Hospital discharge checklist for NDIS participants

Updated 24 October 2026

Short answer: Tell the NDIA early through the hospital’s Health Liaison Officer, with the participant’s consent. Then confirm what has changed since admission and where the participant is going (home, a new home or medium-term accommodation), and have supports, equipment and the first week’s roster in place before the discharge date. My Support Services works with discharge teams on hospital to home support and replies to referrals within one business day.

A checklist for support coordinators and hospital teams when an NDIS participant is getting ready to leave hospital. Starting early is what stops people waiting in a hospital bed after they are medically ready to go home.

Tell the NDIA early

• With the participant’s consent, the hospital lets the NDIA know through the NDIA Health Liaison Officer (HLO) connected to that hospital.
• The NDIA says it aims to contact the participant, or their representative, within 4 days of being told about the admission.
• If the person is not yet an NDIS participant but may have a permanent and significant disability, the hospital can help them apply for access. HLOs can help with this.

Your role as support coordinator

The NDIA expects support coordinators to:

• Work with the participant, the HLO, the NDIA hospital discharge team and the people important to the participant
• Understand the participant’s usual living situation, informal supports and housing history
• Explore options, including home and living supports, and help the participant move to the option they choose
• Hold a discharge planning meeting with hospital staff if needed
• Follow up after discharge to check the participant is settled

Discharge checklist

Before the planning meeting

• Participant consent to share information
• Hospital contacts: the social worker or discharge planner, the treating team and the HLO
• Reason for admission and the expected medically ready date
• How the participant was managing before admission: supports, informal care and housing

What has changed

• Current function, from occupational therapy and physiotherapy assessments
• New equipment needed, and who is ordering it
• Home modifications or a home assessment
• Medication changes, and who will support them
• Whether the plan still fits. If needs have changed significantly, ask the NDIA for a plan change.

Where they are going

• Back home, to a new home, or to interim accommodation
• If the long-term home is not ready yet, medium-term accommodation (MTA) may bridge the gap
• Short-term accommodation (STA) can give family carers a break during recovery

The first week home

• Support roster confirmed before the discharge date
• Support workers briefed on the care plan and any new risks
• Transport home arranged, and someone there on arrival
• GP and follow-up appointments booked
• A check-in after discharge. We suggest one in the first 48 hours and another at the end of the first week.

Health system or NDIS?

The health system stays responsible for clinical treatment and care related to the hospital stay. The NDIS funds disability-related supports. Agree who is providing what before the discharge date, so nothing falls between the two.

How we help

Our hospital to home support works with discharge teams to get supports in place before the participant leaves the ward, and keeps them steady through the first weeks at home.

Send the referral

Use our referral form, call (03) 9114 8958 or email intake@mysupportservices.com.au. Send what you have. We reply within one business day, and we will ask for anything else we need.

Sources: NDIS, Hospital discharge; NDIS news, NDIS participants being discharged from hospital faster than ever. NDIS processes change, so check the NDIS website for the latest.