Eating disorders

What is it?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides funding for ‘reasonable and necessary supports’ to help people with disability to reach their goals in life, to work and to be part of the community.

You may be eligible for the NDIS if you’ve been diagnosed with an eating disorder and/or other mental health condition that has resulted in a psychosocial disability. If you’re an NDIS participant, your package of supports can provide support coordination, therapeutic support, group programs and peer support.

What can someone expect?

If your application for the NDIS is approved, you’ll undertake a planning process to develop your NDIS plan. This will involve a planning meeting to speak with someone about your goals, the supports you currently receive, and the services and supports you might need. Your plan will be reviewed every 12 months.

Types of support available under the NDIS can include:

• support coordination—planning and selecting the best support services to meet your goals
• psychology and counselling—therapy to address disability needs such as social skills, emotional barriers to participation, motivation, problem solving, planning and decision making
• dietetics—support to address dietary issues resulting from disability
• group programs—assistance to access community, social and recreational activities
• peer support—motivation, empathic understanding and crisis planning.

Who is this for?

Someone diagnosed with a mental illness may be eligible for the NDIS if they have a permanent and significant disability because of their mental health condition. This is referred to as a ‘psychosocial disability’.

If you have an eating disorder and/or other condition that impacts your day-to-day living, you may be eligible for an NDIS package that may cover eating disorder supports. NDIS eligibility criteria for people with psychosocial disability include:

• diagnosed (or likely to be diagnosed) mental health condition
• likely to have lifelong impacts
• day-to-day living is significantly impacted by the condition.

How can someone access it?

If you think you might be eligible for the NDIS, you can complete an application. There are options to complete a verbal or written application. Your application must include supporting evidence of a disability and functional impairment.

Carers Queensland is the Local Area Coordination partner for the NDIS for Queensland. You can seek information about the NDIS and assistance to navigate the process of applying for the NDIS by visiting the website, calling 1300 999 636 or emailing cq.enquiries@ndis.gov.au.

Eating Disorders Queensland (EDQ) is registered with the NDIS to provide Capacity Building Supports for Improved Daily Living Skills to NDIS participants with an approved package. These group and individual services can include assessment, training or therapy to help increase your skills, independence and community participation.