A back-up plan for your supports: emergencies and disruptions
· Everyday supports · Source checked 12 October 2026
Illness, a provider closing, bad weather or a power outage can all interrupt support. A short back-up plan makes those days easier.
What can go wrong
A regular worker is unwell. A provider has a staffing gap or closes. A storm, fire, flood or heatwave makes travel unsafe. A power cut affects equipment that needs electricity. You or a family carer end up in hospital. These are all ordinary events, and a plan made in advance turns a crisis into an inconvenience.
Write down the essentials
Put one page together with your key contacts, your providers and how to reach them, your health information and medication, the equipment you rely on, and the routines that matter most. Include who knows how you like things done, and how a new person could be shown quickly.
Keep a copy where it can be found, share it with someone you trust and update it when things change.
Ask providers about continuity
Ask each provider what they do when a worker is away or when conditions make visits unsafe, how you will be told and what they will and will not cover. Ask who to call out of hours and whether they have a plan for emergencies or extreme weather.
If a support is critical, such as personal care or medication prompts, ask what the back-up is before you need it.
People and options around you
Think about who could step in for a short time: a relative, neighbour, friend or another provider. Ask whether a second provider could be used on short notice. Check local services such as community transport, meal delivery or emergency information lines for your area.
In an emergency, call emergency services first. Review your plan each year, and after anything that changes your supports. This is general information, not emergency or medical advice.
A short checklist to finish
Have a one-page summary of your supports and health information. Know who your first and second contacts are. Know what each provider will do if they cannot attend. Keep spare medication, charging cables and essential items together. Check equipment that relies on power and know what you would do in an outage. Tell your support network where the plan is kept.
Frequently asked questions
What should an NDIS back-up plan include?
One page with your key contacts, your providers and how to reach them, your health information and medication, the equipment you rely on, and the routines that matter most. Include who knows how you like things done, and how a new person could be shown quickly.
What should I ask my providers about emergencies?
Ask what they do when a worker is away or when conditions make visits unsafe, how you will be told and what they will and will not cover. Ask who to call out of hours and whether they have a plan for emergencies or extreme weather. If a support is critical, ask what the back-up is before you need it.
Who can step in if my regular support is not available?
Think about a relative, neighbour, friend or another provider who could help for a short time, and ask whether a second provider could be used on short notice. Check local services such as community transport, meal delivery or emergency information lines for your area.
How often should I review my back-up plan?
Each year, and after anything that changes your supports. Keep a copy where it can be found and share it with someone you trust. In an emergency, call emergency services first.
Keep learning
- Finding NDIS supports in regional and remote areas: Fewer providers and longer distances change how you search. Here is a practical approach to widening the search, asking about travel and building a back-up.
- How to choose an NDIS provider: 12 questions to ask before you commit: A practical checklist for comparing providers, from how a service fits your plan to what happens when something goes wrong.
- Registered or unregistered? What it means when you choose an NDIS provider: Registered and unregistered providers can both be legitimate, but the rules, checks and options for your plan are not the same. Here is how to think about the difference.
- How to change NDIS provider without losing support: You are allowed to change providers. A little planning means the new service is ready before the old one ends, and nothing falls through the gap.
More in our NDIS updates and insights, our step-by-step guides, or the NDIS and aged care provider directory.
Official sources
Source checked 12 October 2026. Rules and guidance can change; verify current details with the responsible agency. How we write and check our guides.