Choosing the Right Supports for Complex Needs Under the NDIS

When living with complex needs, finding the right supports isn’t just helpful — it’s essential.
Under the NDIS, the right combination of services can open the door to greater independence, improved wellbeing, and better quality of life.

At CARED, we understand how overwhelming it can feel to choose services when your needs are varied or changing. That’s why we’re here to walk you through how supports like Functional Capacity Assessments, Occupational Therapy, and Positive Behaviour Support can work together to give you the best outcomes.

Understanding Your Needs First: The Role of Functional Capacity Assessments

The first step in choosing the right supports is understanding your current abilities and challenges.

A Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA) provides a detailed evaluation of:

• How you manage daily living tasks (personal care, mobility, communication)
• Your physical, cognitive, and psychosocial function
• Where you need assistance or equipment to live safely and independently

An FCA acts as a foundation for your NDIS plan, helping you and your team clearly identify which supports are necessary — and just as importantly, how much support you’ll need.

At CARED, we conduct functional assessments with care and attention, ensuring your unique strengths and challenges are accurately represented.

Building Skills for Daily Life: How Occupational Therapy Helps

Occupational Therapists (OTs) specialise in helping you build skills for everyday life — the things that many people take for granted, but which can be difficult when living with disability.

An Online Occupational Therapy service can support you by:

• Improving personal care tasks like dressing, showering, cooking, and cleaning
• Developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination
• Recommending home modifications or assistive technology
• Helping with cognitive strategies for memory, organisation, and planning

For people with complex needs, Occupational Therapy can be life-changing.
It’s not just about ‘fixing’ problems — it’s about creating opportunities for independence, dignity, and participation in everyday life.

Through CARED’s flexible online OT services, you can access therapy from home, with tailored programs that fit around your life.

Managing Behavioural Challenges: When Positive Behaviour Support is Essential

When behaviours of concern arise — such as aggression, self-injury, or withdrawal — they often signal underlying unmet needs.
Addressing these behaviours through Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) can make a profound difference.

PBS focuses on:

• Understanding the purpose behind behaviours
• Reducing the need for restrictive practices
• Teaching new skills and positive communication methods
• Supporting families, carers, and support workers to better respond

At CARED, our PBS practitioners use a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach.
We work closely with participants, families, and support teams to develop practical plans that not only manage behaviours but empower people to live fuller, safer lives.

If you or a loved one experiences behaviours that impact daily life, a PBS plan can be the key to accessing specialist support funding under the NDIS.

Combining Services for the Best Outcome

Rarely does one service meet every need, especially when those needs are complex.
This is why a coordinated approach works best.

For example:

• A Functional Capacity Assessment might identify difficulties with mobility and memory.
• An Occupational Therapist can then support improvements in daily activities through strategies, equipment, or modifications.
• A Positive Behaviour Support practitioner can address behaviours that might be limiting social interaction or participation.

Each service complements the other, providing a more complete circle of care.
Together, they help create a support system that meets physical, cognitive, emotional, and social needs — not just one piece of the puzzle.

At CARED, we believe in building strong, collaborative teams around you.
We work alongside you, your family, and your wider network to ensure your NDIS supports match your real life — not just what's written on paper.

Start With What Matters Most

Choosing supports for complex needs isn’t about ticking boxes.
It’s about choosing services that help you live your best, most independent life.

Whether you need an updated Functional Capacity Assessment, practical strategies from an Occupational Therapist, or a Positive Behaviour Support plan to manage behaviours of concern, CARED is here to support you at every step.

If you’re ready to build a support team that truly understands your needs, contact us today.
Let’s work together to create a pathway to greater independence and wellbeing.

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