Frequently Asked Questions
NDIS Mental Health Support refers to funded supports for participants whose primary disability is psychosocial, meaning it arises from a significant mental health condition that substantially impacts their daily functioning and participation in life. Eligible conditions include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, PTSD, borderline personality disorder, and other serious mental health conditions. Mental health support is funded through the NDIS Core Supports budget under Assistance with Daily Life and through the Capacity Building budget depending on the type of support required. Eligibility requires that the mental health condition be permanent or likely to be permanent and significantly impact functional capacity. Grace Care can discuss your specific situation during an initial consultation.
No. NDIS mental health support is distinct from clinical treatment such as psychiatry, psychology, and medication management. Clinical treatment addresses the medical and therapeutic aspects of mental health conditions and is funded through Medicare and the health system. NDIS mental health support addresses the practical impact of mental health conditions on daily functioning, community participation, and independent living. The two types of support work best together, with NDIS funded supports reinforcing and extending the outcomes of clinical treatment in everyday life. Grace Care coordinates actively with participants’ clinical teams to ensure NDIS support and clinical treatment are well-integrated.
Session content varies significantly depending on the participant’s individual goals, current mental state, and support plan. A session might involve practical assistance with daily tasks like cooking or household management, accompaniment to a community activity or medical appointment, work on life skills such as budgeting or public transport, a check-in conversation about how the participant is managing their mental health, support to engage with their clinical team, or crisis management support when the participant is experiencing a difficult period. Sessions are always led by the participant’s needs and goals on the day within the broader framework of their support plan.
Grace Care’s general mental health support service focuses on practical daily living assistance and functional support for participants with psychosocial disability. Psychosocial recovery coaching is a more structured, intensive support specifically focused on building participants’ capacity to direct their own recovery, implementing recovery plans, and navigating the NDIS and mental health system. Both services are valuable and many participants benefit from accessing both within their NDIS plan. Grace Care can discuss which type of support best fits your current needs and NDIS plan during an initial consultation.
Grace Care’s mental health support workers are trained to recognise the early warning signs of mental health deterioration and to respond appropriately based on each participant’s individualised crisis plan. When a participant is in crisis, the support worker provides immediate, calm, and practical support while activating the participant’s crisis response plan, which may include contacting the participant’s mental health team, support coordinator, or emergency services where necessary. Grace Care does not provide emergency clinical crisis intervention but plays an important practical and relational role in supporting participants through difficult periods and ensuring they access appropriate clinical help when needed.
Grace Care delivers NDIS mental health support in whatever setting is most appropriate and accessible for the participant. This includes the participant’s home, community settings, mental health service locations, and via phone or video for participants whose current mental state makes in-person support challenging. We understand that on difficult mental health days, leaving the house can be genuinely impossible for some participants and we adapt our support delivery accordingly, ensuring participants receive consistent support even when their capacity to engage is reduced.
Call us on 1300 069 338 or email info@grace-care.com.au to arrange a free initial consultation. We will have a relaxed, non-clinical conversation about your mental health background, current support needs, and what you are hoping NDIS support can help you achieve. We will review your NDIS plan to confirm relevant funding and match you with a mental health support worker whose experience and approach align with your needs. We understand that reaching out for mental health support can take significant courage and we approach every first conversation with the warmth, patience, and genuine respect that this step deserves.