Some people with disability may need support with complex care conditions. In most cases, people may also need support with tasks that these conditions prevent them from doing independently. These tasks could include self-administering their medication or eating and drinking.

Under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), disability service providers must comply with key requirements to provide supports for such conditions—most crucially, support workers need appropriate NDIS training. 
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Let’s explore PEG feeding in more detail, which is needed to help people with eating.

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Case study

Kaia’s disability makes it difficult for her to swallow normally. As a result, she has to eat more liquid or pureed foods to get an adequate amount of nutrients to ensure she maintains her wellbeing and leads a healthy lifestyle. To help Kaia, she requires assistance from a support worker to eat/swallow safely through PEG feeding.

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What is PEG/enteral feeding?

PEG feeding, also known as enteral feeding, stands for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. 
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While that sounds like a medical mouthful of terms, it is typically a method of feeding that uses a tube surgically inserted into the stomach to allow a person to intake an appropriate amount of nutrients. 
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Health professionals may often recommend that a person with disability use enteral/PEG feeding to ensure they meet their required nutritional intake, especially if they are unable to do so through their mouth (hence why the tube is inserted through the stomach).

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High Intensity NDIS Support Classification

As with all supports, service providers and support workers must comply with the NDIS Practice Standards, which are guidelines for achieving best practice. PEG/enteral feeding falls under the High Intensity Skills Descriptors. These descriptors outline the skills and knowledge needed by support workers to assist with high-intensity daily personal activities (HIDPA), including, but not limited to:
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• Complex bowel care
• Enteral/PEG feeding support
• Dysphagia support
• Ventilator support
• Tracheostomy support
• Urinary catheter support
• Subcutaneous injections
• Complex wound care
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The support worker’s role

Let’s go back to Kaia’s case. Her support worker may need to help Kaia with a variety of tasks related to PEG/enteral feeding, including:
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• Assistance with PEG/enteral equipment
• Support with feeding tubes and feed bags, or bottles
• Management of PEG/enteral feeding requirements, e.g. consuming food/drink
• Help with PEG maintenance and care 

It’s important to note that PEG/enteral feeding is intensely personal in nature, so Kaia’s support worker (and all other support workers) must deliver support that meets Kaia’s preferences and daily routines.

To safely and consistently deliver supports, Kaia’s support worker needs to have effective and relevant NDIS training so that they can:
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• Understand and follow Kaia’s support plan, including following the feeding regime
• Uphold Kaia’s rights, particularly when it comes to decision-making
• Follow a person-centred approach and ensure Kaia is as comfortable as possible
• Maintain a duty of care
• Clearly and effectively communicate with Kaia every step of the way
• Follow their organisational policies and procedures
• Document all support provided and any incidents
• Provide support in a timely manner
• Practise good hygiene (both personal and general)
• Always follow standard infection control procedures, including hand hygiene
• Carefully handle PEG equipment and maintain skincare and stoma care
• Position Kaia carefully to ensure the safe delivery of the feeding regime
• Prepare and store feeds as per the manufacturer’s instructions or per the support plan
• Assist Kaia with oral hygiene, ensuring Kaia’s mouth is clean and performing water flushes where required

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Conclusion

Providing high-intensity NDIS support for PEG feeding requires specialised knowledge and highly relevant training. Service providers must ensure staff are properly trained and competent in delivering this complex support. By following best practices and complying with regulatory requirements, providers and support workers can deliver safe, effective PEG feeding support that enhances participants' quality of life and meets their nutritional needs.