care@kuremara.com.au
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For many people with disability, maintaining independence means having the right support to manage health needs at home. Your home is your sanctuary, and the goal of the NDIS is to ensure you can live there safely, on your own terms, without unnecessary hospital visits.
This is where NDIS community nursing plays a vital role. It brings clinical expertise into your personal space, respecting your routine and lifestyle while ensuring your health is managed professionally.
If you are navigating the NDIS with complex health requirements, understanding how to secure these supports is essential. In this guide, we will explore what community nursing entails, how it supports your independence, and the steps for accessing community nursing through Kuremara, whether you are in Brisbane, Melbourne, or Sydney.
What is NDIS Community Nursing?
NDIS community nursing is a support service designed to provide clinical care to participants who have complex health support needs. Unlike standard support work, which assists with daily living tasks, community nursing is delivered by qualified Registered Nurses (RNs) or Enrolled Nurses (ENs).
These professionals provide the clinical oversight necessary to manage health conditions safely. However, good community nursing isn’t just about medical tasks; it is about working with you to build your capacity.
The primary goals of community nursing are to:
- Empower you to understand and manage your own health where possible.
- Prevent health complications and hospital admissions.
- Support your independence by delivering care in your preferred environment.
- Provide reassurance to you and your support network that clinical needs are being met.
How Community Nursing is Funded Under the NDIS
Community nursing supports are typically funded under two categories:
1. Core Supports – Assistance with Daily Life:
This funding allows you to access nursing care that helps with everyday tasks, such as personal care, medication administration, or clinical routines at home.
2. Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living Skills:
This can cover training from nurses for participants or their carers to manage certain health needs more independently.
The exact category and budget allocation will depend on your personal situation and what’s outlined in your NDIS plan. It’s important to be specific when discussing your care needs with your NDIS planner or LAC (Local Area Coordinator). If you’re unsure, the team at Kuremara can guide you through the funding structure, ensuring your plan aligns with your health requirements.
Key Services Offered Under Community Nursing
At Kuremara, our nursing teams are trained to provide respectful, dignified care for a wide range of needs. Common supports included in NDIS plans are:
a. Medication Management
We support you in maintaining your medication routine safely. This includes administering injections, managing complex schedules, and monitoring for any changes in your well-being.
b. Wound Care and Skin Integrity
Our nurses provide professional care for acute and chronic wounds, pressure injuries, and post-operative sites, prioritising comfort and quick healing to help you get back to your daily life.
c. Chronic Health Management
We partner with you to manage long-term conditions such as diabetes (including insulin support and monitoring), respiratory needs, and heart health.
d. Continence and Catheter Support
We provide dignified support for the assessment, insertion, and maintenance of urinary catheters (SPC/IDC) and complex bowel care, ensuring your privacy and comfort are always paramount.
e. Enteral Feeding and Nutrition
For participants who require non-oral feeding, we manage PEG tubes and nutritional monitoring to ensure your dietary needs are met safely.
f. Palliative and High-Intensity Support
We offer compassionate, person-centered care for those with life-limiting conditions or high-intensity daily personal activities, ensuring you feel supported and heard.
Am I Eligible? Understanding the Criteria
Accessing community nursing depends on your individual circumstances. To include this in your plan, the NDIS requires evidence that your disability results in complex health needs that cannot be safely managed by a standard support worker.
Funding for nursing generally falls under two categories:
* Capacity Building: Funding to train you, your family, or your support workers to manage your condition independently (e.g., diabetes management training).
* Core Supports (Assistance with Daily Living): Funding for ongoing, direct clinical care delivered by a nurse.
Note: You will usually need a report or letter from your GP, specialist, or Occupational Therapist outlining why skilled nursing is “reasonable and necessary” for your situation.
Step-by-Step: How to Access Community Nursing
If you require clinical support to maintain your independence, here is how you can start accessing community nursing in your plan.
1. Talk to Your Support Coordinator or LAC:
Discuss your healthcare needs and how they impact your daily life. They can help you identify if nursing support should be added to your plan.
2. Collect Medical Evidence:
Gather reports or letters from your GP, specialists, or hospital. The more detailed, the better.
3. Request a Plan Review or Update:
If community nursing isn’t in your current plan, you can request a plan reassessment. Your LAC or plan manager can guide you through this.
4. Include Community Nursing in Your Plan:
Specify what kind of care you need, how often, and how it helps with your disability. Make sure the support is clearly linked to your goals.
