High intensity supports are personal supports for complex, health-related needs that require higher-skilled workers — such as complex bowel care, PEG feeding, tracheostomy care, ventilation, severe dysphagia or seizure management. They are delivered under the NDIS Practice Standards High Intensity Daily Personal Activities module to keep participants safe.
High intensity supports go beyond routine personal care. They involve clinical or health-related risk that requires workers with specific training, competency sign-off and supervision from suitably qualified health professionals.
They are delivered within Daily Personal Activities but at a higher skill level, governed by the NDIS Practice Standards High Intensity Daily Personal Activities module. Providers must demonstrate their workers are assessed as competent for each high-intensity task.
These supports are defined by complexity and risk rather than simply more hours. Common examples include:
Support involving regimens beyond routine toileting, requiring trained workers and a clear care plan.
Delivering nutrition through a feeding tube, including managing the equipment safely.
Airway and breathing support for people who rely on a tracheostomy or ventilator.
Mealtime assistance for people at high risk of choking, following a swallowing plan.
Administering certain injections where delegated and supervised appropriately.
Managing complex wounds, stomas, or epilepsy and seizure response plans.
Because errors carry real health consequences, the NDIS requires providers to meet the High Intensity module: documented competency for each task, training delivered or overseen by a relevant health practitioner, and ongoing supervision.
This is the key contrast with standard personal care. A worker comfortable assisting with showering is not automatically qualified for ventilation or PEG feeding — high intensity work demands task-specific sign-off.
High intensity supports are claimed against Daily Personal Activities at higher line-item rates that reflect the worker’s skill level. As with all supports, the NDIS sets maximum prices updated each 1 July.
Your plan should reflect input from health professionals about the supports you need, so the right competencies and a safe care plan are in place before delivery begins.
Learn how higher-skilled personal support can be delivered safely under your plan.
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