NDIS personal care support can help with personal hygiene, showering, dressing, grooming, toileting, continence management, mobility and transfers. At Independent Disability Services (IDS), this is provided through our Personal Support service.
The amount of assistance can vary. You might need prompting, help preparing for a task, someone nearby for safety, assistance with one part of a routine, or more direct physical help. Personal care does not have to mean someone taking over. You can continue doing the parts of daily life you are comfortable and able to manage yourself.
IDS provides Personal Support in people’s own homes and communities across Melbourne’s inner and outer suburbs. Workers are matched around the person’s needs, preferences and location, with a small dedicated team used to support greater familiarity and consistency.
IDS has supported Melburnians with disability since 1986. We are a registered NDIS provider, provider number 4050000327, and are also registered with TAC and WorkSafe. We are also a registered charity with the ACNC.
Want to discuss your personal care needs? Make a referral or call IDS on 03 9340 5100.
Quick Contact
What Is NDIS Personal Care Support?
Personal care support is assistance with daily living activities involving your body, hygiene, mobility and self-care.
Under the NDIS, personal care may be funded through Core Supports, including the Assistance with Daily Life category. Core Supports can be used for eligible everyday assistance such as personal care when the support meets NDIS rules and is consistent with the person’s plan.
The exact help someone receives depends on their circumstances. One person may only need assistance with a transfer or getting dressed. Another may need more direct help across several personal care activities.
The IDS Difference
You will be supported by staff who have the qualifications and experience to meet your needs and goals, and the personal profile to meet your individual preferences.
How IDS Matches and Manages Your Personal Support Team
For intimate personal care, choosing the right worker matters.
IDS uses a small dedicated team model rather than treating each shift as a completely separate arrangement.
Matching Workers to Your Needs and Preferences
IDS builds client teams based on the person's needs, required skills and preferences. Worker proximity is also considered when matching people across Melbourne.
You can discuss personal preferences that affect your comfort with a worker, including a stated gender preference.
Worker Screening and Requirements
Current requirements for IDS support workers include:
- First Aid and CPR certificates
- an NDIS Worker Screening Check
- a Victorian driver's licence
- access to a reliable, comprehensively insured vehicle.
These requirements are considered alongside the person's specific needs and the worker's suitability for the individual arrangement.
A Small Team With Defined Roles
IDS's client-team structure includes Disability Support Workers, a Key Worker, Service Coordinators and a Client Services Team Leader.
Disability Support Workers provide day-to-day assistance.
The Key Worker gathers feedback about progress towards goals, identifies ways the service can improve and helps train workers who join the team.
The Service Coordinators assists with rostering, questions and service expectations.
The Client Services Team Leader works with the client, Key Worker and Service Coordinators to support consistency and keep arrangements aligned with the person's needs.
Workers also record notes through IDS's client-management system after shifts.
Using a small team reduces reliance on one individual worker while giving the person a more consistent group who can become familiar with their routines and preferences.
What If a Worker Is Not the Right Fit?
If you are uncomfortable with a worker or something about the arrangement is not working, raise it with your IDS team so the issue can be reviewed.
IDS also has a formal feedback and complaints process. Feedback can be provided through the feedback form, by phone or by email, and complaints can be made anonymously.
Can NDIS Funding Be Used for Personal Care?
The NDIS describes Core Supports as funding that can help with everyday activities, including personal care.
Personal care commonly sits within the Assistance with Daily Life support category. Core funding can be flexible, but it can only be used for supports permitted under NDIS rules and in line with the person's NDIS plan.
Your funding arrangements are individual. If you are uncertain whether your Core Supports can be used for the assistance you are considering, check your plan or speak with your Support Coordinator or my NDIS contact.
IDS is a registered NDIS provider. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission lists IDS for Assist-Personal Activities.
IDS also provides services funded through TAC and WorkSafe, and fee-for-service arrangements are not excluded.
What Does IDS Personal Support Cost?
IDS publishes its Standard Support rates rather than requiring people to enquire before seeing how different service times are charged.
The IDS rates checked on 4 September 2026 are:
| Support time | IDS published rate |
|---|---|
| Weekday daytime, 6am–8pm | $73.58 per hour |
| Weekday evening | $81.07 per hour |
| Weekday active overnight | $82.57 per hour |
| 8-hour night-time sleepover | $311.79 |
| Saturday | $103.54 per hour |
| Sunday | $133.50 per hour |
| Public holiday | $163.46 per hour |
For a night-time sleepover, the published rate includes up to two hours of active assistance within the eight-hour period. Additional active time is charged at the applicable hourly rate.
These are IDS's published rates, not a statement of the NDIS maximum price for your service.
IDS negotiates an individual agreement based on the services selected and provides monthly statements. Confirm the exact rates and any other charges that apply to your arrangement before services begin.
You can also check our pricing for the latest published IDS rates.
Personal Support vs Other Types of Assistance
Knowing where Personal Support fits can make it easier to choose the right service.
| What you need help with | Appropriate pathway |
|---|---|
| Showering, dressing, grooming, toileting, continence, mobility and transfers | IDS Personal Support |
| Cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, meal preparation and other household tasks | IDS Domestic Support |
| Getting out into the community, attending activities and building practical community skills | IDS Community Access |
Some clients use more than one IDS service. For example, someone could receive Personal Support with their morning routine, Domestic Support with household tasks and Community Access to take part in activities outside the home.
