NDIS microenterprise support: a guide for coordinators

A microenterprise, in the NDIS context, is a small - usually sole-operator - business built around a skill, trade or interest a participant already has. Where a participant's plan includes a goal related to employment or economic participation, funding can support the capacity-building work of establishing one: the skills, systems and technical build their disability might otherwise make a barrier to doing alone.

Which support item applies - and the exact line item codes

Microenterprise support is most commonly funded under one of two lines. Supports in Employment, support item 04_801_0133_5_1 (Weekday Daytime - also 04_802_0133_5_1 Weekday Evening and 04_803_0133_5_1 Saturday), sits within a participant's Core Supports budget. The NDIS's own support catalogue wording for this item states it covers work in any setting a participant chooses, including an Australian Disability Enterprise, a social enterprise, a micro-business, self-employment, or a family-run business. Employment Assistance, support item 10_016_0102_5_3, sits under Finding and Keeping a Job in the Capacity Building budget - a broader category for employment-related support that can also cover this work where it fits the plan. A Capacity Building equivalent of Supports in Employment also exists as 10_806_0133_5_1. Which item is actually billed depends on how the individual plan is written and is confirmed with the plan manager - it is not something that needs to be settled before support begins.

What to look for in the plan

The goal does not need to name a business specifically - it needs to be specific enough to connect clearly to capacity-building work toward employment or economic participation. A goal such as building skills and independence toward paid work or running something of one's own is generally sufficient grounding for this kind of support to be considered.

Provider status and access

This support is typically delivered by an unregistered provider, available to plan-managed and self-managed participants. Agency-managed participants have more limited options and should confirm what is available under their plan. Delivery is commonly entirely online, which removes location as a barrier - a material consideration for participants in regional, rural or remote areas where in-person provider options are limited.

What a properly delivered program should produce

For plan review purposes, a demonstrable outcome trail matters more than a written strategy document: goals mapped to the participant's plan, session or progress notes, and a tangible, checkable result - a live website, a working booking or sales system, active social accounts. This is capacity building and skill development, not a guarantee of income, and should never be represented as one.

This article is general information dated 24 October 2026, not financial or planning advice. Funding eligibility always depends on the individual participant's plan. Juste is operated by Leah Justyce Art Gallery ABN 73 658 665 321.