Applying for the NDIS, and what to do if you are knocked back

Making an access request

You can start by calling the NDIA on 1800 800 110, contacting a local partner in the community (an Early Childhood partner for children, or a Local Area Coordination partner), or completing an Access Request Form. You will be asked to confirm your identity, your residency and your disability.

The evidence that carries weight

The most common reason applications stall is thin evidence. Reports that describe function — what you can and cannot do, on a good day and a bad day, and what happens without support — are far more useful than a diagnosis alone.

• Reports from the treating professional who knows you best, not just the most senior
• Evidence that the impairment is permanent, or likely to be lifelong
• Standardised functional assessments where your therapist has them
• Concrete examples: how long showering takes, how often you need prompting, what happens in a crowded shop

If the decision goes against you

You can ask the NDIA for an internal review of a decision. This request generally needs to be made within three months of receiving the decision, so diarise the date.

If the internal review still does not resolve it, the decision can be taken to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), which replaced the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in October 2024. Free advocacy support is available — ask about advocacy funded through the National Disability Advocacy Program.