What is Plan nominee?
A plan nominee is a person appointed to act for an NDIS participant in relation to their plan — making decisions about supports, or doing things the participant would otherwise do themselves. Nominees are appointed by the NDIA, usually at the participant’s request, and must act according to the participant’s wishes where possible.
A plan nominee is distinct from an informal support person or a family member acting helpfully. The appointment is formal and recorded by the NDIA.
Providers should know who holds nominee status before accepting service agreement signatures or consent for information sharing, because a signature from someone without authority does not create an enforceable agreement.
Two types of nominee
- A plan nominee can make decisions about planning (preparing or changing the plan) and about managing and using funding on NDIS supports. They can be appointed for one or both.
- A correspondence nominee can ask the NDIA for information and receive letters and notices, but cannot prepare or change the plan or manage funding.
A participant can have either type, both, or the same person in both roles. There can be more than one plan nominee, but only one can manage the funding in the plan.
When the NDIA appoints a nominee
The NDIA starts from the principle that adults can make their own decisions, then checks whether they can decide with support. It only appoints a nominee when that is the only option. Participants younger than 18 are supported by a child representative instead. The nominee role is voluntary and unpaid.
A nominee's duties
- support the participant to make their own decisions as much as possible
- find out and understand the participant's wishes and preferences
- act in a way that promotes the participant's personal and social wellbeing
- consult other people in the participant's life about decisions
- tell the NDIA about any conflict of interest and avoid or manage it
- comply with the laws of their state or territory.
What providers should know
The NDIA treats what a plan nominee does as if the participant had done it, but it can limit what a plan nominee may do, so check the scope of the appointment. A plan nominee cannot manage funding if they have been convicted of an offence punishable by 2 or more years in prison or involving fraud or dishonesty. If a nominee is also one of the participant's providers, that is a conflict of interest the NDIA considers.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a plan nominee and a correspondence nominee?
A plan nominee can make decisions about the plan and manage funding. A correspondence nominee can only deal with information and letters from the NDIA.
Can a provider or support worker be an NDIS nominee?
The NDIA treats a proposed nominee who is also one of the participant's providers as a conflict of interest it must consider. Any nominee must tell the NDIA about conflicts and avoid or manage them.
Are NDIS nominees paid?
No. The nominee role is voluntary.
Can an NDIS participant have more than one nominee?
Yes. They can have more than one plan nominee and a separate correspondence nominee, but only one plan nominee can manage the funding.
Checked against the official sources on 2 October 2026. Rules change: confirm the current position with the agency before you rely on it.
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