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 depression across Sydney. We support self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants, as well as private clients. Our support is practical: help with routines, getting out and staying connected.

Is depression covered by the NDIS?

The honest answer is: sometimes, but many people with depression won’t qualify. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) makes every access decision, and it doesn’t decide based on a diagnosis alone.

When depression does lead to NDIS access, it is usually considered under psychosocial disability. The NDIA needs evidence that your impairment is likely to be permanent and substantially reduces your ability to do everyday activities. It also looks at whether you’re likely to need NDIS support for your lifetime.

Many people with depression improve with treatment. For them, the health system is usually the right place for support. The NDIA says it usually considers permanence after all available and appropriate treatment options have been considered.

Depression may meet the requirements when it is long term, severe and hasn’t responded to a range of treatments. It also needs to substantially affect things like looking after yourself, socialising or managing your life. The NDIA accepts that the impact can go up and down and come in episodes.

Evidence from your GP, psychiatrist, psychologist or other treating professionals is central. The NDIA says its condition lists are a guide only, and it looks at the evidence for each person. Under laws passed in August 2026, eligibility for new applicants from January 2028 will be decided using a new standardised assessment of functional capacity.

If you’re unsure, the NDIA suggests talking to your local NDIS partner. Our guide to psychosocial disability and the NDIS has more background.

If the NDIS isn’t the right fit

  • Your GP. A good first step for assessment, treatment and referrals.
  • A mental health treatment plan. If you have a diagnosed condition such as depression, your GP can prepare one. It lets you claim Medicare rebates for up to 10 individual and 10 group sessions with a mental health professional each calendar year.
  • Medicare Mental Health. This free service needs no referral or diagnosis. Call 1800 595 212 on weekdays, 8:30 am to 5 pm, or visit a local centre.
  • Beyond Blue. Call 1300 22 4636 any time for brief counselling, or chat with a counsellor online.

Lanara also works with private clients, so NDIS funding isn’t the only way to access our support.

How depression can affect daily life

Depression is different for everyone. It can come in episodes, or be a long, steady weight that shifts from week to week.

Low motivation is one of the hardest parts. Everyday tasks like showering, cooking or opening the mail can feel out of reach. Energy is often low and sleep gets out of rhythm.

Routines slip. Meals get skipped, dishes and laundry pile up, and bills go unpaid. Appointments can be missed, even important ones.

Isolation often creeps in. People stop returning messages, turn down invitations and spend more time at home. Over time, getting out the door can feel like a very big step.

Work and study can become hard to keep up with as concentration and confidence drop. This can feed back into low mood, so small, steady changes matter.

How our support can help

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 you carefully with a worker who suits you, and we aim for the same support worker each time.

Support works at your pace. For example:

  • Psychosocial support: rebuilding a simple daily routine, breaking big tasks into small steps, planning the week ahead and preparing for appointments.
  • Social and community participation: company for a walk, a coffee or a library visit. We can also help you reconnect with a group or hobby.
  • Daily living assistance: working alongside you on household tasks, meal planning and grocery shopping, so home feels more manageable.
  • Personal care support: if self-care has become hard, we can talk about whether this kind of support might fit.

Feeling nervous about someone coming into your home is very common. Our article on overcoming anxiety about having a support worker in your home may help.

An example: Sam’s week

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

Sam is 44 and lives alone in Kogarah. He has lived with depression for many years and has tried several treatments. Most days he stayed in bed until early afternoon, the kitchen was a mess and he hadn’t seen friends in months.

His support worker started visiting twice a week. Early sessions were low pressure: a coffee nearby, then washing up together. Later, they made a simple weekly planner and stuck it on the fridge.

Over a few months, Sam began cooking a basic meal twice a week. Reminders before psychiatrist appointments meant he stopped missing them. They also started a Thursday walk through Carss Bush Park.

Hard weeks still happen. On those days, the goal might just be a shower and a short walk. Sam’s support worker adjusts, and the routine is still there when he’s ready.

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, even though they have studied psychology.

We work alongside your GP, psychiatrist, psychologist, occupational therapist and support coordinator. With your consent, our team can share what your support worker notices day to day, between appointments.

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

Getting started

  1. Get in touch. Call us on 1300 152 627 or contact us online.
  2. Intake and agreement. We complete an intake form with you and set up a service agreement.
  3. Matching. We match you with a support worker who suits you. This usually takes 3 days to 2 weeks.
  4. Meet and greet. Your first session is a meet and greet of at least 2 hours. It is paid like any other session.
  5. Regular sessions. From there, you settle into regular sessions that fit your week.

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.

Read more in your NDIS journey in Sydney, or see all the conditions we support.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Does the NDIS cover depression?

A: It can, but many people with depression won’t meet the NDIS access requirements. The NDIA looks at whether the impairment is likely to be permanent and substantially reduces your ability to manage everyday life. Long-term, severe depression that hasn’t responded to treatment is more likely to be considered.

Q: Is depression a psychosocial disability?

A: When depression causes a lasting, substantial impact on daily functioning, the NDIA may consider it a psychosocial disability. The diagnosis alone isn’t enough.

Q: Can I get NDIS support for anxiety and depression together?

A: Yes, the NDIA looks at the combined impact of your conditions, not just one diagnosis. What matters is the evidence about how they affect your daily life over the long term.

Q: Can a support worker help when I have no motivation?

A: Yes. A support worker can help you start small, keep a gentle routine and do tasks alongside you, at a pace that suits the day.

Q: What if I don’t have an NDIS plan?

A: We also support private clients. Your GP, Medicare Mental Health and Beyond Blue are other good places to start.

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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