Stoma Supplies: The NDIS & the Stoma Appliance Scheme Explained
NDIS Stoma Appliance Scheme guide: how the scheme supplies your stoma products, what the NDIS funds instead, and how the two fit together.
If you have a stoma, one of the most useful things to understand is that your stoma products don't usually come from your NDIS plan at all — they come from the Stoma Appliance Scheme. Knowing which scheme covers what saves confusion, and stops you paying out of pocket for something already funded. This guide explains the Stoma Appliance Scheme, what the NDIS funds instead, and how the two work…
Two different things, working side by side
What the Stoma Appliance Scheme is
What the scheme supplies
What the NDIS funds instead
Why the NDIS won't duplicate the scheme
When you might still need the NDIS
Getting set up across both systems
Frequently asked questions
Does the NDIS pay for my stoma bags and supplies?
Usually no, and that's good news. Stoma products like bags, base plates and accessories come from the Stoma Appliance Scheme, an Australian Government scheme accessed through a stoma association, not from your NDIS plan. Knowing this stops you paying out of pocket for something already funded.
What is the Stoma Appliance Scheme?
It's a national scheme that provides subsidised stoma products to people with a stoma, accessed by joining a stoma association (you'll generally need to be a Medicare cardholder). It supplies the everyday appliances and accessories you need to manage your stoma.
Why won't the NDIS fund my stoma products?
Because the NDIS doesn't duplicate supports another system already provides. Since the Stoma Appliance Scheme is the appropriate funder for stoma appliances, the NDIS won't fund them again. It focuses instead on the disability support around your stoma care.
So what does the NDIS actually fund for a stoma?
The NDIS can fund the trained worker or nurse time to help you manage your stoma when your disability means you need that help, plus the training and clinical oversight to set it up safely. It funds the support and the people, while the scheme supplies the products.
How do I get set up across both systems?
Join a stoma association to access your appliances through the Stoma Appliance Scheme, and separately arrange NDIS-funded support if you need help managing your stoma. A stomal therapy nurse can help set up both the products and the support plan your workers follow.
Related guides
- Stoma Care on the NDIS: A Participant & Family Guide
- Urinary Catheter Care on the NDIS: A Participant Guide
- How to Find a Support Worker Trained in Complex Bowel Care
- Bowel Care Safety: Questions to Ask & What a Good Routine Looks Like
- Finding a Worker or Nurse Trained in Catheter Care
- Complex Bowel Care on the NDIS: A Participant & Family Guide