How to Write an NDIS Carer Statement Template and Guide

Key Takeaways

• An NDIS carer statement (also called an impact statement) is a written account by a carer, family member, or support person that describes how a person's disability affects their daily life, and the lives of those who care for them.
• It is not compulsory, but a well-written NDIS impact statement can significantly strengthen an NDIS application or plan review by giving planners a real, human picture of support needs that clinical reports alone may not capture.
• The most important piece of advice: describe your worst day, not your best. The NDIS needs to understand the full extent of support required, not a carefully managed version of it.

What Is an NDIS carer statement?

An NDIS carer statement, sometimes called an NDIS impact statement or carer impact statement, is a letter or written document prepared by someone who cares for or supports a person living with a disability.

Its purpose is to describe, in practical and personal terms, how the person's disability affects their day-to-day life and the lives of those around them. Where medical and allied health reports tell the NDIS what a person's condition is, a carer statement tells the NDIS what that means on a Tuesday morning, or on the worst day in the last month.

A carer statement can be submitted as part of an NDIS access request (initial application) or during an NDIS plan review, to help demonstrate the level of funded support the participant needs.

It is not compulsory, but it is one of the most powerful tools available to families and carers navigating the NDIS process.

Why an NDIS impact statement matters

NDIS planners and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) assess eligibility and funding based on functional capacity — that is, how a person's disability affects their ability to participate in daily life. Clinical evidence supports this, but it doesn't always tell the full story.

A well-written NDIS carer statement bridges that gap. It adds the lived experience that reports can't capture: the 3am wake-ups, the hours spent managing meltdowns, the tasks a person cannot do independently despite appearing capable in a short clinical assessment.

Carers often feel uncomfortable writing about the hardest parts of their experience. It can feel like complaining, or like you're focusing on negatives rather than celebrating your loved one's strengths. But it's important to remember: you are not complaining. You are giving the NDIS the information it needs to provide appropriate support. Holding back can result in funding that doesn't reflect actual need.

Write about your worst day. Don't write about your average day.

Who can write an NDIS carer statement?

An NDIS impact statement can be written by anyone who provides care or support to the NDIS participant, including:

1. A parent or guardian
2. A spouse or partner
3. A sibling or other family member
4. A close friend who provides regular support
5. A support coordinator or service provider who has direct knowledge of the person's support needs

Multiple people can each submit their own statement, and this can be beneficial, as different carers often see different aspects of a person's support needs.

What to include in an NDIS carer statement

The NDIS does not provide a formal template or strict guidelines for carer statements. It can be a letter, a structured document, or a written response to a set of prompts, whatever format works best for you.

Regardless of format, a strong NDIS carer statement should cover the following:

About the person you care for:

• Their disability and diagnosis, and how it affects their day-to-day functioning
• What they need support with, and what you do to provide that support
• How their support needs have changed over time, or are likely to change in the future
• What happens when support is not available: what are the consequences?

About you as a carer:

• Your own needs and goals as a carer
• How the caring role affects your health, work, relationships, and daily life
• Whether you are able to continue providing the same level of care into the future
• What would happen to the participant if you were unavailable (illness, emergency, etc.)

About the broader support network:

• What informal supports the participant has access to (family, friends, community)
• Any gaps in the current support network
• Any other information the NDIA should know when assessing the participant's support needs

Using the 8 NDIS support categories to structure your statement

One of the most effective ways to write an NDIS carer statement is to structure it around the 8 NDIS support categories. This approach helps planners connect your description directly to how the NDIS measures and funds support, which can make your statement more persuasive and easier to act on.

For each category, describe:

• What supports are needed
• How often those supports are required
• The time and cost involved (if applicable)
• The emotional and practical impact on both the participant and the carer

The 8 NDIS support categories are:

1. Daily Living: personal care, hygiene, meals, medication management
2. Home: household tasks, cleaning, maintenance, safety modifications
3. Health and Wellbeing: exercise, therapy, mental health, medical appointments
4. Lifelong Learning: education, skill development, training
5. Work: supported employment, workplace modifications, job preparation
6. Social and Community Participation: attending activities, social connection, transport
7. Relationships: maintaining relationships with family, friends, and community
8. Choice and Control: decision-making support, planning, self-advocacy

You don't need to write extensively about every category, just focus on the areas most relevant to the participant's disability and support needs.

A Note on Functional Capacity

When writing your NDIS carer statement, it helps to use the language of functional capacity, as this is the term the NDIS uses to assess eligibility and funding levels.

Functional capacity refers to how a person's disability affects their ability to complete everyday tasks and participate in community life. Rather than just describing a diagnosis, describe what the participant cannot do independently, how long tasks take with support, and what the consequences are when support is not provided.

For example, instead of: "My son has autism." Try: "My son requires full physical assistance to complete his morning routine, including showering, dressing, and preparing breakfast. Without support, he becomes extremely distressed and is unable to leave the house. This process takes approximately two hours each morning and cannot be rushed without triggering a crisis response."

Read more about functional capacity and the NDIS here.

How to write your NDIS carer statement: step by step

If you're not sure where to start, this process can help:

1. Set aside dedicated time. Writing an honest carer statement takes emotional energy. Don't try to rush it. Set aside a few hours when you won't be interrupted.
2. Make notes before you write. Spend time thinking through a typical week, and your worst recent day. Note every task you assist with, every appointment you attend, every moment of distress or difficulty. Include the middle-of-the-night incidents, the events that don't make it into clinical notes.
3. Use the 8 categories as a framework. Work through each NDIS support category and consider how the participant's disability affects them in that area. You won't have something to say about every category, and that's fine.
4. Write plainly and specifically. Use clear, direct language. Avoid medical jargon unless it's natural to you. Specific examples and real-life scenarios are far more powerful than general statements.
5. Don't edit out the hard parts. Carers often instinctively soften their descriptions. Resist this. The NDIS needs the full picture. If something is hard, say so. If the caring role is unsustainable without more support, say that too.
6. Get support if you need it. A support coordinator can help you prepare your carer statement. They can guide you through the process and help ensure nothing important is left out.

Top 3 things to remember when writing an NDIS carer statement

1. Describe your worst day: not your average day, and certainly not your best. There is no such thing as too much information.
2. Don't leave anything out: think through the participant's day from when they wake to when they go to sleep, including night support if relevant.
3. Use a checklist: the Carers Australia Carer Checklist (linked below) can help you make sure you've covered everything before submitting.

NDIS carer statement templates and examples

You don't have to start from scratch. Here are templates and real examples to help you get started:

MyCareSpace: Carer Statement Template (for support coordinators and carers)

Reimagine: Sample Carer Statement

Carers Australia: Sample Carer Statement — Claire

Carers Australia: Sample Carer Statement — John

Carers Australia: Carer Checklist for NDIS Planning Meetings

The Carers Australia Carer Checklist is particularly useful if you're preparing for an NDIS planning meeting. It's designed for unpaid carers and support people, and helps you think through the type and frequency of support you currently provide, so nothing is overlooked.

Need help navigating the NDIS?

Writing an NDIS carer statement is just one part of the NDIS access and planning process. If you're finding the system overwhelming, you don't have to navigate it alone.

MyCareSpace's free Connections Team can help you find a support coordinator, therapist, or support worker with experience in your area, including helping families prepare for NDIS planning meetings and plan reviews.

Find NDIS support near you →