Understanding Informal Supports in the NDIS

What they are, why they matter, and how to include them in your Plan

When we think about support under the NDIS, we often focus on formal services: support workers, allied health professionals, or registered providers. But there’s another type of support that plays a huge role—often quietly in the background. These are the people in your life who help simply because they care.

These are your informal supports. From a neighbour who checks in on you, to a sibling who helps you with your phone, informal supports are the unpaid relationships that form the backbone of everyday life for many participants.

Let’s take a closer look at what informal supports are, how they’re different from formal supports, and how you can include them in your plan.

What Are Informal Supports?

Informal supports are unpaid help you receive from family, friends, and people in your community. They’re not employed or contracted through the NDIS—they support you because they’re part of your life.

Common examples include:

• A parent helping with meals, bathing, or dressing

• A friend who drives you to school or appointments

• A sibling helping you practise a social script

• A neighbour supporting you to walk safely around the block

👉 Important: The NDIS doesn’t aim to replace informal supports. Instead, it’s there to complement them—offering formal services to help you build skills, reduce strain on your support network, and promote independence.

Informal vs. Formal Supports

Informal Supports	Formal Supports
Family, friends, neighbours	Paid support workers, therapists, providers
No funding or contracts involved	Funded through your NDIS plan
Based on personal connection and goodwill	Professional, skill-based services with agreements

When developing or reviewing your plan, it’s important to outline both types of support. The NDIA needs to understand your full network so they can assess what supports are reasonable and necessary to fund.

How to Include Informal Supports in Your Plan

When meeting with your planner or support coordinator, be clear and honest about the informal help you receive. Include:

✅ Who helps you (name, relationship)

✅ How often they help (daily, weekly, monthly)

✅ What tasks they assist with (meals, emotional support, community access)

💡 If your informal supports are starting to feel stretched, or if you’re relying on them for complex or high-level care, it may be time to request funded supports to help maintain everyone’s wellbeing.

Keeping Informal Support Relationships Healthy

While informal supports are a gift, they can also be a source of stress if boundaries aren’t clear. Families and friends may feel pressure to do more than they realistically can.

Here’s how to support your support system:

• Communicate openly about needs and limits

• Explore respite services to give carers a break

• Use your plan to bring in formal supports where needed

• Offer training or assistive tech that can make informal support easier

What’s Considered “Reasonable” for Parents?

The NDIS expects parents to provide typical care for their children based on age and stage. This might include:

• Driving to activities

• Supervising at home or in the community

• Emotional support and safety

• Basic personal care

But if a child’s disability means significantly more care is needed—such as full physical assistance, constant redirection, or specialised routines—the NDIS may provide additional funding to reduce strain on families.

As children become teens or adults, the expectation is that informal supports reduce over time and are replaced (or supplemented) with formal services that promote independence.

Informal Supports for Adults

Informal supports don’t end in childhood. Adults might still receive help from:

• A friend who attends medical appointments

• A housemate who assists with shopping or meal prep

• A sibling who manages budgeting or Centrelink paperwork

Again, if these supports become essential for day-to-day living, the NDIS may fund formal services to protect those relationships and avoid burnout.

Can the NDIS Fund Family to Provide Support?

In most cases, no. The NDIS will generally only pay family members to provide support in exceptional circumstances, such as:

• A serious risk of harm or neglect

• Cultural or language barriers

• High medical or behavioural needs where trust is critical

This decision is made on a case-by-case basis and may require approval during your planning meeting.

⚠️ Note: If you are Agency-managed, the family member must also be a registered provider.

What if Your Informal Supports Change?

Life happens—people move away, change jobs, or are no longer able to offer the same level of support.

If this happens, it’s important to let the NDIS know. You can:

• Submit a Change of Circumstances form

• Contact the NDIS directly

• Speak to your Support Coordinator

Changes in informal support levels may be a valid reason for an early plan reassessment.

Final Thoughts

Informal supports are at the heart of most people’s lives—but they shouldn’t be your only support.

The NDIS is designed to help build a balanced, sustainable support network—one that respects the role of family and friends, while ensuring your needs are met through appropriate formal supports.

💡 Need Help Navigating the NDIS?

Check out our NDIS Provider Directory to connect with trusted Support Coordinators and Plan Managers who can help you understand your plan, explore your funding, and make the most of both formal and informal supports.