What Are NDIS Home Modifications?
NDIS home modifications are changes made to a participant’s home to support their independence, safety, and ability to carry out daily activities. For many people with disability living in Ballarat, modifications to the home environment can make the difference between needing 24-hour support and living independently.
Home modifications are funded under the NDIS as part of the Capital Supports budget — specifically under “Home Modifications.” This is separate from your Core Supports budget and is assessed based on your functional needs and the recommendations of an occupational therapist (OT).
What Types of Home Modifications Does the NDIS Fund?
The NDIS distinguishes between minor and major home modifications. Minor modifications cost up to approximately $20,000 and include items such as grab rails and handrails in bathrooms, toilets, and hallways, non-slip flooring, lever door handles and tap ware, ramps for step-free access, shower chairs and accessible shower heads, and widened doorways for wheelchair access.
Major modifications are more complex structural changes costing over $20,000, such as a full accessible bathroom renovation, installation of a ceiling hoist or tracking system, construction of a ramp or lift, kitchen modifications for wheelchair access, and widening of multiple doorways throughout the home. Major modifications require more detailed assessment and approval from the NDIA.
How to Get Home Modifications Funded in Your NDIS Plan
The key to getting home modifications approved is having a thorough assessment from a registered occupational therapist (OT). The OT visits your home, assesses how your disability impacts your daily functioning in that environment, and writes a report recommending specific modifications with clinical justification.
This OT report is then submitted to the NDIA as evidence for your plan. For minor modifications, approval is usually straightforward once the OT report is provided. For major modifications, the NDIA may request additional quotes and a more detailed assessment of the home structure. Once approved, you engage a registered NDIS home modifications builder to carry out the work.
Does the NDIS Fund Home Modifications for Renters?
Yes, the NDIS can fund modifications for rental properties, but there are additional steps involved. Your landlord must provide written consent for the modifications to be made. In some cases, the landlord may require modifications to be reversed at the end of the tenancy, so this should be discussed upfront. The NDIA strongly encourages participants who rent to speak with their support coordinator and their landlord early in the process to avoid delays.
In Ballarat, many participants live in housing trust or community housing properties — modifications to these properties typically require approval from the housing authority as well as the NDIA.
Home Modifications and the NDIS in Ballarat
Ballarat has a mix of older housing stock and newer accessible designs, and many participants find that older homes require more significant modifications to become fully accessible. Suburbs such as Ballarat East, Ballarat North, Sebastopol, and Wendouree have a high proportion of older homes where bathroom and access modifications are particularly common.
If you’re unsure whether your home needs modifications or what might be possible, an OT assessment is the best starting point. Your support coordinator can arrange a referral to an OT who specialises in home modifications.
Assistive Technology vs Home Modifications
Some supports sit on the boundary between home modifications and assistive technology (AT). For example, a portable shower chair might be classed as AT, while a fixed fold-down shower seat is a home modification. A ceiling hoist is a home modification, while a portable electric hoist might be AT. Your OT will clarify which category each support falls under when writing their report, as they are funded differently in your NDIS plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: Yes — even for minor modifications, an OT assessment is typically required to justify the modification clinically and ensure it is appropriate for your needs.
A: For modifications funded through the NDIS, you generally need to use a builder who understands NDIS requirements. Your support coordinator can help identify suitable builders in the Ballarat area.
A: Urgent modifications can sometimes be approved more quickly. Your hospital discharge planner or support coordinator can submit an urgent request to the NDIA with supporting documentation.
A: Yes — home modifications can be included in your first NDIS plan or added through a plan review, even if you don’t have other support worker funding.
Need Help Navigating NDIS in Ballarat?
Gentle Grid’s support coordinators help Ballarat participants access home modifications, assistive technology, and all the supports they’re entitled to under the NDIS.
Gentle Grid provides NDIS support across Ballarat
As a registered NDIS provider in Ballarat, we support participants across all suburbs including Sebastopol, Wendouree, Alfredton, Ballarat East, Delacombe, Mount Clear, Ballarat Central, Ballarat North, Buninyong, Creswick, Miners Rest, Daylesford, Smythesdale, Ararat. Contact us to learn how we can help.