Understanding the difference between NDIS personal care and domestic assistance is important when planning your supports. While both may be funded under Core Supports, they serve different purposes. Personal care focuses on daily self-care activities such as showering, dressing and mobility support, while domestic assistance helps with household tasks like cleaning, laundry and meal preparation.
This guide will simplify things if you’re unfamiliar with the NDIS or don’t know which support category best suits your needs.
Table of Contents
What Is NDIS Personal Care Services?
NDIS personal care services provide hands-on support with daily activities that a person cannot safely manage on their own. This type of support focuses on personal hygiene, mobility, and basic physical needs.
Common Personal Care Tasks
• Showering and grooming
• Toileting
• Eating and mealtime assistance
• Medication prompts
• Help with mobility or transfers
• Getting dressed
• Support with morning or evening routines
Who Can Receive Personal Care Funding?
Participants usually receive personal care when:
• They need hands-on help to complete daily activities
• They have reduced physical mobility
• They have cognitive or sensory challenges that affect self-care
• There are safety concerns without support
• Their OT has recommended daily assistance
The NDIS outlines personal care under “Assistance with Daily Life,” described here.
What Is NDIS Domestic Assistance?
Domestic assistance covers the household tasks needed to keep the home clean, safe, and functional. It is not hands-on help with self-care it focuses on maintaining your living environment.
What Is Included in NDIS Domestic Assistance?
NDIS domestic assistance helps participants maintain a safe, clean, and functional home environment when they are unable to complete household tasks independently due to their disability. Depending on individual needs and NDIS funding, domestic assistance may include a range of everyday household supports. Participants receiving domestic assistance often combine these supports with Community Participation to maintain greater independence.
Cleaning and Household Maintenance
Domestic assistance can include routine cleaning tasks such as vacuuming, mopping floors, dusting surfaces, cleaning bathrooms, and maintaining kitchen areas. These services help ensure the participant’s home remains safe and hygienic.
Laundry and Household Chores
Participants may receive support with washing, drying, folding, and ironing clothes. Assistance may also extend to changing bed linen and other essential household chores that become difficult due to a disability.
Meal Preparation
The NDIS may fund support for meal preparation when a participant cannot safely prepare meals independently. This can include planning meals, preparing ingredients, cooking, and ensuring nutritional needs are met.
Grocery Shopping and Essential Errands
Some participants receive assistance with grocery shopping, collecting essential household items, or organising online grocery deliveries. These supports help maintain independence and daily living routines.
Household Organisation and Safety
Domestic assistance may also include support with organising the home, reducing hazards, and maintaining a safe living environment. This is particularly important for participants with mobility, cognitive, or physical support needs.
Domestic assistance focuses on household tasks, whereas personal care services focus on supporting daily self-care activities such as showering, dressing, grooming, and mobility assistance.
The WA Government also lists disability support options that include household help.
Key Differences Between Personal Care and Domestic Assistance
Although both fall under Core Supports, they serve different purposes.
Personal Care vs Domestic Assistance
| Feature | Personal Care | Domestic Assistance |
|---|---|---|
| Bathing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dressing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Toileting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Meal Preparation | Sometimes | ✓ |
| Cleaning | ✗ | ✓ |
| Laundry | ✗ | ✓ |
| Grocery Shopping | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobility Support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Household Chores | ✗ | ✓ |
| Daily Hygiene | ✓ | ✗ |
How the NDIS Approves Each
• Personal care is approved when functional assessments show the person cannot complete tasks safely.
• Domestic assistance is approved when physical or cognitive challenges make housework unsafe or unmanageable.
Understanding these differences helps you explain your needs clearly when requesting NDIS personal care services or domestic supports.
What Isn’t Covered Under Each Support?
Many participants assume Personal Care and Domestic Assistance cover every daily task, but there are limits to what the NDIS funds. Supports must be considered reasonable and necessary and relate to your disability.
Personal Care usually doesn’t cover
- General childcare
- Beauty treatments
- Cosmetic services
- Tasks unrelated to your disability
- Support that family members normally provide without additional needs
Domestic Assistance usually doesn’t cover
- Major home renovations
- Gardening for aesthetic purposes
- Home maintenance by tradespeople
- Paying household bills
- General household expenses
Understanding these exclusions can help you discuss the right supports during your NDIS planning meeting.
Which Service Do You Need?
