NDIS Continence Products: What's Funded, How to Claim, and How a Pharmacist Can Help
Written by Nadim Assaf, Registered Pharmacist & CEO — Connect Mobility. NDIS Provider No: 4050 144 759.
If you or someone you support uses continence products and has an NDIS plan, there's a good chance those products should be funded. Continence remains one of the most underclaimed supports in the NDIS, partly because participants don't realise it's covered, and partly because the claiming process involves terminology that's genuinely easy to get wrong.
This guide explains what's covered, how it fits into your plan, the difference between NDIS funding and the Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS), what a continence assessment involves, and why having a pharmacist involved in product selection makes a genuine clinical difference.
What Continence Products Does the NDIS Fund?
The NDIS funds continence products as Core Supports — Consumables (Support Category 03). These are everyday items that get used up and replaced regularly because of a participant's disability.
NDIS-Funded Continence Products
Key rule: The product must be needed because of the participant's disability, and represent a "reasonable and necessary" support under your plan. Keep invoices and records for all purchases, since the NDIA can request evidence of this.
NDIS Funding vs CAPS — They're Not the Same Thing
Two different schemes can fund continence products in Australia, and it's important to understand they don't simply stack. Understanding the difference avoids a common and costly mistake.
| Feature | NDIS Core Supports — Consumables | CAPS |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it? | NDIA | Services Australia |
| Who is eligible? | NDIS participants with disability-related continence needs | Australians with permanent and severe incontinence not already funded elsewhere |
| Payment amount | Varies by plan | $739.40 per year (2026–27 rate), paid annually or bi-annually |
| Can you use both? | No — not if your NDIS plan already includes continence support specifically | |
| Assessment required? | Yes — continence nurse or qualified health professional | Yes — GP or specialist |
According to Services Australia's own eligibility rules, you can't access CAPS if you already have an NDIS funding package that includes continence support specifically — not simply because you're an NDIS participant in general. If your plan doesn't currently include continence funding, it's worth checking with your planner whether CAPS might still be the right path instead. The NDIS itself has continued to grow steadily, with participant numbers increasing from 751,446 as at 30 September 2025 to 761,442 as at 31 December 2025. Continence consumables remain one of the highest-volume support categories within Core Supports, yet many eligible participants still aren't claiming the full continence funding available to them.
What Does a Continence Assessment Involve?
Before continence products are included in your NDIS plan, the NDIA will generally want evidence of a continence assessment by a continence nurse or other suitably qualified health professional. This typically covers your medical history, bladder and bowel patterns (often tracked over a few days using a simple diary), mobility and dexterity for toileting, your home environment, and fluid and diet factors that affect bladder and bowel function. The resulting written report becomes the clinical evidence your planner uses to justify funding.
To find a Nurse Continence Specialist, you can contact the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66 (Monday to Friday, 8am–8pm AEST), a free service staffed by qualified continence nurses who can also advise on funding schemes generally. This is a different number to the CAPS team itself, which is reachable directly on 1800 239 309 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am–5pm AEST) for application-specific queries.
Why Pharmacist Advice Matters for Continence Products
This is where Connect Mobility is genuinely different from most NDIS continence suppliers.
Many continence suppliers function primarily as logistics businesses, taking an order and posting products. We're a team of registered pharmacists who can look at how absorbency, skin sensitivity, and product format actually relate to your specific situation, not just dispatch the same product to everyone with a similar order.
Medications That Affect Continence
Diuretics increase urinary output. Anticholinergics can cause urinary retention. Opioids cause constipation. Antidepressants, antipsychotics and calcium channel blockers all have documented urological effects. A pharmacist reviews your full medication list and selects products appropriate for your specific pattern of incontinence.
Correct Absorbency Selection
Under-absorbent products cause leakage and skin breakdown. Over-absorbent products add unnecessary bulk and cost without meaningful benefit. We match absorbency to actual volume and frequency of leakage.
Skin Integrity
Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis affects a significant proportion of people managing incontinence. We understand the cleanse-moisturise-barrier routine and which products genuinely support skin health, not just absorbency.
NDIS Value for Money
Getting the right product the first time reduces waste, returns, and unsuitable purchases, directly supporting the NDIA's reasonable and necessary criteria.
Nadim Assaf, Registered Pharmacist: "In over ten years of pharmacy practice, I've seen patients on twelve medications who were given a standard continence pad by a provider who never looked at their medication list. Two of those medications were directly contributing to their incontinence pattern. Product selection without looking at the full clinical picture is incomplete."
How to Order NDIS Continence Products from Connect Mobility
View our full continence range here.
Agency-Managed
Contact us, we confirm your NDIS details and raise a service booking, invoicing the NDIA directly. No upfront cost to you.
Plan-Managed
Provide your plan manager's details, we set up a recurring delivery account and invoice them directly each month. You don't need to manage payment yourself.
Self-Managed
Order directly, and we'll provide a compliant tax invoice with support item numbers you can submit for reimbursement through your myplace portal.
Request a Quote for Your Continence Consumables
NDIS line item codes included. All plan types accepted. Pharmacist advice at no extra cost.
Call 1300 216 888 Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm, or use our contact form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use both CAPS and NDIS funding for continence products?
No. Services Australia's rules state you can't access CAPS if your NDIS plan already includes continence support. If your plan doesn't currently fund continence products, it's worth confirming with your planner whether to pursue NDIS funding or apply for CAPS separately.
Do I need a continence assessment before I can claim?
The NDIA generally wants evidence of an assessment by a continence nurse or similarly qualified professional to justify ongoing funding in your plan. This isn't usually required for a one-off purchase, but it strengthens your case for sustained Core Supports funding.
What's the current CAPS payment amount?
$739.40 for the 2026–27 financial year, paid either as one annual payment in July or two bi-annual payments in July and January. This amount is reviewed annually by the government and has changed most years.
References
- Services Australia, How Much You Can Get on CAPS — servicesaustralia.gov.au
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Continence Aids Payment Scheme — health.gov.au
- Services Australia, Not Meeting Eligibility for CAPS — servicesaustralia.gov.au
- Continence Health Australia, National Continence Helpline — continence.org.au
General information only. NDIS and CAPS rules and payment rates change periodically. Last verified September 2026. Connect Mobility NDIS Registration #4050 144 759.