Personal care is assistance with everyday routines such as washing, dressing or toileting. It may involve prompts, supervision or hands-on help. The amount and type of support should reflect your needs, choices and agreed plan.
What might you need help with?
- Washing, grooming, dressing and other personal routines.
- Toileting and continence routines, with the right instructions and skills.
- Transfers or positioning, using suitable equipment and agreed instructions.
- Mealtime routines, including following an individual mealtime plan where required.
Different tasks need different skills. Describe the assistance you need rather than assuming a worker can safely deliver every task.
Your privacy and choices come first
Discuss how you communicate, your cultural preferences, who you feel comfortable with and what you want to do yourself. Workers should explain support in a way you understand and respect your decisions, privacy and dignity.
Agree what information is needed and who it can be shared with. You can involve a chosen supporter or advocate. Ask how to raise a concern, request a change or review the arrangement.
Medication and complex needs
Medication assistance needs clear records and appropriately trained workers who understand the required support and what to do if an incident occurs. Do not treat general personal care as confirmation that a provider can administer medication. Discuss the task and relevant instructions with your treating practitioner and provider.
High-intensity tasks, such as enteral feeding or complex wound care, require participant-specific planning and competency. Confirm any required provider registration scope, training, risk procedures and capacity. A general qualification alone does not establish competency for your particular task.
Funding and costs
Personal care may be funded through core assistance with daily life when it is an NDIS support for you and meets your plan’s requirements. Check your available funding, stated restrictions and funding periods with your NDIS contact or plan manager. An enquiry does not approve funding or reserve a worker.
The quote depends on the task, worker ratio, intensity, time of day, day of the week and location. Agree any travel, cancellation and other permitted charges before starting. NDIS price limits are not worker wages or a funding decision.
Before your first support
- Describe your routine, preferences, communication needs and relevant risks.
- Confirm worker skills, instructions, equipment and what happens if a worker is unavailable.
- Agree the service, schedule, price and review process in writing.
Your questions, answered
Does personal care always mean hands-on assistance?
No. The agreed support may be prompts, supervision or physical help, depending on your preferences and needs.
Can any support worker deliver high-intensity personal care?
No. Confirm participant-specific competency, planning and the provider’s relevant scope before these tasks begin.
Find out more
Read the NDIA core support guide and Commission guidance on participant rights, medication and mealtime management and high-intensity support. Checked 4 October 2026.
Use our price calculator for an estimate, then ask Unify about suitable supports and current capacity.
