Supports to provide assistance with daily personal activities should generally be limited to a maximum of 6 hours per day. This level of support is based on:

• Bathing, dressing, toileting and grooming up to 2 hours per day – including bowel management, skin care, bladder management, menstrual care;
• Assistance with eating up to 2 hours per day which may include assistance with medication;
• Mobility including exercise, positioning, moving up to 1 hour per day; and
• Where toileting assistance alone is required, up to 1 hour a day.

In some circumstances, the NDIA may decide to fund higher levels of personal care support. In considering whether a higher level of support is needed, the NDIA will give consideration to:

• Whether the participant has high care needs, for example unstable seizure activity or respiratory support;
• The weight (and other physical aspects) of the participant;
• The medical condition of the participant, including any medication required;
• Whether the need for a higher level of support is of a temporary nature. For example, due to waiting for a suitable home modification (for example, a bathroom modification) to be completed;
• Whether two people are required for transfers;
• Whether there are behavioural concerns which require more intensive assistance with personal care activities and there are no other options, for example behavioural support intervention; and
• Whether additional time limited funding is likely to reduce a participant’s longer term support costs by building their capacity to independently perform personal care activities.
• The NDIA will also consider whether assistive technology, home modifications or other supports can be used to reduce the level of assistance with daily personal activities.

When personal care supports are being considered, the NDIA will have regard to the degree to which these supports:

• Maximise the independence and functional skills of the participant;
• Are appropriate to the participant’s age and circumstances; and
• Whether alternative arrangements or supports could meet a participant’s needs in a less intrusive manner. For example, aids and equipment may enable a participant to complete tasks for themselves or the provision of training may increase the participant’s independence in the tasks.