Clinicians - particularly GPs and psychiatrists - play an important role in helping their patients navigate the NDIS, and especially in providing evidence to support their applications.

This page covers the main points that GPs, psychiatrists and other clinicians need to understand when supporting a person to apply to the NDIS, with links to key sections of our training modules, factsheets, web pages, and other relevant information.  

The same material is covered in our NDIS access and psychosocial disability for clinicians training module. 

What is the NDIS?

The NDIS is a taxpayer funded insurance scheme, available to eligible Australians with a permanent and significant disability. It provides individualised support based on the needs of participants. 

See also:

• NDIS explained factsheet
• NDIS explained training module

What is psychosocial disability?

Psychosocial disability occurs when a person faces considerable difficulty with everyday activities as a result of impairments relating to their mental health condition. Not everyone with a mental health condition will experience psychosocial disability. 

See also:

• Mental health and the NDIS [external link]
• Access and mental health: who is the NDIS for?

Responsibilities of the NDIS versus mainstream mental health services

The NDIS is not designed to duplicate or replace existing mainstream services or community supports. People can continue to access mainstream clinical health and mental health services, as well as the Disability Support Pension, when they have NDIS plans. 

See also:

• How does the NDIS support people with psychosocial disability?
• Reasonable and necessary in the NDIS
• Principles to determine the responsibilities of the NDIS and other service systems [external link]

NDIS access criteria

To be eligible for the NDIS, a person must meet all of the access criteria in sections 22-24 of the NDIS Act 2013. Simply put, they must be an Australian under the age of 65, and they must meet all of the NDIS disability criteria. 

See also:

• Who can apply
• Overview of access eligibility criteria and processes
• What information does the NDIS need?
• List A and List B conditions [external links]

Completing the Evidence of psychosocial disability form

The Evidence of psychosocial disability form has been designed specifically for people with a psychosocial disability to apply to the NDIS. Section B is usually completed by a support worker who can help the applicant navigate the broader application process, while Section A must be completed by a clinician (usually a GP or psychiatrist) and covers diagnosis, treatment and permanency of the disability. 

See also:

• How to apply
• Completing the evidence form
• Tips for providing evidence
• Complex scenarios: co-occurring conditions and AOD
• Access request mock case study: straightforward
• Access request mock case study: complex

In 2020 we held a webinar on access for clinicians. You can download the PowerPoint from the session and read the Q&A.