Overseen by Peter Saltamaras, Co-Founder and COO of Lanara · Last reviewed 15 October 2026

Lanara provides psychology-informed NDIS support for adults living with bipolar disorder across Sydney. Our support is built to flex, so it can adjust between steadier periods and harder ones. We support self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants, as well as private clients.

Is bipolar disorder covered by the NDIS?

It can be, but the diagnosis alone doesn’t decide it. The NDIA makes the decision based on evidence about your impairment and how it affects your everyday life.

To meet the NDIS disability requirements, your impairment needs to be likely to be permanent. It also needs to substantially reduce your ability to do everyday activities, such as socialising, looking after yourself or managing your life. Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition, so it is usually considered as an impairment relating to a psychosocial disability.

Bipolar disorder is often episodic, so one detail matters. On the same page, the NDIA says the impact of an impairment can go up and down and come in episodes. Even if your needs go up and down, it still considers whether you’re likely to need lifetime support. Steadier periods don’t, by themselves, rule you out.

For psychosocial disability, the NDIA asks for a statement from a treating health professional and a functional capacity assessment. Under laws passed in 2026, from January 2028 eligibility for new applicants will be decided using a new standardised assessment of functional capacity.

Our guide to psychosocial disability and the NDIS explains more.

How bipolar disorder can affect daily life

Healthdirect describes bipolar disorder as an ongoing condition with mood changes that can disrupt everyday life. It notes that episodes can last weeks or even months. Between episodes, there can be periods where things feel steadier.

Everyone’s experience is different, and it can change over time. Everyday impacts can include:

  • routines slipping when energy drops, such as meals, showering or getting up
  • sleep patterns shifting, with very late nights during higher periods
  • pulling away from friends, family and activities during low periods
  • finding it hard to get to appointments, especially when motivation is low
  • impulsive spending during higher periods, followed by stress about bills
  • work, study or volunteering becoming hard to keep up
  • the home getting on top of you after a difficult few weeks

Rebuilding routines and connections after an episode takes time. SANE Australia notes that many people find it useful to recognise early signs and share a wellness plan with their support team.

How our support can help

Our support is practical, non-clinical and shaped around your goals. During steadier periods, the focus might be on building routines and getting out more. During harder periods, it might shift to keeping the basics going.

Every Lanara support worker holds a university degree in psychology or a related discipline. Each one has also completed mental health and trauma-informed training. We match carefully and aim for the same support worker each time, so they get to know your patterns and what helps.

Psychosocial support

  • Learning the early warning signs you have agreed with your treating team, such as sleeping less or starting lots of new projects
  • Gently telling you what they notice, and following the plan you’ve made if signs appear
  • Planning sessions at times that fit a healthy sleep routine, and avoiding late outings when you’re working on sleep
  • Helping you prepare for appointments, write down questions and keep track of what was agreed

Daily living assistance

  • Building simple daily routines for meals, chores and rest that are easy to return to after a hard patch
  • Writing a shopping list together and sticking to it at the shops
  • Sitting down with you to plan a weekly budget you set, or to sort through bills and due dates
  • Breaking down household tasks into small steps when energy is low

The decisions about your money always stay with you. Our workers can help you plan and keep track, but they never make financial choices for you.

Assistance with social and community participation

  • Reconnecting with friends, groups or hobbies after a period of withdrawal
  • Going with you to a class, a gym session or a local walk until it feels familiar
  • Finding a pace that works, so plans don’t pile up during higher periods

An example of how support can work

Example from our work. Names and details are changed to protect people’s privacy.

James is 30 and lives on his own in Burwood. After a long depressive episode, he had stopped cooking, missed several appointments and lost touch with his football mates.

His support worker started with two sessions a week, always in the late morning to suit his sleep routine. Together they wrote a simple weekly plan with meals, a shopping day and one outing.

James shared the early signs he and his psychiatrist had agreed on, such as staying up past 2am and making big purchases on impulse. When his worker noticed late nights for a week, she mentioned it calmly. James decided to call his psychiatrist that afternoon.

After a few months, James was cooking most nights and had been to two training sessions. Some weeks were still harder than others, and his plan made room for that.

Working alongside your treating team

Lanara is not a clinical service. We don’t provide therapy or diagnosis, and our support workers are not psychologists. Your treatment stays with your GP, psychiatrist, psychologist and other health professionals.

We work alongside your treating team, occupational therapist and support coordinator. With your consent, our team can share what your support worker sees day to day, such as changes in sleep or routine. That can help your clinicians see the bigger picture between appointments.

If it helps, a worker can remind you to take your medication and sit with you while you take it. They never administer or handle medication.

Getting started

Call us on 1300 152 627 or contact us online. We’ll talk through what you’re looking for, then send an intake form and a service agreement.

Matching usually takes between 3 days and 2 weeks. Your first session is a meet-and-greet with your support worker. It runs for at least 2 hours and is paid like any other session. After that, regular sessions begin at a pace that suits you.

We support adults across six areas of Sydney. We support self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants, as well as private clients. We can’t support NDIA-managed plans. You can read more in your NDIS journey with Lanara.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Is bipolar covered by the NDIS?

A: It can be. The NDIA looks at whether your impairment is likely to be permanent and substantially reduces your everyday functioning. A diagnosis alone isn’t enough, and each application is decided on its evidence.

Q: Can I get NDIS support if my bipolar disorder comes and goes?

A: Possibly. The NDIA says the impact of an impairment can go up and down and come in episodes. It considers your needs over your lifetime, not just on one day.

Q: Is bipolar disorder a psychosocial disability?

A: When bipolar disorder causes lasting impairment that affects daily life, the NDIA usually considers it under psychosocial disability. Evidence from your treating health professional is key.

Q: What NDIS support is available for bipolar disorder?

A: Examples include help with routines, appointments, household tasks and getting out into the community. Lanara’s support adjusts as your needs change.

Q: Can a support worker help with spending?

A: Yes, in practical ways. A worker can help you write a shopping list, plan a budget you set or keep track of bills. The decisions about your money always stay with you.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000. For urgent mental health advice, call the NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511 (24 hours, 7 days) or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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