FAQ

UNDERSTANDING NDIS

What is NDIS?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a government-funded program in Australia that provides support and funding for people with disabilities. The goal of the NDIS is to provide individuals with the support they need to live an independent and fulfilling life, including access to necessary services, equipment, and therapy. The NDIS also aims to improve the overall quality of life for people with disabilities and their families by providing more choice and control over the services they receive.

AS A PARTICIPANT

NDIS Journey

Access NDIS

The first step is to apply for NDIS Access Access Request Form [ARF] . If you are a person with disability aged 7 – 65 years who would like to join the NDIS, you will need to meet the access requirements. To find out more, visit the NDIS access criteria page.

If you are applying on behalf of a child under 7 years, please visit Help for children under 7 page and then contact your local Early Childhood Partner.

If you think you meet these requirements you can apply in one of two ways:

- You can make a Verbal Access Request by calling NDIA on 1800 800 110
- Fill out an Access Request Form [ARF] and send it to us.

To apply for the NDIS you will need to provide:

- Completed Access Request Form
- Information about your
- Age
- Residency
- Disability

NDIA Decision

The NDIA will contact you to let you know their decision on your application, this should be done within 21 days. If you do not hear from them within 21 days of all information being lodged, you should follow up for an update unless the NDIA has advised you of the delay prior.

The NDIA will contact you to let you know their decision on your application, this should be done within 21 days. If you do not hear from them within 21 days of all information being lodged, you should follow up for an update unless the NDIA has advised you of the delay prior.

Planning Meeting

Planning meeting can be at your closest NDIA office or over the phone, you may invite your family, friends or support team to the planning meeting. The NDIA Planner will ask you information on

- Your Community and Mainstream Supports - Management of everyday activities - Your safety, including equipment, accommodation or help to take care of yourself or your home - Goals you want to pursue - How you want to manage your NDIS plan - Support you need to use your NDIS plan.

Complete booklet 2 – Planning. If you don’t have a physical copy, you can download a copy.

Find a quiet place to have the call where you can focus. Planning meetings can take over an hour depending on your situation.

Plan Approval & Implementation

After the planning meeting, a NDIS planner will contact you to outline the funded supports in your NDIS Plan and the NDIS planner will send a copy of the NDIS Plan to you. NDIS participants can choose how to manage the NDIS funds they receive.

- Self-Managed
- Plan Managed
- Agency Managed

One of our experienced Support Coordinators can assist you to organise funded supports and implement the approved NDIS plan with you.

Service Booking

Once you have identified the support and can make contact with the service providers to request services you need, one of our experienced Support Coordinators can assist you in this process.

Sign the agreement with your provider(s) that sets out what supports will be provided and how they will be delivered.

You have choice and control in the delivery of your supports.

Plan Review

During your next scheduled plan review meeting, NDIS will talk to you about the new flexible approaches that they may take with you to review your NDIS plan.

This may be a

- New NDIS plan with the same supports,
- New NDIS plan with minor changes to your current supports, or;
- A full plan review.

If you are not satisfied with a decision made by the NDIA, or if your circumstances have changed then you are able to request a review of your plan outside of the scheduled review.

There are 3 different types of reviews:

- Internal review (Review of a Reviewable Decision / RORD) - Request for plan review (Unscheduled Plan Review) - Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) review