What Is Complex Bowel Care? Understanding the NDIS Definition

When it comes to personal support under the NDIS, complex bowel care is one of the most sensitive yet critical services available to people living with disabilities. Although it may be uncomfortable to talk about, proper bowel management is essential for maintaining health, comfort, and dignity.

What Is Complex Bowel Care?

Specialised bowel management is the care that you are given to help you manage a chronic or severe bowel problem, such as constipation, diarrhea or faucal incontinence. These problems may have serious implications on the comfort, independence, and quality of life quotients of a patient.

Complex bowel care is a higher intensity support than basic personal routine care and should be provided by trained nursing staff because of the complexity and greater risk to health of some types of support. Enemas or suppositories, manual evacuation, colostomy or stoma care, closely monitoring bowel health and symptoms and strict hygiene and infection control.

When the bowel care needs of an individual are too high for a generic support worker, requiring knowledge of clinical practice and specialist training to keep safe and maintain dignity during care, it becomes necessary.

Why Complex Bowel Care Is Important

Inadequate bowel care can lead to extremely severe complications such as infections, skin breakdown, and even having to remain in the hospital. Just as destructible, unnoticed bowel problems can contribute to significant distress, embarrassment, and loneliness.

People with disabilities, particularly neurological or muscular impairment, such as spinal cord injury, MS or cerebral palsy, may not be able to empty their bowels without assistance to maintain regular bowel function.

That’s why it’s crucial that bowel care is recognised as more than just a matter of improving physical health outcomes, but as crucial to the NDIS goal of delivering personal care and dignity.

Recognising the Signs

You or someone you care for may need complex bowel care if any of the following are present:

Persistent constipation or straining
Frequent or uncontrolled diarrhoea
Irregular or unpredictable bowel patterns
Faecal incontinence
The use of enemas or manual assistance for bowel movements

It’s essential to speak to a doctor about these symptoms. A tailored bowel management plan can be created to help stabilise and manage these issues over time.

What Is a Bowel Management Plan?

Bowel management plans are personalised clinical documents prepared by trained healthcare professionals. They outline how to manage an individual’s bowel health safely and effectively, including medications, dietary needs, and specific care instructions.

The plan may include medication recommendations (for example, stool softeners or laxatives), instructions on what to eat and drink, and how often certain interventions (such as enemas, suppositories or abdominal massage) should be done. It also contains instructions to detail the documentation of behavioral activity and any symptoms requiring documentation.

It gives clear, practical advice to both carers and NDIS support workers about how care should be delivered properly, and with respect. It also involves emergency measures to control any complications.

The existence of such a plan ensures continuity of care and the health and well-being of the individual who requires support, in addition to managing an individual’s care especially if more than one support worker provides that care.

NDIS and Complex Bowel Care

Under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), complex bowel care is categorised as part of high intensity daily personal activities. This means it’s recognised as support that requires qualified staff due to the risk involved and the specialised nature of the task.

The NDIS may fund:

Continence products (pads, bed protection, wipes)
Support worker assistance for bowel care
Training for carers to administer care safely
Allied health input from OTs or dietitians
Home modifications for improved bathroom access

This support is typically found under the Core Supports – Assistance with Daily Life budget and occasionally under Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living, depending on individual needs.

Who Can Deliver Complex Bowel Care?

Complex bowel care must be delivered by NDIS providers and support workers with the required training and compliance. This includes risk assessments, infection control, emergency procedures, accurate documentation, and involving the participant in their care.

At Connectors Wellbeing, we go beyond these requirements. Our trained staff deliver safe, respectful care with professionalism and empathy, always protecting each person’s dignity.

How Connectors Wellbeing Supports You

As a trusted NDIS registered provider, Connectors Wellbeing specialises in high-intensity supports including complex bowel care. Our services are tailored to empower participants, promote independence, and uphold their dignity at all times.

Our services include:

Coordinating with your doctor to understand your bowel management plan
Providing skilled staff to administer enemas, suppositories, or other interventions
Ensuring hygiene control and personal comfort during care
Supporting healthy eating and hydration strategies
Documenting changes and communicating with your health team
Offering flexibility with in-home or community-based supports

We also work alongside allied health professionals such as OTs, dietitians, and mental health practitioners to deliver a well-rounded, person-centred approach to your wellbeing.

Accessing Complex Bowel Care Through the NDIS

If you are new to the NDIS or feel your current plan does not reflect your bowel care needs, our team can help you:

Gather medical evidence to support your application
Understand your eligibility for high intensity supports
Navigate the planning or review process
Connect with trained support workers quickly and efficiently

We make sure that you’re not just receiving care, but receiving the right care.

Final Thoughts

Complex bowel care is an important form of support for many Australians with disability. It means that people can live comfortably and safely, with dignity, and with a reduced risk of developing serious complications from disease.

It is our promise at Connectors Wellbeing to ensure that this delicate care is provided with the upmost level of skill and dignity. If you or someone you know is affected and require assistance with bowel care through the NDIS, please contact us today. We’d love to help you build the support that’s right for your body, your life, and your goals.

What Is Complex Bowel Care? Understanding the NDIS Definition