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Ordering consumables as an NDIS participant: what support coordinators need to know
Last reviewed: April 2026
Most support coordinators learn the NDIS consumable ordering process the hard way: mid-crisis, with a participant who needs continence products by next week and a plan that nobody has clearly explained. The funding is there. The process is simpler than it looks. The gap is almost always information, not eligibility.
As an NDIS consumables supplier in Australia, FAD fields these calls regularly. Consumables cover everything from continence products and wound care dressings through to disposable gloves and personal hygiene items, anything that gets used up and needs regular replacement. For coordinators managing multiple participants, understanding how the consumables category works saves hours of back-and-forth and gets products to the people who need them faster.
For a broader overview of how NDIS consumable funding works across all product categories, see our NDIS consumables and first aid supply guide.
What consumables are actually covered under NDIS funding
NDIS consumables are everyday medical and personal care products funded under a participant's plan. Eligible items include continence products such as pull-up pants and wrap arounds, wound care dressings, disposable gloves, underpads, bed mats, and body wipes. Products must relate to the participant's disability and sit within the NDIS price limits.
The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits document sets out what qualifies and at what price. In practical terms, the products coordinators order most often are continence products, wound care dressings, disposable gloves, and personal care items.
The most common misconception coordinators encounter is that participants need a separate approval for each product. They don’t. If the plan includes a consumables allocation and the products fall within the pricing guidelines, the participant or their plan manager can order directly from a registered NDIS consumables supplier.
One boundary coordinators should be aware of is between NDIS funding and the Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme (CWCS). Participants who receive wound care consumables through their NDIS plan cannot also access the CWCS for the same products. The two funding streams do not overlap. For participants with chronic wounds, coordinators need to confirm which pathway is being used before ordering, so the participant is not inadvertently claiming through both.
How the ordering process works across all three plan management types
The ordering process depends on how the participant’s plan is managed. For plan-managed participants, the plan manager handles payment. The supplier invoices the plan manager, and the plan manager claims from the NDIS. For self-managed participants, the participant pays the supplier and then claims reimbursement from the NDIA portal.
For agency-managed participants, the NDIA manages the plan funding directly. The ordering process is similar, but invoicing goes through the NDIA rather than a plan manager. FAD can invoice the NDIA directly for agency-managed participants. If you’re unsure which arrangement applies, the team can confirm when you call.
In all three cases, the practical steps are the same: the participant or coordinator contacts the supplier, confirms product suitability, places an order, and receives delivery. The difference is who handles the invoice.
Documentation helps. Having a letter from the participant’s GP, occupational therapist, or continence nurse confirming the clinical need speeds up any queries from plan managers. It isn’t always required at the point of ordering, but having it on file avoids delays if questions arise during a plan review.
What coordinators actually need on hand
When a coordinator calls FAD about NDIS ordering for the first time, the dominant emotion is overwhelm. They’ve been handed a participant’s plan and told consumables are funded, but nobody has walked them through the mechanics. The first thing we say is that it’s simpler than it looks.
To place an order, a coordinator typically needs the participant’s name and NDIS number, the plan manager’s details (for plan-managed participants), the products required including sizing where relevant, and a delivery address. That’s the essentials. FAD’s team handles the rest, including invoicing in the format plan managers need for NDIS claiming.
For continence products specifically, sizing matters more than most coordinators expect. Every brand sizes differently, and a medium in one range can be a completely different fit in another. FAD sizes all Comfort First continence products by waist measurement only.
Pull-up pants are available from size M (60–120 cm waist) through to XXL (85–180 cm waist), with absorbency levels up to 2,700 ml. Wrap arounds cover a similar range with higher absorbency options reaching 5,210 ml in the XL size. If the participant hasn’t been measured, it’s worth doing before the first order. If the sizing doesn’t work first time, FAD swaps the product without fuss.
Why choosing an NDIS-registered supplier simplifies everything
Working with a supplier who understands NDIS invoicing, pricing limits, and documentation saves coordinators hours of admin. A supplier who doesn’t understand the system creates work: chasing compliant invoices, explaining pricing structures, and reconciling claims that don’t match the format plan managers expect.
If you’re managing a participant who needs both continence products and wound care dressings, you don’t need separate suppliers for each. FAD covers both on a single account, along with PPE and other medical consumables. That means one set of invoices for the plan manager and one delivery to track, instead of juggling three or four separate vendors.
How to set up an NDIS account with FAD
Contact the FAD team on 03 5443 2239 or email info@firstaiddistributions.com.au with the participant’s details and plan management type. The team will confirm product suitability, set up the account, and arrange the first delivery. Standard delivery to metro areas is typically 2 business days, with regional areas 3-5 business days. For urgent NDIS orders, let the team know when you call and they’ll prioritise where possible.
For ongoing orders, participants or coordinators can reorder by phone or email without repeating the setup process each time. If a participant’s plan is reviewed and the consumables budget changes, FAD can adjust ongoing orders to match.
For more information about FAD’s NDIS services and eligible product range, visit the NDIS page, or call the team to talk through your participant’s needs.
Related articles
- NDIS Consumables and First Aid Supply: A Guide for Participants, Coordinators, and Plan Managers (C6 hub)
- Continence products under the NDIS: what is covered and how to order (coming soon)