NDIS Complex Care Support for High Intensity Needs

Yes, Complex Care is funded under the NDIS when it meets the test of being “reasonable and necessary” to help you live safely, independently, and achieve your goals.

• Core Supports: daily personal care, overnight supervision, bowel care, mobility support
• Capacity Building: therapy, psychology, behavioural support plans, training for informal supports
• Capital Supports: assistive tech, home mods, hoists, accessible bathrooms, SDA

Complex care (also called High Intensity Daily Personal Activities, or HIDPA) is specialised support for people whose disability or health condition requires more than standard assistance. It covers clinical nursing tasks like catheter care, wound care, injections, and medication management. It also covers behaviour management, mental health, coordinated daily living, and respiratory support, which includes ventilator support and tracheostomy care. These are delivered by a team of trained support workers, registered nurses, and allied health professionals working together around the participant’s needs.

• NDIS participants with high-intensity support needs
• People with complex behaviours who need consistent, trained teams
• Anyone needing 24/7 care or active overnight assistance

At Maple, your complex care team is built around you, not a generic roster. It typically includes a dedicated support worker, a registered nurse providing clinical oversight, and allied health professionals as needed. You’ll see the same faces regularly — our 96% staff retention rate means real continuity, not strangers at your door every week.

The main types of complex care services available under the NDIS include:

• Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) provides specialised housing that is designed to accommodate severe functional impairments or very high support needs of participants. 
• Supported Independent Living (SIL) where participants receive round-the-clock support to manage their daily tasks. 
• High Intensity Daily Personal Activities (HIDPA) to help break down barriers by managing mobility issues, personal care, or health challenges.
• Behaviour support plans to understand and address individual needs, offering effective strategies for managing behaviours.
• Therapeutic support such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology to enhance physical abilities, communication and overall health. 
• Assistive technology and equipment from communication devices to mobility aids, to help people with complex needs interact more effectively. 
• Home modifications under the NDIS include everything from ramps and handrails to widened doorways, ensuring that living spaces are safe, accessible, and welcoming.

Absolutely. Maple delivers Complex Care in the participant’s current home, family residence, or in supported accommodation like SIL or SDA. We tailor our supports around your living environment and goals. Including mobility equipment, personal care, nursing, and behavioural support can all be brought to you.

• Experienced, NDIS-Accredited Teams: Our support workers, clinicians and nurses are trained in complex and high-intensity supports including PEG feeding, bowel care, seizure support, and restrictive practice compliance.
• Fast, Person-Centred Placements: We know that time matters. We provide rapid intake, match supports to your goals, and ensure smooth transitions, whether from the hospital, another provider, or into your first independent home.
• Clinical Oversight & Allied Health Integration supplements: Registered Nurses oversee care plans and ensure everything is monitored, safe, and goal-driven. We work closely with GPs, OTs, physios, and behaviour practitioners to create wraparound support.
• Culturally Inclusive & Trauma-Informed: We support participants from all backgrounds and lived experiences. Our staff are trained in trauma-informed care, and we prioritise emotional wellbeing alongside physical care.
• Proven Outcomes: From participants with degenerative illnesses to those with dual diagnoses or transitioning from correctional settings, we’ve helped hundreds of NDIS participants thrive in safe, stable care environments.

All Maple Complex Care workers are trained in High Intensity Daily Personal Activities (HIDPA) and receive ongoing supervision by registered nurses. We ensure staff have experience with the specific disabilities and conditions they support, with training in medication safety, infection control, and mental health protocols.

Yes. If you’re unsure whether you qualify or need help submitting evidence, our team can guide you through the NDIS access or plan review process, including help with reports, letters, and planning meetings.

Unlike general NDIS supports, complex care often requires:

• Qualified staff, including Registered Nurses
• Clinical oversight and behavioural planning
• Custom environments, equipment or home modifications
• Whole-person support, not just task assistance

Beyond qualifications, look for consistency, cultural fit, and genuine experience with your loved one’s specific condition. At Maple, we don’t just match on availability — we match on language, background, and the skills needed for your person’s exact care needs. And because our team stays, your loved one builds a real relationship with their support worker, not a new face every fortnight.

To access complex care funding through the NDIS, you need to be an existing participant under 65 with a permanent disability that significantly impacts daily functioning, and your support needs must go beyond what a standard support worker can safely provide. Strong medical evidence from your doctors, therapists, and specialists is essential — the more clearly it documents your functional needs, the stronger your case at your planning meeting.

Complex care supports people living with a wide range of high-intensity conditions, including acquired brain injury (ABI), cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, spinal cord injury, severe psychosocial disability, autism with complex behavioural needs, degenerative conditions, and chronic medical needs requiring clinical oversight. If your needs span more than one area — such as physical disability combined with mental health or behavioural challenges — you are likely to meet the threshold for complex care.

Standard disability support covers everyday tasks like personal care, household assistance, and community access. Complex care goes further — it involves clinical procedures such as PEG feeding, wound care, catheter management, and tracheostomy care, as well as behavioural intervention and coordinated support from multiple professionals. Complex needs typically involve multiple combined challenges — for example, disability alongside mental health, behavioural needs, and housing instability — where standard supports alone are not sufficient.

Not always. If you already live in a suitable home, we can provide in-home complex care. If you need housing, we can connect you with Supported Independent Living (SIL) or Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) options.

We expect them to. Maple offers regular plan reviews and flexible support updates to ensure your care always matches your goals, health, and personal circumstances.

A Complex Health Care Plan is a tailored document that outlines someone’s medical, personal, and daily care needs. It provides clear, step-by-step guidance to support workers, nurses, allied health professionals, and informal carers. This ensures that everyone involved knows exactly how to provide safe, effective, and respectful care.

