NDIS High Intensity Support Skills Training is specialised, competency-based training that prepares disability support workers, nurses, and healthcare professionals to safely deliver complex, high-risk care to NDIS participants in Australia. As the National Disability Insurance Scheme continues to grow — now supporting over 600,000 Australians with disability — the need for skilled, confident support workers capable of delivering high intensity care has never been greater. Whether you are a support worker looking to advance your career, a nurse working in the disability sector, or an NDIS provider wanting a compliant and capable workforce, understanding what High Intensity Support Skills training involves and why it matters is an essential first step.
This guide covers everything you need to know: what High Intensity Daily Personal Activities (HIDPAs) are, how the High Intensity Support Skills Descriptors (HISSD) framework works, which course modules are available, who should enrol, and how this training aligns with NDIS Practice Standards and the Workforce Capability Framework.
Ready to take the next step? Enrol in nationally recognised NDIS High Intensity Support Skills Training with First Aid Pro Workplace Training today. Courses are available onsite, in corporate workplaces, and as public sessions across Australia. Enquire now or book a callback with the First Aid Pro corporate team.
Key Takeaways
- NDIS High Intensity Support Skills Training equips workers to deliver complex, high-risk care to NDIS participants safely and competently.
- High Intensity Daily Personal Activities (HIDPAs) are the most specialised and high-risk supports within the NDIS framework.
- Training is guided by the High Intensity Support Skills Descriptors (HISSD) and must align with NDIS Practice Standards.
- Courses cover areas including bowel care, dysphagia, enteral feeding, tracheostomy, epilepsy, wound care, catheter care, and more.
- Both individual workers and NDIS provider organisations benefit from completing accredited HISSD training.
- Training is available onsite, in corporate workplace settings, or via public courses through registered providers like First Aid Pro.
What Is NDIS High Intensity Support? Understanding HIDPAs and Complex Care
NDIS High Intensity Support refers to a specific category of support services provided to NDIS participants whose care needs are complex, specialised, and carry a higher level of clinical risk. These supports are formally known as High Intensity Daily Personal Activities, or HIDPAs, and they represent the most demanding tier of personal care within the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
HIDPAs go well beyond standard daily living assistance such as help with dressing, meal preparation, or personal hygiene. They involve clinical or quasi-clinical tasks that require specific knowledge, practical skills, and sound judgement — tasks where an error in technique or a delayed response could have serious consequences for a participant’s health, safety, or wellbeing.
| Support Level | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Minimal complexity, low risk, routine tasks | Medication prompting, basic personal care |
| Intermediate | Moderate complexity, some clinical elements | Wound dressings, continence support |
| High | Complex, high-risk, requires specialist training | Tracheostomy care, ventilator support, enteral feeding |
The level of support required for each participant is determined by the complexity and number of tasks involved, and is reflected in their NDIS plan funding. Registered nurses play a critical oversight role at the high-intensity level, providing delegation, clinical supervision, and quality assurance.
How High Intensity Supports Differ From Standard Disability Support
Standard disability support focuses on assisting participants with everyday activities to maintain independence and quality of life. High intensity support, by contrast, involves clinical procedures and health management tasks that carry genuine risk if performed incorrectly. For this reason, NDIS workers delivering HIDPAs are required to demonstrate specific competencies — not just good intentions or general caring skills.
This is precisely why the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission mandates that workers supporting participants with high intensity needs must complete approved training aligned to the HISSD framework. It is not optional, and it is not adequately covered by a general Certificate III in Individual Support alone.
What Are the NDIS High Intensity Support Skills Descriptors (HISSD)?
The High Intensity Support Skills Descriptors, commonly referred to as the HISSD, are a nationally consistent framework developed to define the skills, knowledge, and competencies required by workers delivering high intensity supports to NDIS participants. They were developed in collaboration with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and provide a clear benchmark for what “competent” looks like in each area of high intensity care.
The HISSD framework covers each HIDPA category individually and sets out exactly what a worker must know and be able to do before delivering that type of support unsupervised. This includes both theoretical understanding and demonstrated practical ability.
