Carer / family support statement

A statement from a family member or carer describing the support they give and its impact.

Who it's for

This template is for family members, partners, friends and unpaid carers who help someone living with disability with everyday life. If you help a participant get up, get dressed, take medication, get to appointments, prepare meals, stay safe or simply cope day to day, your view matters to the NDIS.

It suits carers preparing for a first plan, a plan review or a reassessment. Whether you provide a few hours a week or round-the-clock care, a clear statement in your own words helps the NDIA understand what really happens at home.

Why write it

The NDIA has to consider informal supports, the help provided by family and community, when it decides what funded support is reasonable and necessary. If your care goes unnoticed, it can look like the person needs less than they do.

Writing it down shows the true gap. It explains what you do, what would happen without you, and the toll it takes on your own health, work and relationships. This helps the planner see where funded support is needed to keep the person safe and well, and to make your caring role sustainable rather than something that quietly falls apart.

How to write it

Be specific and honest. List the tasks you help with and roughly how many hours each day or week they take. Use plain examples: 'I prompt medication three times a day' or 'I stay overnight because he wakes disoriented.' Real detail is more convincing than general words like 'a lot'.

Describe what would happen without your support, such as missed medication, falls, isolation or an unsafe home. Note what has changed over time, whether the person needs more help now, or your own capacity has reduced.

Include the impact on you: sleep, work you have given up, your health, and how long you can keep this going. Keep it factual and calm, sign and date it, and attach it to the participant's other evidence.

Template

Carer / family support statement

My name is [name]. I am the [relationship] of [participant’s name].

The support I provide:
[Describe the tasks you help with and roughly how many hours a day or week — e.g. personal care each morning, transport to appointments, prompting and supervision, overnight help.]

What would happen without this support:
[Describe the impact on the participant if this help wasn’t there.]

What has changed:
[Note any change over time — the person’s needs increasing, or your ability to keep providing the same level of care.]

How providing this support affects me:
[Be honest about the impact on your own health, work or wellbeing.]

In my view, [participant’s name] needs [the supports you believe are needed].

[Your name, relationship and the date]

About this template

What is a carer support statement?
It is a short written statement from a family member, partner or unpaid carer describing the support they give a participant, roughly how many hours it takes, what would happen without it, and the impact on the carer. It gives the NDIA a real picture of the informal support already in place and where funded support is still needed.
Who should write one?
Anyone who provides regular unpaid support: a parent, partner, sibling, adult child, friend or neighbour. If you help with daily tasks, safety, transport, appointments or emotional support, your view is valuable. More than one carer can each write their own statement, which can strengthen the overall picture the planner sees.
How many hours of care should I include?
Give your best honest estimate, not an exact figure. Think through a typical day and week and note roughly how long each task takes, including overnight support and being on call. It helps to keep a rough diary for a week. Approximate hours are fine; the goal is an accurate sense of the load you carry.
Will describing my support reduce the person's funding?
Being honest should not disadvantage the participant. The NDIA already considers informal supports, so an accurate statement helps them understand the gap rather than hiding it. Importantly, describe what would happen without you and how sustainable your role is, so funded support can keep both the person and you supported over the long term.
How long should the statement be?
Usually one to two pages is plenty. Focus on clear, specific detail rather than length: the tasks, the hours, what changes over time, the risks without you, and the effect on your own life. Sign and date it, and attach it alongside the participant's goals, reports and other evidence for their planning meeting.

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Novida is an independent directory, not the NDIA. We explain each form in plain English and link you to the official copy — always download and submit the current version from the official website, as forms are updated from time to time.