Does the NDIS cover school fees?
No, the NDIS doesn't pay school fees. Education is the school system's job. Here's the boundary, and what the NDIS does fund for students.
No — the NDIS does not cover school fees. Education, including tuition and the reasonable adjustments schools must make, is the responsibility of the education system, not the NDIS. The scheme funds disability supports that aren't the school's job. Understanding that boundary helps you get the right support from the right place — and this guide draws the line clearly.
The short answer
How the NDIS decides
What the school covers vs what the NDIS covers
How to get the right support
A realistic wrap-up
Frequently asked questions
Why won't the NDIS pay school fees?
Because education is the responsibility of the education system, not the NDIS. Tuition, and the reasonable adjustments a school must make to include a student with disability, are the school's job. The NDIS funds disability supports that fall outside education, not the cost of schooling itself.
Does the NDIS pay for a teacher aide?
Generally no. Support that helps a student access education in the classroom, including aides, is the education system's responsibility. The NDIS may fund personal care at school tied to the student's disability, but not the educational support the school is required to provide.
What disability supports can the NDIS fund at school?
It can fund supports that aren't the school's job, such as personal care tied to the student's disability, therapies that build broader capacity, personal assistive technology used across settings, and transport support in some cases. The test is whether it's a disability support rather than…
My child's school says a support is the NDIS's job — who's right?
It depends on whether the support is about delivering or accessing education (the school's responsibility) or a disability support beyond that (potentially the NDIS's). If it's unclear, ask your support coordinator to help clarify, and get the school and NDIS providers talking directly.