How the HISSD Framework Guides Competency-Based NDIS Training in Australia
Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) use the HISSD as the foundation for designing and delivering NDIS High Intensity Support Skills Training. Rather than simply attending a lecture or watching a video, workers must demonstrate competency through practical assessment — showing that they can perform the required tasks safely and correctly in a supervised setting.
This competency-based approach is deliberate. It ensures that a worker who completes training in, say, tracheostomy care is genuinely capable of providing that support — not just familiar with the theory. For NDIS providers, this is equally important: employing workers who have met the HISSD competency standards helps meet obligations under the NDIS Practice Standards and reduces organisational risk.
| HISSD Framework Element | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Skills Descriptors | Define what workers must know and do for each HIDPA |
| Competency Assessment | Confirms practical ability, not just knowledge |
| RTO Delivery | Ensures training is structured, consistent, and verified |
| NDIS Practice Standards Alignment | Links worker capability to provider compliance obligations |
| Workforce Capability Framework | Supports career pathways and workforce planning |
NDIS High Intensity Support Skills Training — Who Should Enrol?
NDIS High Intensity Support Skills Training is relevant to a broad range of people working in or connected to the disability and aged care sectors in Australia. If your role involves — or is likely to involve — delivering personal care to NDIS participants with complex needs, this training is for you.
| Who Should Enrol | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Disability Support Workers | Gain the skills and credentials to work with high-needs participants |
| Nurses in the Disability Sector | Stay current with NDIS-specific standards and clinical delegation requirements |
| Allied Health Professionals | Understand HIDPA frameworks relevant to your client population |
| NDIS Providers & Coordinators | Ensure your workforce is trained, compliant, and capable |
| Family Members & Carers | Build the skills to safely support a loved one with complex care needs |
Is NDIS High Intensity Support Training Right for You?
Consider these scenarios:
- You are a support worker whose client has recently had a PEG tube inserted and you have been asked to assist with enteral feeding. Without HISSD training in enteral feeding, you are not equipped — or permitted — to deliver this support.
- You manage a team of support workers for a disability services organisation and your NDIS audit is approaching. If your workers cannot demonstrate HISSD-aligned competencies for the high intensity supports they deliver, your organisation faces compliance risk.
- You are a family carer supporting a sibling with a spinal cord injury who requires regular catheter care. Formal training gives you the knowledge and confidence to provide this care safely at home.
In each of these situations, NDIS High Intensity Support Skills Training is not just beneficial — it is essential.
NDIS High Intensity Daily Personal Activities — Course Modules Explained
First Aid Pro’s NDIS High Intensity Support Skills Training covers all recognised HIDPA categories, either as standalone courses or as a complete training package. Each module is designed to build both theoretical knowledge and practical, hands-on skill.
Complex Bowel Care Training — Enema, Suppository, Ostomy and Stoma Care
Complex bowel care involves supporting participants with bowel management needs that go beyond standard toileting assistance. This module covers the safe administration of enemas and suppositories, as well as ostomy and stoma care — including stoma cleaning, bag changes, hygiene maintenance, and recognising and responding to complications. Bowel care at this level requires precise technique and a sound understanding of bowel anatomy and function to avoid injury or infection.
Complex Wound Care Training for NDIS Support Workers
This module equips workers with advanced skills in managing and treating complex wounds, including chronic wounds, pressure injuries, and wounds at risk of infection. It covers best-practice wound assessment, appropriate dressing selection, and the principles of wound healing. For participants who are immobile, elderly, or have compromised immune systems, proper wound care is a direct determinant of health outcomes.
Dysphagia Support Training — Managing Swallowing Difficulties Safely
Dysphagia — difficulty swallowing — affects a significant proportion of people with neurological conditions, acquired brain injury, and degenerative disorders. This module covers safe swallowing techniques, the preparation and presentation of texture-modified diets and thickened fluids in line with the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI), and strategies to reduce the risk of choking and aspiration pneumonia. Mealtime safety is a serious clinical matter, and this training provides the framework to manage it confidently.
