Key Facts:
- Over 739,000 NDIS participants in Australia are entitled to funded garden maintenance, but many struggle to access their entitlements due to scheme complexity
- Unspent NDIS funds don't carry over, and consistent underspending can lead to reduced budgets in future plans
- Must Have Maintenance (MHM) provides NDIS-compliant garden maintenance services across Melbourne, with hourly rates between $54.30 and $65.47
- Garden maintenance is classified under Core Supports in the 'Assistance with Daily Life' category of the NDIS
- MHM works directly with plan managers and support coordinators to simplify the process for participants
MELBOURNE, VIC -- May 20, 2026
Must Have Maintenance (MHM), a fully registered NDIS provider operating across Melbourne, helps participants access their garden maintenance entitlements before they go to waste . More than 739,000 Australians who rely on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) are entitled to funded garden maintenance. But research shows there are challenges to participants being able to actually spend their funding, because the scheme is complex and hard to navigate, or because suitable providers are difficult to find and secure.
Unspent funds do not carry over to a new plan, and consistent underspending can lead the NDIA to reduce a participant's budget at their next review. The Department of Health and Ageing has acknowledged that a lack of clarity around what supports qualify has created confusion and inconsistency -- leaving a gap between what participants want and what they can access. NDIS participants who fail to use entitlements risk losing them in the next plan. MHM closes the gap for NDIS participants with garden maintenance needs. As a fully registered NDIS provider, MHM delivers lawn mowing, pruning, hedge trimming, green waste removal, and general yard maintenance under compliant service agreements, with transparent hourly billing aligned to the current NDIS pricing schedule of $54.30 to $65.47 per hour.
Lukas James, Owner of MHM, explains. "After 7 years in this industry, we still see NDIS participants with unspent funding that they don't know how to use, while their gardens become overgrown. It's genuinely frustrating, because a lot of people don't realise that garden maintenance isn't a grey area. It sits under Core Supports, specifically the Assistance with Daily Life category. It's not a luxury line item; it's there because safety, dignity, and being able to use your outdoor space without a hazard every two steps is exactly what this scheme is supposed to address."
The MHM team liaises directly with plan managers and support coordinators, making the process straightforward for participants and their families.
