have complex daily personal care or health-related needs. These supports usually involve tasks that carry a higher level of risk if they are not performed correctly.
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission describes high-intensity support as involving participants who require more specialised, health-related support. These supports should be described in a support plan developed by an appropriately qualified health practitioner, with support workers usually working under that practitioner’s direction.
In simple terms, high-intensity support goes beyond general personal care. It may involve support with health-related tasks, complex routines, or care needs that require specific worker training, clear documentation and ongoing supervision.
Examples of High-Intensity Daily Personal Activities
High-intensity supports can vary from person to person. The type of support required depends on the participant’s disability, health needs, daily routine and professional care plan.
Common examples may include support with:
Complex bowel care
Enteral feeding and management
Dysphagia support
Ventilator support
Tracheostomy care
Urinary catheter support
Subcutaneous injections
Complex wound care
Diabetes management support
Epilepsy and seizure-related support
Pressure care and skin integrity support
These supports are not simply routine tasks. They may require workers to follow detailed procedures, recognise changes in a participant’s condition and respond appropriately if risks arise.
The NDIS Commission’s high-intensity daily personal activities framework includes skills descriptors that explain the expected skills and knowledge for workers who deliver these supports. The Commission also notes that, where relevant, workers should be trained by an appropriately qualified health practitioner or someone who meets the expectations of the relevant skills descriptor.
Why High-Intensity Support Requires Special Care
High-intensity support can affect a participant’s health, comfort and safety. For example, incorrect feeding support may increase choking or aspiration risks. Poor wound care may lead to infection. Inadequate catheter care may increase discomfort or health complications.
This is why high-intensity support should never be treated as ordinary assistance. It requires a careful approach that includes:
Clear care plans
Risk assessments
Worker training
Competency checks
Incident response procedures
Regular review of support needs
Respect for the participant’s preferences and routine
Good high-intensity support is not only about completing a task. It is about understanding the person, following clinical guidance and supporting daily life in a safe and respectful way.
Who Qualifies for High-Intensity Support?
A participant may need high-intensity support if they have disability-related needs that involve complex personal care or health-related support. This does not mean every NDIS participant with personal care needs will qualify. The support must be considered reasonable and necessary in relation to the participant’s disability and individual circumstances.
A participant may be suitable for high-intensity support if:
They require daily or regular health-related support
Their care tasks involve a higher risk if performed incorrectly
They have a support plan from a qualified health practitioner
They need workers with specific training or competency
Their disability creates complex personal care needs
Their support needs cannot be safely met through standard personal care alone
The decision about funding and support is usually based on evidence. This may include reports from doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, behaviour support practitioners or other relevant professionals.
It is important to understand that high-intensity support is not approved simply because a person has a diagnosis. The NDIS looks at functional needs, risk, daily support requirements and how the support relates to the person’s disability.
High-Intensity Support vs Regular Personal Care
Regular personal care may include assistance with showering, dressing, grooming, eating, toileting or moving around the home. These supports are important, but they may not always involve complex health-related risks.
High-intensity support is different because it often requires advanced knowledge, specific procedures or health practitioner oversight. For example, helping someone prepare a meal is different from supporting a participant with dysphagia who has a mealtime management plan. Assisting with toileting is different from providing complex bowel care or catheter support.
The key difference is the level of risk, training and planning required.
What Should Be Included in a High-Intensity Support Plan?
A high-intensity support plan should provide clear instructions for how care is to be delivered. It should be prepared or guided by an appropriately qualified health professional and reviewed when the participant’s needs change.
A good plan may include:
The participant’s diagnosis and support needs
Step-by-step care instructions
Known risks and warning signs
Emergency response instructions
Required equipment or products
Medication-related information, where relevant
Worker training requirements
Documentation and reporting expectations
Review dates and responsible professionals
The NDIS Commission notes that high intensity supports are among the highest risk supports for participants, workers and others, which is why plans and professional direction are so important.
What Families Should Look for in a Provider
Choosing the right provider for high-intensity support is an important decision. Families and participants should feel comfortable asking questions about training, supervision, communication and safety procedures.
When considering a provider, ask:
Are support workers trained for the participant’s specific needs?
Is training provided by a suitably qualified professional?
Are workers assessed as competent before delivering support?
Are care plans followed and regularly reviewed?
How are incidents, changes or concerns reported?
Is support delivered in a respectful and person-centred way?
Can the provider work with allied health professionals and support coordinators?
A reliable provider should be open, transparent and willing to explain how they manage safety and quality.
Benity Care supports participants with a focus on individual needs, clear communication and safe service delivery. For high-intensity care, the right approach should always be based on the participant’s support plan, professional guidance and personal preferences.
How High-Intensity Support Helps Participants
When delivered correctly, high-intensity support can help participants live more safely and comfortably in their daily environment. It may support independence, reduce avoidable risks and help families feel more confident that care needs are being managed properly.
High-intensity support can assist with:
Daily routines at home
Safe personal care
Health-related support tasks
NDIS community participation where appropriate
Reducing preventable complications
Supporting carers and family members
Maintaining dignity and comfort
The goal is not just to provide care, but to help the participant take part in daily life with the right level of support around them.
Final Thoughts
High-intensity support in the NDIS refers to specialised daily personal care and health-related support for participants with complex needs. It may include tasks such as enteral feeding, complex bowel care, catheter support, tracheostomy care, wound care or other supports that require specific training and professional guidance.
Not every participant will need this level of support. Qualification depends on the person’s disability-related needs, risk level, professional evidence and NDIS plan. For those who do need it, choosing a provider with trained workers, clear procedures, and a person-centred approach is essential.
Benity Care provides support designed around participant needs, safety and dignity. If you or someone you support may require high-intensity NDIS support, speaking with your support coordinator, health professional or NDIS planner can help clarify what evidence and services may be needed.
