Community nursing vs personal care — what’s the difference?

Community Nursing

One of the most common questions families ask when their loved one’s needs become more complex: do we need community nursing, or is a support worker enough? Here’s the practical answer.

What personal care covers

Personal care is delivered by support workers — showering, dressing, grooming, continence support, medication prompting, basic mobility. Workers complete Code of Conduct training, manual handling, and infection control. For most participants, personal care is the right level of support.

What community nursing adds

Community nursing is delivered by registered nurses (AHPRA-registered) for clinical tasks that require nursing assessment and judgment:

  • Wound assessment and complex dressing changes.
  • Continence assessment.
  • Medication review and oversight (not just prompting).
  • Diabetes management.
  • Post-discharge clinical handovers.
  • Clinical supervision of high-intensity support workers.

When you need both

For participants with complex needs in our SIL homes, we often blend the two — community nursing for clinical oversight, support workers for the bulk of daily care. The nurse visits weekly or fortnightly; workers are there daily.

How they’re funded

Community Nursing Care has its own NDIS line item (Class 0114). Personal care comes under Daily Activities (Class 0107). They’re separate budgets in your plan.

How Carevally delivers both

Carevally is one of a small number of NDIS providers in Melbourne registered for both Personal Care (0107) and Community Nursing Care (0114). That means we can deliver a fully integrated package without having to outsource the clinical side. Get in touch to talk through what you need.

High-intensity NDIS supports — what they are, who can deliver them

High intensity

“High-intensity supports” is the NDIS term for daily-living tasks that require specific clinical training. Not every NDIS worker can deliver them. Not every NDIS provider is registered for them. Here’s what they are, who can deliver them, and how they fit into your plan.

What counts as high-intensity

The NDIS Commission defines high-intensity supports in the High Intensity Support Skills Descriptors. Carevally is registered to deliver:

  • Complex bowel care — including digital stimulation and manual evacuation where required.
  • Enteral feeding — Naso-Gastric tube, Jejunum, Duodenum (PEG/PEJ feeding).
  • Urinary catheter management — in-dwelling, in-out and suprapubic catheters.
  • Subcutaneous injections — insulin, anticoagulants, supportive medications.
  • Complex wound management — including pressure injury management and post-surgical care.

We’re also approved to support day-to-day medication management, disposal of hazardous waste, and implementation of restrictive practices under approved behaviour support plans.

Who can deliver them

Only workers who have completed the relevant high-intensity training and demonstrated competency. At Carevally, our high-intensity workers complete training assessed against the Skills Descriptors, with annual competency review by our clinical lead and supervision by registered nurses.

How they’re funded

High-intensity supports are funded under Core Supports — Daily Activities, at the high-intensity hourly rate set in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements. The increased rate reflects the additional training and supervision required.

How to access them

If you or a family member need high-intensity supports:

  1. Make sure your plan documents the need for high-intensity care, with supporting evidence from your treating medical team.
  2. Choose a provider registered for the specific supports you need (not all NDIS providers are — verify on the NDIS Commission’s Find a Registered Provider tool).
  3. The provider designs a roster of care that includes high-intensity-trained workers.

Why this matters

For participants with complex medical needs, the difference between a provider who’s properly registered and one who isn’t is significant. Carevally was deliberately set up to be one of the providers that can.

If you’d like to talk through your needs, send us a message.