NDIS Support

The Australian Government has created the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to help people with disabilities to live a full and meaningful life. This might mean being able to live independently, learn, work or be more involved in their community.

The NDIS is for people under the age of 65 with permanent and significant disability.

* Permanent means the disability will not go away.
* 'Significant' means the disability affects how they live every day.

The NDIS provides money to people under 65 who have a permanent and significant disability to pay for services, equipment and supports so they can have a better life. It also supports their families and other people who care for them.

Form more information view Getting started with NDIS: Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants

Applying to the NDIS

The NDIS supports people who:

  • Have a permanent disability
  • Are under 65 years old
  • Are an Australian Citizen

The current process for accessing the scheme:

Application supporting evidence:

  • The application needs to clearly state what the disability is, including a diagnosis from a doctor.
  • The application needs to state that the disability is permanent.
  • The application needs to outline how the disability impacts the person's daily life, with examples.
  • The application needs to include a letter/report from a doctor, allied health clinician (like an Occupational Therapist or Speech Therapist) supporting the above.
  • The application needs to outline previous treatments and indicate that all treatment options have been exhausted.


It is highly recommended to advocate in supporting evidence the need for a specialist support coordinator to be included in funding to ensure the family/carers have someone who can help them manage the plan.

Note, the allocation of a specialist coordinator can be difficult to get approved for children on a NDIS plan as the NDIS often assume that when the participant is a child, the parents can do all of the work required to enact the NDIS plan.

Therefore a support letter from a professional outlining this need is recommended in the case where parents/carers do not have capacity to manage the plan.

NDIS Application Stages

After receiving your application the NDIS will:

  • Confirm identity (View NDIS factsheet: Confirming your identity)
  • Review the form and supporting evidence
  • Make a decision and tell the applicant/their representative. They will write a decision letter and they usually call the applicant/their representative as well.

If the application is approved, the NDIS will arrange a planning meeting to discuss goals and supports needed. A plan will then be developed.

There are three options relating to how the plan is managed;

  1. NDIA managed
  2. Plan manager - a support coordinator manages the plan.
  3. Self -managed - family/carer management

In the majority of cases in the Fitroy Valley, it is recommended for a support coordinator to manage the plan. Therefore, an important consideration is the capacity of the family/carer/informal supports to manage the plan.

In family/carer managed plans considerations include:

  • Who will make appointments
  • Who will find the therapists needed
  • How the bills will be paid

There are 3 levels of support coordinators. Level 2 or 3 are specialist support coordinators and are recommended for people who have complex needs and require extra support to effectively implement their NDIS plan.

If the decision is denied (access request not met) read the letter and carefully review what it says. Does it give a detailed answer as to why access has not been met? Do you agree? If you believe the decision is wrong or vague you can request an internal review. You can do this by calling the NDIS, sending them an email or filling in a form online How to request an internal review of a decision | NDIS

For further information, view the NDIS Booklets and Factsheets page.

Additional information can be found at https://pruewalkerfasd.com/. Prue Walker is a clinical social worker specialising in FASD and has 20 years of experience in child protection and out-of-home care services. She delivers FASD education and training to carers and professionals.
View the NDIS Planning Tips for Children with FASD.

Tips for NDIS applications and interactions

We have compiled a list of tips and considerations for interacting with the NDIS.

AVOID MEDICAL TERMS AND JARGON

The decision makers at the NDIS do not necessarily have a health background or health knowledge. Their level of health literacy can vary considerably. Avoid using medical terms or jargon. Use plain English, keep things simple and focus on domains of function including mobility, communication, social interaction, learning, self-care and self-management. Use specific examples e.g. “Because of Terry’s disability he is unable to manage money independently. He cannot shop for groceries, clothes etc without 1:1 support”.

FOCUS ON CHALLENGES

The NDIS is a deficit model. When preparing reports/letters for the NDIS, it is best to focus on challenges rather than strengths. When describing levels of function think of the worst day rather than the best day as the NDIS needs to understand the disability fully. When writing these letters and reports talk to the person and their loved ones about this. Explain that you are trying to show the NDIS what is needed. Reading these types of letters and reports can be hard for people. Reading about everything that is wrong and hard can be sad and confronting. Help people to understand that the strengths the person has won’t be talked about in these letters. However, spend time talking about and celebrating strengths. Provide emotional support relating to the content of the evidence.

PERMANENT DISABILITY

Clearly state that the disability is permanent and all treatment options have been explored.

EFFECTIVE SUPPORT

It is important to ensure that the family understands the NDIS system and has the support required to complete an application. The system is overwhelming for most people and professional support is often needed to get (a) access (b) a suitable plan (c) connect to support services. A referral to a service that helps people manage this load is recommended. Remote Community Connectors are community based NDIA representatives that support the culturally appropriate delivery of the NDIS in remote and very remote communities. Consider: 1. Does the family/support person have an understanding of the system? 2. Do they understand the process? 3. Do they have the capacity and skills to advocate if the access is denied or if the plan does not meet the need?

EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION

Children under 6 do not need a diagnosis in order to begin an NDIS application. To apply for early intervention you can call the NDIS on ph: 1800 800 110. A letter/report from a paediatrician, child health nurse, allied health clinician or early childhood educator outlining the concerns and needs is enough evidence to get started. Children may have a diagnosed disability or there may be concerns that the child is slower to develop in areas like speaking, walking, social skills etc. Children aged 6-9 can receive early intervention through the early childhood approach but they need a diagnosis.

CONNECT WITH YOUR FEDERAL MEMBER

When there are lengthy delays or when things get hard with the process, your federal member can be a helpful ally. You can contact the applicants federal member by calling their office or sending them an email and asking for help. You don’t need to give them all the details to ask for their help, they can talk to you about what they need.