Consumables referrals for NDIS coordinators
Everyday disability-related items used up and replaced — continence products, low-cost assistive technology and nutrition supplies — usually bought flexibly from the Core budget.
NDIS registration group: Assistive products for personal care and safety (consumables)
What Consumables is under the NDIS
Consumables is a support category that sits within a participant's Core Supports budget. It funds the everyday, disability-related items a participant uses up and needs to replace on a regular basis — things that are consumed through ordinary use rather than kept as durable equipment. Because it lives in Core Supports, the Consumables allocation is generally flexible and can usually be used alongside other Core categories.
In practice, Consumables covers items such as continence products, low-cost assistive technology below the NDIS low-cost threshold, and disability-related nutrition supplies. The common thread is that the item is directly related to the participant's disability, is reasonable and necessary, and is something that runs out and must be reordered — rather than a one-off, higher-cost piece of equipment that would sit in the Capital (Assistive Technology) budget.
Consumables is not a support type that legally requires providers to be NDIS-registered. Self-managed and plan-managed participants can buy consumables from any supplier, including mainstream retailers, while agency-managed (NDIA-managed) participants must purchase from NDIS-registered providers. Registration and claiming rules are set out in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits and on ndis.gov.au.
What it covers
- Continence products — pads, liners, catheters, drainage bags and related supplies
- Low-cost assistive technology below the NDIS low-cost threshold
- Disability-related nutrition supplies, including home enteral nutrition (PEG feeding formula and supplies)
- Everyday disability-related items that are used up and regularly replaced
- Consumable items that support daily personal care and hygiene
- Wound care and skin-integrity consumables where disability-related
- Interpreting and translating supports listed under Consumables (where applicable)
- Regular or subscription-based supply and delivery of continence and nutrition items
- Replacement of low-cost aids and minor equipment consumed through ordinary use
Who it suits
Refer for Consumables when a participant has an ongoing, disability-related need for items that are used up and reordered — most commonly continence supplies, nutrition products or low-cost aids. It suits participants who need a reliable, regular supply arrangement rather than a one-off purchase, and it is often set up alongside personal care or daily-living supports.
How to refer Consumables on Novida
Start in Novida by searching for verified suppliers who provide the specific consumables your participant needs — for example continence supply companies, low-cost AT retailers, or home enteral nutrition suppliers. Filter to confirm the provider is a genuine match, and check their registration status and current capacity to take on and regularly supply a new participant, since consumables often rely on an ongoing delivery arrangement rather than a single order.
When you have a shortlist, contact the supplier directly with a complete referral so they can act without chasing you for details. Include the participant's consent, NDIS number, plan-management type (this determines whether the supplier must be registered), the relevant line items or Consumables budget, the specific products and quantities, and the delivery frequency or reorder cycle you want set up. Attach any assessment that supports the request, such as a continence or dietitian assessment.
Novida is free to use and never sits in the middle of the referral. You contact and engage the supplier directly, and the service relationship is between the participant and the provider — Novida simply helps you find and verify the right supplier quickly.
What to check before you refer
- Confirm the participant's plan-management type — this decides whether a registered supplier is required. Agency-managed (NDIA-managed) participants must buy from NDIS-registered providers who claim through the portal, while plan-managed and self-managed participants can use any supplier, including mainstream retailers.
- Check that the item is disability-related and supported by the plan — for continence products confirm a continence assessment, and for nutrition supplies a dietitian assessment, so the type and quantity being ordered are justified and won't be queried.
- Confirm the item belongs to the NDIS rather than the health system or everyday living — everyday groceries, general household goods and clinically-managed medications are not consumables, so verify the request is genuinely a disability-related consumable before referring.
How it’s priced
Consumables are covered by the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (the document formerly known as the NDIS Price Guide), but most consumable items are bought at their actual market or retail price rather than at a set hourly rate, and low-cost assistive technology is generally purchased at market price without a quote. Always check the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits on ndis.gov.au for any applicable limits, claiming rules or thresholds.
Coordinator FAQs — Consumables
- Does a participant need a registered provider to buy consumables?
- It depends on plan management. Self-managed and plan-managed participants can buy consumables from any supplier, including mainstream retailers, so registration isn't required. Agency-managed (NDIA-managed) participants must purchase from NDIS-registered providers who claim through the portal. Consumables itself is not a support that…
- Can the Consumables budget be used flexibly?
- Generally yes. Consumables sits within the Core Supports budget, which is usually flexible, so funds can often be used across Core categories such as Daily Activities and Social and Community Participation. There are exceptions — stated supports and, in some plans, Transport can be restricted. Always check the participant's plan for any…
- What's the difference between the Consumables and Assistive Technology budgets?
- Consumables covers low-cost, everyday items that are used up and replaced, including low-cost AT below the NDIS threshold. The Capital Assistive Technology budget covers higher-cost, durable equipment that usually needs a quote and an assessment. If an aid is inexpensive and falls under the low-cost threshold, it can often be bought from…
- Do continence products need an assessment?
- Usually yes. A continence assessment by a suitably qualified professional, such as a continence nurse or occupational therapist, supports the type and quantity of products funded and helps justify the request if it's queried. Where a plan references such an assessment, confirm it is current before referring, so the supplier can set up an…
- Can nutrition supplies be funded as consumables?
- Yes, disability-related nutrition supplies can be funded, including home enteral nutrition such as PEG feeding formula and related supplies. These are typically supported by a dietitian assessment that confirms the product and quantity. Everyday groceries and general food are not funded — the item must be a disability-related nutrition…
- How do I know how much Consumables funding is available?
- Check the participant's plan and the myplace portal for the Consumables allocation. Because Consumables sits within the flexible Core Supports budget, the figure is generally a guide rather than a hard cap, since funds can often move across Core categories. Confirm there are no stated supports that lock a portion of the budget before…
- Can I set up regular, ongoing delivery of consumables?
- Yes. Many continence and nutrition suppliers offer subscription or scheduled delivery, which suits consumables because the items are reordered regularly. When you refer, specify the products, quantities and the delivery frequency or reorder cycle you want, so the supplier can establish a reliable ongoing arrangement rather than treating…
- What can't be purchased with the Consumables budget?
- Everyday living costs unrelated to disability — general groceries, standard household items and clinically-managed medications — are not consumables and are generally the responsibility of the participant or the health system. The item must be reasonable, necessary and directly related to the participant's disability. Check the NDIS…
- Does Novida supply or manage the consumables order?
- No. Novida is a free directory that helps you find and verify the right supplier — it never sits in the middle of the referral. You contact the supplier directly with a complete referral, and the service and supply relationship is between the participant and the provider. Novida's role ends once you've connected with a suitable, verified…
Related NDIS registration groups
- Supported Employment referrals
- Finding & Keeping a Job referrals
- School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) referrals
- Assistance with Transport referrals
- Assistive Technology referrals
- Interpreting & Translation referrals
How to check a provider’s credentials
- NDIS Commission provider register — NDIS registration
- How worker screening works — Worker screening
- Make a complaint to the NDIS Commission — Complaints & conduct