Home / Conditions we support / Anxiety
Anxiety
Anxiety support that moves at your pace
Skillwise supports NDIS participants living with anxiety across Rooty Hill, Blacktown, Mount Druitt, St Marys and Penrith. We help you do more of the everyday things that matter to you, one small step at a time.
Anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental disorder in Australia: 17.2% of people aged 16 to 85 had one in the past 12 months.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
About 1 in 4 people in Australia will experience anxiety at some stage in their life, and anxiety conditions are treatable.
Source: Beyond Blue
Not everyone with a mental health condition has a psychosocial disability. The NDIS looks at the impact on daily life, not the diagnosis.
Source: NDIS
Understanding anxiety
When anxiety gets in the way
Everyone feels stressed or worried at times, and those feelings usually pass once the pressure eases. Anxiety is different. The feelings stay, may not have a clear cause and can make it hard to cope with daily life.
For some people, anxiety makes it hard to leave the house, catch a bus, answer the phone, go to appointments or keep up with tasks at home. When this is long lasting and has a big impact on everyday life, it may be a psychosocial disability that the NDIS can support.
Anxiety is treatable, and treatment stays with your GP and mental health team. Alongside that, practical support can help you practise the things that feel hard, keep a steady routine and slowly widen the places you feel comfortable going.
Everyday life
Making everyday life feel more manageable
Anxiety can make everyday tasks feel much bigger than they are. These are common areas where steady, practical support can help.
Appointments and phone calls
Booking or going to appointments can feel overwhelming. A worker can help you write notes, practise what to say and travel with you, so it gets easier over time.
Leaving the house
Anxiety can shrink the places you go. Short, planned outings with a familiar worker can help you slowly widen your world, at a pace you choose.
Public transport
Practise bus and train trips together, from checking timetables to finding a quieter seat, until you feel ready to travel on your own.
Sleep and daily routine
Anxiety can disturb sleep and make days feel unpredictable. A steady routine for meals, activity and rest, planned with your worker, can bring more calm to your week.
Shopping and errands
Busy shops and queues can be hard. A worker can help you plan quieter times, write a list and come along until errands feel manageable.
Work and social life
Support to prepare for work, volunteering or catching up with people, including planning the trip and talking through what to expect beforehand.
How we help
Practical help for anxious days
Every support is planned around your goals and what your NDIS plan funds. Start with what you need now, and change it as your plan grows.
Getting out, step by step
A worker can come with you to the shops, a park, a class or a group, starting small and building up as you feel more confident. Community participation →
Travel support
Help getting to appointments, work or activities, including practising a bus or train trip together until you feel ready to try it on your own. Travel & transport →
Everyday skills
Practise the things that feel hard, such as making phone calls, booking appointments, shopping or planning your week, with a calm and patient support worker. Daily living & life skills →
Small group activities
Join a small, friendly group activity where you can meet people and share an interest, with a familiar worker nearby for support. Group & centre-based programs →
Living at home
Feeling settled at home
Supported Independent Living (SIL) is paid help from support workers who come into your home, so you can live as independently as possible. It may be funded for people who need more than 8 hours of paid support each day, some overnight support and have high or complex needs. You do not have to share a home to receive it. If SIL is not in your plan, shorter visits through daily living, household and community supports may suit you.
For someone living with anxiety, in-home support might mean a calm, predictable routine, help with household tasks and meals, and a familiar worker to practise going out with. SIL funding is only for paid support workers. It does not pay rent, groceries or bills such as electricity, gas, water or internet, which you generally pay from your own money.
Families and carers
For families and carers
Watching someone you love struggle with anxiety can be hard, and it is natural to want to step in and do things for them. Patience, gentle encouragement and asking what would help often make more difference. Beyond Blue has practical guidance on how to support someone with anxiety or depression.
Your own wellbeing matters too. Carer Gateway is a free Australian Government program for carers, offering counselling, coaching, peer support groups and planned and emergency respite. Call 1800 422 737, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.
Tip 1
Ask what would help and let them set the pace, without pushing
Tip 2
Plan outings together ahead of time so there are fewer surprises
Tip 3
Notice small steps forward, like a short trip or a phone call made
Tip 4
Look after yourself too; Carer Gateway offers free support on 1800 422 737
Good to know
What good support looks like
What we don’t provide. Skillwise does not provide diagnosis, treatment, counselling, therapy or crisis care; we work alongside your GP and mental health team. If you need help now, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511, both 24/7, and in an emergency call 000.