But this isn’t just about clinical tasks. These plans are about real people. They cover everything from enteral feeding and catheter care to communication preferences, sensory needs, and emotional wellbeing. When done right, a Complex Health Care Plan helps someone live with confidence, independence, and dignity, no matter how complex their care needs may be.

Not everyone needs a Complex Health Care Plan. But for those with high-intensity or multiple health needs, it often becomes a vital part of daily life.

We see these plans making the biggest impact for people living with conditions such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, acquired brain injuries, or progressive illnesses like motor neurone disease or Huntington’s. They’re also commonly used when someone has intellectual or cognitive disabilities alongside medical complexities, or physical disabilities that require supports like PEG feeding or ventilators.

Under the NDIS, many of these participants receive funding through High Intensity Daily Personal Activities, a category designed specifically for people with complex care needs.

A Complex Health Care Plan is usually developed by a registered nurse, but it’s not done in isolation. It’s a collaborative process that brings together the participant, their family or informal carers, their support coordinator or plan manager, and any relevant allied health professionals, like occupational therapists, speech pathologists, or behaviour support practitioners.

Everyone’s role is important. The participant brings their goals and preferences. The family provides insight into what works best. And the clinical team ensures the plan is safe, thorough, and NDIS-compliant.

At Maple, we make sure every plan reflects more than just clinical needs. We capture what matters most to the person, their values, their lifestyle, and how they want to live. Because complex care should always feel human.

A good Complex Care Plan is thorough, person-centred, and designed with input from health professionals and the participant themselves. It often includes:

• A detailed health profile, including diagnoses, allergies, and medications
• Clear instructions for clinical tasks (like bowel care, wound dressing, or feeding procedures)
• Personal care routines and preferences
• Behaviour support strategies and risk reduction techniques
• Emergency action plans and escalation steps
• Contact information for doctors or care teams
• Manual handling guidelines and staff responsibilities
• Review timelines to keep the plan up to date

In most cases, documentation from a registered nurse, occupational therapist, or behaviour support practitioner will support the plan, especially when applying for or renewing NDIS funding.

At Maple Community Services, we believe that everyone, regardless of where they live, deserves access to the care and support they need. We have developed several strategies to overcome the barriers faced by NDIS participants in regional and remote communities.  To ensure that complex care services are accessible, person-centred, and flexible across Australia.

Telehealth and Remote Support

In response to the challenges posed by geographic isolation, Maple has embraced telehealth and remote support options. These services allow participants to access consultations, assessments, and therapy sessions from the comfort of their homes, reducing the need for long-distance travel. Telehealth is particularly useful for ongoing support services like mental health counselling, occupational therapy. And, even check-ins with medical professionals. This is especially helpful for participants in Western Queensland, South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, and Tasmania’s west coast

Mobile Teams and Outreach Services

To address the shortage of skilled workers in regional and remote communities, Maple has developed mobile support teams. They can travel to remote areas such as the Pilbara or the Northern Rivers in New South Wales to deliver high-quality care. These teams are equipped to provide on-the-ground support, including personal care, therapy services, and health management. By sending support workers directly into communities, we can ensure that individuals in these areas receive the care they need. Without having to travel long distances.

Local Partnerships and Collaboration

We actively seek partnerships with local organisations and healthcare providers in regional and remote communities. We have a vision of working together with local health services, so we can share resources, collaborate on care plans. And ensure that individuals in these areas have access to a full range of services. This collaborative approach will strengthen the local healthcare infrastructure and reduce the burden on individuals and families. Limiting their need to travel for care.

Culturally Competent Care

Understanding and respecting the cultural needs of Indigenous communities is a cornerstone of our approach to complex care. Maple is committed to providing culturally appropriate care and CALD services. We employ staff who are familiar with the cultural practices and languages of regional communities. We also work with local community leaders to ensure that our services are inclusive and respectful. And that all participants feel understood and supported, always.

Flexible Care Plans and Transport Solutions

We recognise that accessing care in regional areas like the Riverina or Far North Queensland can sometimes be costly. In response, Maple provides flexible care plans that include support for travel and transport where needed. Whether it’s funding for transport to medical appointments. Or, arranging local transport services, we strive to remove financial and logistical barriers to care. Allowing individuals to access services without undue hardship.

Providing complex care in regional and remote communities requires adherence to specific guidelines and standards. These standards are outlined by regulatory bodies such as the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and local health authorities.

NDIS Practice Standards:

The NDIS Practice Standards provide a framework for delivering high-quality services, ensuring that providers meet specific criteria related to participant outcomes, safety, and care. These standards cover all aspects of care, from personal support and medical care to community engagement and choice. Maple follows these standards to ensure all services are delivered with the highest level of professionalism and respect for participants’ rights.

Culturally Safe and Inclusive Care:

In remote communities, especially in rural Queensland and northern New South Wales, cultural competence is key. The National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (NSQHS) require that care be provided in a culturally safe and inclusive manner. For Maple, this means offering thoughtful services that respect cultural practices, ensure the dignity of the participant, and engage the community in the care process.

Continuous Monitoring and Feedback:

Regular monitoring and feedback loops are essential to maintaining quality care in regional and remote areas. Maple is committed to conducting regular assessments. And seeking feedback from participants, families, and local community members to ensure that care plans are effective and aligned with participant needs.

Workforce Development and Training:

To meet the challenges of delivering care in remote areas, staff must be well-trained and equipped with the skills necessary to manage complex care needs. Maple invests in ongoing staff training and professional development. With a focus on supporting remote and rural communities. Training includes not only clinical skills but also cultural competency and the ability to deliver services in remote environments.