NDIS choice and control: What it means and how Like Family can help

One of the central aims of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is to give people with disability more choice and control over how they achieve their goals.

If you're an NDIS participant, this means you have the power to choose how you manage your funding, what service providers you work with, and when you receive supports.

The NDIS Commission describes this as the principle of informed choice and dignity of risk. It means participants should be empowered to make decisions about their own lives, even if those decisions involve some risk.

When people with disability have more choice and control, they're more likely to achieve better outcomes and use their funding more effectively and efficiently.

What do we mean by choice and control?

Before the NDIS was introduced, the Productivity Commission found that disability services were often driven by providers. Funding went straight to providers rather than to the person who actually needed support, leaving little room for flexibility or decision-making.

The NDIS changed this. Today, choice and control is a fundamental principle of the scheme. Funding goes directly to the participant, who can then decide how to best use it to achieve their goals. This includes:

• Choosing how to manage your plan: You can manage your NDIS plan yourself, via the NDIA, or with the help of a plan manager.
• Choosing how to use your funding: If you have core supports funding, you may use it flexibly for a range of things, like consumables or domestic assistance, so long as it meets the NDIS requirement of being "reasonable and necessary".
• Choosing what services or supports you receive: You can decide which NDIS providers you engage, what supports they deliver, and which individual support workers you want to work with.

Balancing "choice" with “reasonable and necessary”

While the NDIS gives participants freedom to decide how they spend their funds, that freedom is balanced by the principle of reasonable and necessary supports.

This ensures that taxpayer funding is used to achieve outcomes linked to a participant’s goals, independence and community participation.

In practice, this means you can exercise choice and control, but supports still need to align with your plan goals and the NDIS guidelines.

Real-world examples of NDIS choice and control

If you're still not 100% certain on what choice and control might mean for you in a real-world scenario, here are some examples to guide you:

• You might choose to self-manage your plan so you can hire a local support worker who isn’t NDIS registered but suits your lifestyle.
• You could decide to use your Core budget to fund transport so you can attend a concert with friends, building both social and community participation.
• You might post an activity for a weekly bushwalk with the same support worker, ensuring consistency and trust.

These everyday decisions highlight how choice and control shapes not just funding, but quality of life.

How Like Family helps you enjoy more choice and control

As a proud NDIS registered provider, Like Family is built around the principle of choice and control. We help you:

Choose which support workers you work with

When you sign up and post an Activity, you can browse thousands of Social Carers across NSW, Victoria and Queensland. Filters allow you to narrow by age, location, support experience, and shared interests. You decide who you connect with, and you can continue working with the same person each week—avoiding the disruption of rotating workers.

Choose how you achieve your goals

Posting an Activity is like writing a job ad. You set out what support you want, when you want it, and how often. That might mean going to the movies, cooking together, or tackling household tasks. Carers then respond to your preferences, and you decide who’s the best fit.

Choose what information you share

Your privacy matters. We only share personal details with Carers once you choose to connect. You can browse Carers anonymously, and only disclose more information when you’re comfortable.

Enjoy more choice and control with Like Family

Like Family is on a mission to help everyone reach their full potential, regardless of age or ability. We provide social and community support that builds meaningful relationships and empowers participants to live life on their terms.

Our Social Carers can support you with:

• Community access
• Household tasks
• Arts & craft
• Outdoor adventures
• Transportation
• A buddy for social events

Our Social Carers all undergo a comprehensive vetting process, including a group induction and NDIS Worker Check, to ensure they are reliable and reflect our values.

Whether you're an NDIS participant, a relative of a participant, or a support coordinator, we can help you find and connect with compatible Social Carers in your local area. Join our community today!