If you are experiencing any changes to your day-to-day life or independence, and are reliant on others or equipment as a result of your brain tumour, you may be wondering if the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can provide some financial support for you, or a family member.
The NDIS system has gone through a series of major changes in the last couple of years, and the rules around eligibility and how funds can be spent are constantly evolving. If you have a PRIMARY brain tumour and are considering applying for NDIS, the Brain Tumours Online team strongly encourage you to contact the Peace of Mind Foundation’s National Advocacy Service and ask for their guidance directly.
This information was developed in collaboration with the Peace of Mind Foundation to help you understand the NDIS application pathways and where to go for support to ensure your application has the best chance of success.
Can I get NDIS support to help me cope with my brain tumour?
If you are experiencing significant impact to how you can live independently day-to-day as a result of your brain tumour, you may be eligible to receive NDIS support from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
To be eligible to access the NDIS, your application must clearly show two key things:
- Medical permanency
You have a diagnosed medical condition which, despite treatment, is expected to be lifelong.
- Significant impairment
Your condition means you need support, supervision, or equipment to manage everyday tasks such as mobility, self-care, communication, or cognition.
However, the application process can be very complex, and needs to be prepared carefully to ensure it meets the NDIS requirements in order to have any chance of being successful. This can be very challenging, especially if you are already at a crisis point.
NDIS Access Pathways for people with Primary Brain Tumours:
The National Advocacy Service (NAS) provided by the Peace of Mind Foundation is a not-for-profit one-on-one service to help people with a primary brain tumour navigate the process of applying for NDIS support. If you are considering applying for NDIS support we recommend that you contact the NAS team directly.
Pathway 1: Peace of Mind Foundation’s National Advocacy Service
Peace of Mind Foundation’s National Advocacy Service provides end to end, comprehensive support for people applying for the NDIS, with a particular focus on individuals living with primary brain tumours. This Factsheet gives an overview of what NDIS is, what support you might be able to get, how it works, and how the Peace of Mind Foundation can help you with your application.
Other options:
While we recommend you seek Peace of Mind Foundation’s advocacy support, there are alternative ways individuals may start an NDIS application:
Pathway 2: Local Area Coordinator (LAC)
Individuals can attend their local NDIS office and request support from a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) to initiate an application.
Role of the LAC includes:
- Initiating the NDIS access request
- Providing general information about the Scheme
Limitations:
- LACs do not track applications once lodged
- They do not assist with evidence gathering
- They do not support participants during planning meetings
- Ongoing navigation of the process is left to the individual
Note: Individuals may choose to engage the Peace of Mind Foundation’s National Advocacy Service for support at any stage during or after LAC involvement.
Pathway 3: Health Liaison Officer / Hospital-Based Application
Another pathway is via a Health Liaison Officer (HLO), which is available for in-patient applications only, where NDIS support is indicated for safe discharge from the hospital.
This approach is standard in public hospitals, particularly where:
-
- Significant disability is identified
- Safe discharge planning is required
Availability in private hospitals is variable, though the service does exist.
Key consideration:
- Hospital and Health Liaison support usually ceases after the NDIS planning meeting
- Post‑planning implementation, support coordination, and plan optimisation are often not provided
In these cases, advocacy support remains critical to ensure effective NDIS handover and ongoing plan management, so we still advise you to contact Peace of Mind Foundation’s National Advocacy Service to see if they can help you or the hospital team with progressing things.
Applying to the NDIS if you have brain metastases:
The Peace of Mind Foundation specifically provides support to people with PRIMARY brain tumours. If you have secondary brain cancer (brain metastases) that has spread to the brain from a cancer in another part of the body (e.g. Melanoma, Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer), you may still be eligible to apply to NDIS, but you will need to start the process by contacting your local NDIS office or Local Area Coordinator for guidance on how to apply.
They will usually ask you to:
- Provide medical evidence from your treating specialist confirming your diagnosis and prognosis; and
- Provide a functional assessment from an occupational therapist or your medical team describing how your condition affects daily life.
Important:
If you have been advised that your illness is life limiting and that you may have less than 12 months to live, this must be stated clearly and explicitly in your medical evidence. The NDIS has a fast-tracked pathway for people with terminal illness when there is also clear evidence of significant disability, allowing quicker access to urgently needed supports. If this applies to you, make sure your treating team knows to document it plainly.