5. Choose a Registered NDIS Provider Like Kuremara:
Once funding is approved, Kuremara can help develop a tailored nursing care plan and begin services quickly.
Accessing community nursing may take some paperwork and patience, but it’s worth it for the peace of mind and support you’ll receive.
Finding Local Support: Accessing Community Nursing in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney
Kuremara provides consistent, high-quality care across Australia’s major cities, ensuring you have local support that understands your community.
a. Accessing Community Nursing in Brisbane
For participants in Queensland, accessing community nursing in Brisbane is simple with Kuremara. Our mobile teams cover the greater Brisbane region, offering flexible visits that fit around your life, not the other way around. We work closely with Queensland Health services to ensure your care is connected.
b. Accessing Community Nursing in Melbourne
If you are in Victoria, accessing community nursing in Melbourne through Kuremara ensures you have a team that understands the local landscape. We support participants through critical transitions, such as moving from hospital to home, ensuring you feel safe and settled.
c. Accessing Community Nursing in Sydney
For our New South Wales community, accessing community nursing in Sydney means receiving reliable care across the metro area. Whether you need daily support or weekly check-ins, Kuremara’s Sydney nurses are dedicated to clinical excellence and building strong, trusting relationships.
Why Choose Kuremara?
Inviting a clinician into your home requires trust. Here is why participants across Australia choose to partner with Kuremara:
- Inclusive & Culturally Safe: We are committed to providing a safe environment for everyone, including First Nations people, those from CALD backgrounds, and the LGBTIQA+ community. We respect your identity and culture.
- Qualified Experts: All care is delivered or overseen by AHPRA Registered Nurses.
- Person-Centered: We ask, “What matters to you?” not just “What is the matter with you?” Your goals drive our care plan.
- Collaborative Team: We work alongside your Support Coordinator, family, and other health professionals to ensure your support network is aligned.
Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them
* Delays in Plan Approvals or Funding
It’s not uncommon for participants to experience delays when trying to add new supports like community nursing to their NDIS plan. This can happen due to missing paperwork, unclear goals, or insufficient medical evidence.
Here’s how to speed things up:
- Work closely with your GP and gather recent reports
- Be specific about how the nursing support relates to your disability
- Ask your support coordinator to help with wording and submissions
- Contact the NDIS for plan reassessments proactively
Kuremara offers assistance with these steps, helping you prepare documents and liaise with your LAC when needed.
* Finding the Right Nurse for Your Needs
Not every nurse will be the right fit. You may have preferences related to culture, language, gender, or communication style. It’s completely okay to ask for a change or provide feedback.
Kuremara listens. We take the time to match each participant with a nurse who understands their unique needs, background, and personality. If you’re not happy, we’ll make it right, no questions asked.
Conclusion: Take Control of Your Healthcare Journey with Kuremara
Accessing NDIS-funded community nursing can transform your health and independence. It brings essential clinical care into your home, delivered by professionals who understand your needs and goals.
Whether you’re in Brisbane, Melbourne, or Sydney, Kuremara is here to support you. As a registered NDIS provider, we offer trusted, person-centred community nursing that makes a real difference. From helping you navigate the system to delivering compassionate care in your home, we are your partners in better health and a better life.
Ready to take the next step?
Reach out to Kuremara today for a free consultation and discover how community nursing can be added to your plan.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How do I know ifI’meligible for community nursing through NDIS?
If your disability requires regular clinical care such as wound management, injections, or continence support — you may be eligible. Your support coordinator can help assess this and gather the required evidence.
2. Can I use my Core budget for nursing?
Yes, in many cases, nursing can be claimed from the “Assistance with Daily Living” category in Core Supports, provided it is approved as reasonable and necessary for your disability-related health needs.
3. Do I need a referral for NDIS nursing?
You don’t need a medical “referral” in the traditional sense, but you do need evidence of your health needs to utilise your NDIS funding. Kuremara can assist you in understanding what documentation is required.
4. What is the difference between a Support Worker and a Nurse?
A Support Worker assists with lifestyle and daily tasks. A Nurse (RN/EN) holds a medical registration to perform clinical procedures (like complex wound care or catheter management). We often work together to provide holistic support.
5. What happens ifI’mnot happy with my current nursing provider?
You have the right to switch providers. Kuremara ensures a smooth transition and provides care tailored to your preferences and needs.