- Workers arrive on time and let you know early if anything changes
- Plans for each outing are talked through before you go
- Progress is measured in your own goals, not someone else’s
- You can say no or stop, and nobody pushes you to rush
NDIS funding
Anxiety and NDIS funding
If anxiety has caused a psychosocial disability, the NDIS can fund support for its day-to-day impact. This can include transport to take part in the community, social activities, work or education, help with daily personal activities and household tasks, and help to get and keep a job. Treatment stays with your GP and mental health team, and the NDIA decides what is reasonable and necessary.
People often use their Core Supports budget for a support worker to help them take part in social and community activities, and Capacity Building supports to build skills, independence and community participation, in group or individual settings. In April 2026 the Australian Government announced NDIS reforms, including a new way of assessing access, so the rules may change over the coming years. We cannot promise what your plan will include, but we are happy to talk through how our supports fit the plan you have.
How it works
Getting started with Skillwise
Four simple steps. Bring a family member, carer or support coordinator along if you like.
1. Call or send a referral
Ring 0474 151 264 or make a referral online. We usually reply within one business day.
2. A friendly first chat
We talk about your goals, your daily routine and any health, behaviour support or mealtime plans you already have.
3. Your plan, explained
We go through your NDIS plan and service agreement in plain words, in the language that suits you.
4. Support that fits you
We match you with support workers who suit you, and keep checking in as your needs change.
Kind words
What participants and families tell us
Skillwise made our NDIS experience simple and stress-free. Their team truly listens and supports us every step of the way. I always feel my daughter is in safe and caring hands.
The Skillwise team helps me live more independently and with confidence. They are patient, respectful and always ready to assist. I’ve grown so much since joining their support program.
Skillwise staff treat me like family. They’re kind, reliable and genuinely care about my goals. Their support has made a real difference in my daily life.
Questions
Anxiety NDIS support: common questions
Can’t see your question? Call us on 0474 151 264 and talk to a real person.
Can I get NDIS funding for anxiety?
A diagnosis of anxiety on its own does not decide eligibility. The NDIS looks at whether a mental health condition has caused an impairment that is likely to be permanent and substantially reduces your ability to do everyday things, such as socialising, self-care or managing your life.
What evidence do I need to apply?
A functional assessment from a mental health occupational therapist, psychologist or social worker is a good way to show how anxiety affects you. The NDIS also has an Evidence of Psychosocial Disability form, and you can add statements from family, friends or support workers.
What if I am not eligible for the NDIS?
A local area coordinator can still help you connect with community and mainstream services. Your GP can talk with you about treatment, and Commonwealth Psychosocial Supports are available through Primary Health Networks for people who do not access the NDIS.
Can a support worker come with me when going out feels too hard?
Yes, if your plan includes community participation or transport support. A worker can come with you to appointments, shops or groups. We start with short, familiar outings and build up only when you feel ready.
How do I get started with Skillwise?
Call us on 0474 151 264. We will talk about your plan, your goals and what a good week looks like for you. We can talk in English, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Arabic, Dari or Pashto, and a family member can join the call if you like.
Can you help me get ready for appointments and phone calls?
Yes. Building daily living skills can include practising what to say, writing down questions, booking appointments and planning the trip. A worker can be with you the first few times, then step back as you feel more confident.
Will I see the same support worker each time?
We aim to keep a small, steady team for each person where we can, because a familiar face can make new or hard situations easier. If something changes, we let you know as early as possible.
Can support help me start work when anxiety holds me back?
If employment support is in your plan, we can help you prepare for work, practise the trip, plan your morning routine and settle into a job or volunteer role. The NDIS may fund help to get and keep a job, and the NDIA decides what goes in your plan.
More help
Organisations that can help
Beyond Blue: Free phone and webchat counselling, open 24/7 for everyone in Australia. Call 1300 22 4636.
Medicare Mental Health: Free, confidential help to find the right mental health support. No referral needed. Call 1800 595 212 on weekdays.
Carer Gateway: Free Australian Government support for carers, including counselling, peer support and respite. Call 1800 422 737.
Other conditions
We also support
Skillwise supports people with a range of disabilities across Western Sydney. See all conditions we support.
Supports we provide
Ten ways we can help
From daily living at home to work, community and life changes, find the support that fits your NDIS plan.
Get started
Take the next step when you are ready
Call us, send a referral or drop into our Rooty Hill office. We’re open Monday to Saturday, 8am to 5pm, and our team speaks English, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Arabic, Dari and Pashto.