The best way to identify your support needs is to look at:
• What tasks you struggle with daily
• Whether safety risks exist
• Which activities require physical help vs household help
• Where your fatigue or mobility challenges affect independence
Common Support Combinations
Many participants use both services together. For example:
• Morning personal care + light cleaning
• Evening routine + meal preparation
• Mobility support + shopping assistance
If you’re unsure what you qualify for, support coordinators and occupational therapists can assess this accurately. Participants who require assistance with everyday living arrangements may also benefit from Supported Independent Living (SIL), which provides ongoing support in shared or individual accommodation settings.
Can You Receive Both Personal Care and Domestic Assistance?
Yes. Many NDIS participants receive both supports because they meet different daily needs.
For example:
- Personal Care helps someone shower safely each morning.
- Domestic Assistance helps keep the home clean and hygienic.
- Together, these supports promote independence while reducing risks around the home.
Whether both supports are included depends on your NDIS goals, functional capacity and the evidence provided during planning.
What Evidence You Need for Both Supports
Evidence is important for NDIS approval especially when requesting NDIS personal care services.
Useful Types of Evidence
• OT functional assessments
• Daily logs showing how long tasks take
• GP letters explaining physical or cognitive changes
• Incident reports
• Descriptions of risks (e.g., falls, hygiene concerns)
Strong Evidence for Support Requests
| Evidence Type | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| OT Assessment | Shows functional limitations clearly |
| GP Letter | Confirms diagnosis or increased needs |
| Daily Log | Demonstrates actual hours needed |
| Risk Notes | Shows unsafe situations without support |
If you’re exploring support options and want a clear overview of how NDIS providers operate across WA, you may find our Registered NDIS Provider in Western Australia.
How to Add or Increase These Supports in Your Plan
If your daily needs have changed, you may be able to request more personal care hours or extra domestic assistance. Before requesting additional funding, it can be helpful to review the current NDIS Price Guide to understand how support categories and funding allocations are structured.
How to Request Changes
• Tell the NDIS about a change of circumstances
• Ask for a plan reassessment
• Provide updated OT or GP evidence
• Add goals related to daily living and independence
• Show how unmet needs are affecting your health or safety
If you feel unsure about how to explain your situation, your support coordinator or OT can help prepare the documents.
Tips for Getting Personal Care or Domestic Assistance Approved
To improve your chances of receiving funding:
- Clearly explain how your disability affects daily activities.
- Obtain reports from your Occupational Therapist or treating professionals.
- Include examples of tasks you cannot complete independently.
- Link support requests to your NDIS goals.
- Keep evidence updated before your plan review.
The stronger your supporting evidence, the easier it is for the NDIA to understand why these supports are reasonable and necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is NDIS domestic assistance?
NDIS domestic assistance is a support funded under Core Supports that helps participants manage everyday household tasks they cannot complete independently due to their disability. This may include cleaning, laundry, meal preparation, grocery shopping, and maintaining a safe living environment.
2. Does the NDIS pay for house cleaning?
Yes, the NDIS may fund house cleaning when it is considered a reasonable and necessary support related to a participant’s disability. Funding can cover tasks such as vacuuming, mopping, bathroom cleaning, and other essential household duties.
3. Can I receive both personal care and domestic assistance through the NDIS?
Yes. Many participants receive funding for both personal care and domestic assistance. Personal care focuses on self-care activities such as showering, dressing, and mobility support, while domestic assistance helps with household tasks and home maintenance.
4. Is meal preparation covered by the NDIS?
The NDIS may fund meal preparation support if a participant is unable to safely prepare meals due to their disability. Funding can include assistance with planning meals, preparing ingredients, cooking, and maintaining adequate nutrition.
5. How do I get domestic assistance added to my NDIS plan?
To receive domestic assistance funding, you should discuss your support needs during your NDIS planning meeting or plan review. Evidence from healthcare professionals, occupational therapists, or support coordinators can help demonstrate why assistance with household tasks is required.
Need Help Choosing the Right NDIS Daily Living Supports?
Understanding the difference between Personal Care and Domestic Assistance is the first step toward building the right support plan. At Elmur Community Services, we help NDIS participants across Perth access personalised supports that promote independence, safety and confidence at home.
Email: info@elmur.com.au
Phone: (08) 6558 8814
Website: Elmur Community Services
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