Enteral Feeding Support Training — PEG Tube and Nutritional Care
For participants who cannot meet their nutritional needs orally, enteral feeding via a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) or percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (PEJ) tube may be required. This module covers tube placement awareness, feeding schedules, administration of feeds and medications via tube, and the management of common complications such as blockages, tube displacement, and skin irritation around the stoma site. Safe enteral feeding is a high-stakes skill that demands proper training and clinical oversight.
Epilepsy and Seizure Support Training for Disability Workers
Epilepsy affects approximately one in 26 Australians at some point in their lives and is more prevalent among people with intellectual disability. This module prepares workers to recognise different types of seizures, respond appropriately and calmly during a seizure episode, administer emergency medications such as midazolam where delegated, and document and report seizure activity accurately. Timely, correct responses during seizures can be life-saving.
Tracheostomy and Ventilator Support Training
These two modules address some of the most technically demanding supports in the HIDPA framework. Tracheostomy care covers cleaning, suctioning, inner cannula management, and emergency responses to tracheostomy complications. Ventilator support training covers monitoring ventilator function, troubleshooting equipment, responding to alarms, and emergency management for clients with respiratory dependency. Both require a high degree of technical precision and calm under pressure.
Urinary Catheter Support and Subcutaneous Injections Training
Urinary catheter support covers the management of indwelling urinary catheters (IDCs) and suprapubic catheters (SPCs), including hygiene practices, catheter bag management, and recognising signs of urinary tract infection or catheter blockage. The subcutaneous injections module covers safe injection technique, injection site rotation, sharps management, and monitoring for adverse reactions — with a particular focus on supporting clients with diabetes who require regular insulin administration.
First Aid Pro Workplace Training offers all of the above NDIS High Intensity Support Skills modules, delivered by experienced nurse trainers. Courses are available for individuals and corporate teams across Australia. Book your place or enquire about group training today.
How NDIS High Intensity Support Training Aligns With NDIS Practice Standards
The NDIS Practice Standards are a set of quality benchmarks that NDIS registered providers must meet to maintain their registration and deliver services to participants. They are administered by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and cover all aspects of service delivery, from participant rights and governance through to the delivery of high intensity daily personal activities.
For providers delivering HIDPAs, the Practice Standards are explicit: workers must have the skills and knowledge required for the specific supports they deliver, and providers must have systems in place to verify this. Completing HISSD-aligned training through an accredited RTO is the primary mechanism by which workers and providers demonstrate this compliance.
The Workforce Capability Framework, developed to complement the NDIS Practice Standards, further maps the competencies required at each level of the workforce — from entry-level support workers through to team leaders, coordinators, and specialists. HISSD training sits firmly within this framework as evidence of advanced capability.
Complimentary NDIS Support Courses — Autism, Dementia and Medication Administration
In addition to the core HIDPA modules, First Aid Pro offers a range of complementary support courses that round out a support worker’s capability profile:
- Autism Spectrum Support — Understanding autism, communication strategies, and behaviour support approaches.
- Living With Dementia Support — Person-centred approaches to supporting participants with dementia, including communication, behaviour, and daily living.
- NDIS Medication Administration (Nationally Accredited) — Safe medication administration, documentation, error prevention, and monitoring for NDIS participants.
These courses complement HISSD training and help workers build a well-rounded, professional skill set suited to the complexity of modern disability support work.
The Real Benefits of Completing NDIS High Intensity Support Skills Training in Australia
| Benefit | What It Means for You |
|---|---|
| Practical Skills Development | Hands-on training in a supervised environment builds real-world confidence |
| Career Advancement | Qualifies you for senior, specialist, and complex care roles |
| Enhanced Employability | HISSD credentials are increasingly sought after by disability employers |
| Improved Client Safety | Competent workers directly reduce risk and improve participant outcomes |
| Industry Compliance | Meets NDIS Practice Standards and Workforce Capability Framework requirements |
| Confidence in Complex Situations | Prepares you to respond calmly and correctly in high-pressure care scenarios |
Beyond the credentials, completing NDIS High Intensity Support Skills Training has a real and meaningful impact on the lives of participants. When workers are properly trained, participants receive safer care, experience fewer adverse events, and enjoy a better quality of life. For support workers, the training builds not just skill but genuine confidence — the kind that comes from knowing you are prepared for whatever a shift might bring.
