Safe Transfers at Home: What a Good Manual Handling Plan Looks Like
A good manual handling plan on the NDIS: who writes it, what belongs in it, when two workers are needed, and how it keeps transfers safe at home.
A manual handling plan is the instruction sheet every worker follows when they move you — bed to chair, into the shower, out to the car. Done well, it takes the guesswork out of a risky task and keeps both you and your workers safe. This guide explains what a good plan contains, who should write it, and how it connects to your equipment, your workers and your funding.
What a manual handling plan is
Who writes it
What a good plan contains
One worker or two: how the plan decides
Equipment: hoists, slings and how the plan specifies them
Keeping the plan safe: reviews and updates
How the plan connects to your funding and evidence
Where this sits in the bigger picture
Frequently asked questions
What is a manual handling plan?
It's a written instruction sheet that tells every worker exactly how to move you safely — bed to chair, into the shower, or out to the car — including which equipment to use, how many people are needed, and any risks to watch for. It takes the guesswork out of a risky task.
Who writes a manual handling or transfer plan?
Usually an occupational therapist or physiotherapist, who assesses your body, your environment and your equipment, then documents the safest technique, sometimes alongside a nurse for complex needs. The NDIS can fund this assessment through your Capacity Building budget as part of your allied health…
How does the plan decide whether one worker or two is needed?
The therapist assesses the risk of each transfer — your weight-bearing ability, the equipment, the space and any behaviours — and specifies one or two workers accordingly. Two-person (2:1) support is documented where a transfer genuinely can't be done safely by one person, and that justification…
How often should a manual handling plan be reviewed?
Whenever your needs, body or equipment change, and otherwise at regular intervals — commonly about once a year. A transfer that was safe six months ago may not be after weight change, surgery or new equipment, so an out-of-date plan is a real safety risk.
How does the plan connect to my funding?
The plan is key evidence. It justifies the worker hours and skill level you need, whether two workers are required, and which hoist or sling to fund as assistive technology. Bringing a current plan to your planning meeting helps the NDIA fund transfers realistically and safely.
Related guides
- How to Get 2:1 Support Funded Without Draining Your Budget
- How the NDIS Funds 24/7 Care at Home
- How the NDIS Funds Hoists, Slings & Transfer Equipment
- How the NDIS Works With Palliative Care & Health Services
- How the NDIS Funds Personal Care & Self-Care Supports
- Overnight Complex Care: Active Overnight vs Sleepover for Clinical Needs