This Personal Support page does not establish IDS as a provider of clinical nursing or allied health services.
If a person requires clinical procedures or high-intensity personal activities, discuss those requirements with IDS before referring so the team can confirm whether the person's needs fall within its current Personal Support capability.
Personal Support Across Melbourne
IDS provides in-home and community-based services across Melbourne's inner and outer suburbs.
Our only physical office is at 11 Clarence Street, Bentleigh East. It is an administrative office, not a residential care facility or personal care centre.
IDS does not publish a definitive suburb-by-suburb service list. If you are considering a referral, call 03 9340 5100 to confirm current suitability for the person's location.
Day-to-day service delivery is available from 24/7 every day of the year. IDS also publishes rates for evening, active overnight and sleepover arrangements.
Current capacity and commencement timing can change depending on the person's location, required hours and worker match. Contact IDS to confirm availability for a specific referral rather than assuming an immediate start.
How to Start Personal Support With IDS
You do not need to have every detail finalised before contacting IDS.
Make a Referral or Enquiry
A client, family member or Support Coordinator can make a referral.
The IDS referral portal requires contact details so the team can follow up. You can also call 03 9340 5100 or email support@idsa.org.au.
Discuss the Person's Needs and Preferences
IDS can discuss:
- the personal care activities involved;
- preferred days and times;
- worker requirements and preferences;
- the parts of the routine the person manages independently;
- relevant goals; and
- other information needed to arrange the service safely.
Confirm the Service Arrangements
Each client has an individual service agreement and support plan.
IDS also prepares an emergency management plan and risk assessment. These documents help establish what assistance has been agreed and how the arrangement will operate.
Build the Client Team
IDS uses the person's needs, required skills and preferences to build a small worker team.
The arrangement includes a Key Worker, Service Coordinators and Client Services Team Leader so there are defined contacts for different parts of the service.
Start the Service and Review What Is Working
Once the service arrangements and worker match are in place, assistance can begin.
The Key Worker gathers feedback about progress towards the person's goals. The wider client team provides points of contact for rostering, questions, changing needs and service concerns.
Ready to discuss Personal Support? Make a referral or call IDS on 03 9340 5100.
Making a Personal Support Referral as a Support Coordinator
IDS has a dedicated Supporting Partners pathway for Support Coordinators.
When assessing IDS for a referral, you can discuss the person's:
- Personal Support requirements;
- location;
- proposed service hours;
- worker preferences;
- relevant skills or experience required;
- current capacity and worker availability; and
- individual service arrangements.
IDS's Supporting Partners phone service is available 24/7, 365 days a year.
For referred clients, IDS uses individual service agreements, support plans, emergency management plans and risk assessments. Support Coordinators can also receive monthly statements, and IDS states that its finance team monitors client spending trends and contacts the coordinator when a trend may lead to overspending.
Refer a client through Supporting Partners or call 03 9340 5100 to discuss current Personal Support availability.
Why Choose IDS for NDIS Personal Care Support?
IDS combines personal care assistance with specific systems designed to support continuity, choice and accountability.
- Supporting Melburnians with disability since 1986
- Registered NDIS provider 4050000327
- Registered provider with TAC and WorkSafe
- Small dedicated client teams rather than relying on a single worker
- Defined Key Worker, Service Coordinator and Client Services Team Leader roles
- Worker screening, First Aid/CPR and disability-qualification requirements
- Individual service agreements, plans and risk-management documentation
- Published rates and monthly statements
Frequently Asked Questions
Can NDIS personal care support be provided in my own home?
Yes. IDS Personal Support is delivered in people's homes and communities across Melbourne's inner and outer suburbs.
Can I express a preference about my disability support worker?
Yes. IDS considers personal needs and preferences when building client teams. Stated preferences, including gender preferences, can be discussed as part of the matching process.
What happens if my Personal Support needs change?
Raise the change with your IDS team. Your Key Worker, Service Coordinators and Client Services Team Leader provide points of contact for reviewing how the service is working and discussing changed needs or preferences.
Is Personal Support the same as Domestic Support?
No. Personal Support focuses on the person and their personal routines, such as showering, dressing, toileting and mobility. Domestic Support focuses on the home and household, including cleaning, laundry, shopping and meal preparation.
How much does IDS Personal Support cost?
Charges depend on when the service is delivered and the individual arrangement. IDS publishes its Standard Support rates and provides an individual service agreement and monthly statements. Check the latest pricing before services begin.
Does IDS provide nursing or allied health care?
IDS Personal Support is a disability support service, not a community nursing or allied health service. If a person's daily assistance involves clinical procedures or higher-intensity requirements, contact IDS to confirm the appropriate service pathway before referring.
Looking for NDIS Personal Care Support in Melbourne?
If you need help with personal daily activities, start by telling IDS what assistance you need, what you prefer to do independently and what matters to you in a worker.
You can make a referral, call 03 9340 5100 or email support@idsa.org.au.
You do not need to know every detail before getting in touch. IDS can discuss the proposed arrangement with you and help determine whether Personal Support is an appropriate fit.
