Home modifications are one of the most useful things an NDIS plan can fund, and one of the most commonly misunderstood. People expect a builder. What they get first is an Occupational Therapist with a tape measure, and there is a reason for that.
This is the process as it actually runs, for participants, families and support coordinators.
What counts as a home modification
The NDIS splits them broadly into two groups.
Minor modifications are the smaller changes that do not alter the structure of the home: grab rails, a handheld shower, step modifications, a threshold ramp, lever taps, removing a shower hob. These make up most of what we do.
Complex modifications change the structure: widening doorways, a full bathroom conversion, a ramped entry, structural alterations. These involve more assessment, more documentation and usually a builder from the start.
Why an OT assessment comes first
The NDIS funds what is reasonable and necessary to achieve a functional goal, not what would be nice to have. Someone has to establish what the person cannot currently do, why, and what change would fix it. That is the Occupational Therapist’s job.
It also prevents the most expensive mistake in this field: building the wrong thing. A rail in the wrong position is worse than no rail, because it gets used. We see that often enough that we measure and trial before anyone orders anything.
The process, step by step
- Referral and intake. We confirm the plan has appropriate funding, and that we have capacity.
- Home visit assessment. We watch the actual task in the actual space: getting into the shower, getting on and off the toilet, getting in the front door. Measurements, photographs with consent, and a conversation about what the person wants to be able to do.
- Trial where possible. Some equipment can be trialled before committing, which frequently changes the recommendation.
- Report and quotes. We write the assessment that the NDIS requires, and obtain builder quotes. For complex modifications there are additional requirements, including evidence about the property and, for renters, owner consent.
- Submission and decision. The NDIA reviews it. This step takes as long as it takes, and it is the part everyone finds frustrating.
- Build. The builder does the work. We stay involved to check what was recommended is what gets installed.
- Review after completion. Does the person now do the thing they could not do? If not, why not?
What slows applications down
- Renting without owner consent. Written consent from the property owner is needed, and it is better to start that conversation early.
- Goals that are not in the plan. The modification has to connect to a funded goal.
- Missing evidence. A report that describes the problem but not the functional impact will come back.
- Quotes that do not match the recommendation. Common when the builder is chosen before the assessment.
- Starting with the solution. Requests that begin with “we want a wet room” rather than “showering is unsafe and here is why” are harder to justify.
For support coordinators
What speeds this up more than anything else is a referral that includes the plan dates, the relevant goals, the funding category and amount available, whether the participant owns or rents, and any previous assessments. If the participant has had a fall or a hospital admission, tell us, because it changes the urgency and the evidence base.
We will tell you honestly if we do not have capacity to start within a reasonable timeframe, rather than accepting the referral and sitting on it.
Getting started
See our home modifications page for examples of completed work, including before and after comparisons, or read about home safety assessments and assistive technology.
Send a referral through our referrals page or call (07) 3187 5018. We cover Brisbane, Logan and Ipswich.
General information about how the process works. NDIS requirements change from time to time, so check current NDIA guidance or ask us.