For NDIS providers, a trained workforce also means reduced liability, stronger audit outcomes, and a reputation for quality that attracts both participants and talented staff.
Onsite, Corporate and Online NDIS Training Options for Teams and Individuals
First Aid Pro delivers NDIS High Intensity Support Skills Training in a format that works for you:
- Onsite training — delivered at your workplace or care facility for maximum convenience and minimal disruption to your team
- Corporate group sessions — tailored to your organisation’s specific HIDPA training needs
- Public courses — available at scheduled sessions for individual workers and carers
All training is led by experienced, qualified nurse trainers and is fully aligned with the HISSD framework and NDIS Practice Standards.
📝 Knowledge Check — Test Your Understanding
Try these five questions to consolidate what you have learned.
1. What does HIDPA stand for?
2. Which national body administers the NDIS Practice Standards?
3. What is the purpose of the High Intensity Support Skills Descriptors (HISSD)?
4. Which of the following is an example of a High Intensity Daily Personal Activity?
5. Which professional plays a key clinical oversight role in the delivery of high intensity supports?
Take the next step in your professional development. Enrol with First Aid Pro Workplace Training and gain the nationally recognised NDIS High Intensity Support Skills credentials you need to deliver safe, high-quality care to NDIS participants across Australia. Enquire online or book a callback with the First Aid Pro corporate team today.
References
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. (2023). NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators. Australian Government. https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/providers/registered-ndis-providers/provider-obligations-and-requirements/ndis-practice-standards
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. (2022). High Intensity Support Skills Descriptors. Australian Government. https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/workers/worker-training-and-learning/high-intensity-support-skills
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. (2021). Workforce Capability Framework for the Disability Sector. Australian Government. https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/providers/workforce-capability-framework
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between standard disability support and NDIS High Intensity Support?
Standard disability support covers everyday tasks that help participants maintain independence, such as personal hygiene, meal preparation, and community participation. NDIS High Intensity Support refers specifically to High Intensity Daily Personal Activities (HIDPAs) — complex, clinical, or quasi-clinical tasks such as tracheostomy care, enteral feeding, and complex bowel care that carry a significantly higher level of risk and require specialised, verified training and clinical oversight.
Do I need to be a nurse or have a healthcare qualification to enrol in NDIS High Intensity Support Skills Training?
No. NDIS High Intensity Support Skills Training is specifically designed for disability support workers who are not necessarily nurses or allied health professionals. While nurses and healthcare professionals are also encouraged to complete the training to ensure NDIS-specific competency, the courses are built to be accessible to workers coming from a general support background. What matters is that you complete the training and demonstrate competency before delivering these supports unsupervised.
Is NDIS High Intensity Support Skills Training nationally recognised in Australia?
Yes. Training delivered by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and aligned to the HISSD framework is nationally recognised across Australia. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission’s requirements apply in all states and territories, meaning that HISSD-aligned training completed with an accredited RTO such as First Aid Pro is valid regardless of where in Australia you work.
Can NDIS providers arrange group or onsite training for their teams?
Absolutely. Many NDIS providers choose to arrange group or onsite training to upskill their entire workforce efficiently and consistently. First Aid Pro’s corporate training team specialises in tailoring NDIS High Intensity Support Skills Training to the specific needs of provider organisations, including scheduling, module selection, and competency assessment documentation for compliance purposes.
How does completing HISSD training help during an NDIS audit?
During an NDIS audit, registered providers are assessed against the NDIS Practice Standards, which include requirements around worker skills and training for high intensity supports. Providing evidence that workers have completed HISSD-aligned training through an accredited RTO — including records of competency assessment — directly demonstrates compliance with these standards. It is one of the clearest and most straightforward ways to satisfy audit requirements relating to workforce capability.
