What Is Tracheostomy Support Under the NDIS?

Tracheostomy support is one of the nine High Intensity Daily Personal Activities (HIDPAs) under NDIS Practice Standards Module 1, and is classified as a Level 3 support — the highest risk category alongside ventilator care. It applies to participants with a permanent or long-term tracheostomy tube who require assistance with tracheostomy management in a community setting.

For registered NDIS providers, this means a Registered Nurse must be involved before any support worker delivers tracheostomy care — and that RN must develop a participant-specific care plan, train each worker individually, and formally sign off on their demonstrated competency.

What TrustCare Delivers

• Participant-specific tracheostomy management plans — NDIS Practice Standards-compliant, signed by our AHPRA-registered RN
• Stoma site care — cleaning, dressing changes, tie replacement
• Inner cannula care — removal, cleaning, reinsertion per care plan
• Airway suctioning — oropharyngeal and tracheostomy suctioning for airway patency
• Emergency protocol development — decannulation response, escalation pathways, 000 triggers
• Support worker training and competency assessment — documented per worker, per participant, with annual renewal
• Direct RN clinical attendance for participants requiring hands-on registered nurse care
• Clinical governance support for providers building HIDPA tracheostomy compliance frameworks

Who Can Refer

TrustCare accepts referrals from:

• Registered NDIS providers (operations managers, care coordinators, clinical leads)
• Support coordinators acting on behalf of a registered provider
• Plan managers coordinating clinical supports within an NDIS plan

NDIS Funding for Tracheostomy Care

Tracheostomy care is funded under two NDIS registration groups depending on who delivers the care:

• Community Nursing Care — Registered Nurse (Group 0114): $123.65/hr weekday daytime nationally (2025-26) — applies when our RN delivers direct clinical care
• High Intensity Daily Personal Activities (Group 0107): $76.09/hr weekday daytime — applies when a trained and delegated support worker delivers routine tracheostomy care under RN supervision

Both are funded from the participant's NDIS plan — they do not come from the registered provider's operational budget.

Compliance Requirements (February 2025)

Under the NDIS High Intensity Support Skills Descriptors (effective February 2025), tracheostomy support requires:

• A participant-specific care plan developed by a qualified health practitioner (RN)
• Documented competency assessment for each worker — demonstrated competency, not just course attendance
• Annual competency review, or earlier if the participant's needs change or a worker has been absent from the support for 3+ months
• If the participant is also on ventilator support: workers must hold competency across both the tracheostomy AND ventilator skill descriptors