THE NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME (NDIS) OVERVIEW

Written by Caroline Meyer 

As parents, we all want the very best for our children. When a child is born with a disability or develops an impairment through illness or injury, it can be a heart-rending experience. It may also be difficult to cope with the different needs or added support for the child.  This is when the NDIS can be of help. 

What Is The NDIS 

The NDIS is the National Disability Insurance Scheme which the Australian government has put in place to help carers when it comes to permanent disability.  There is a number of requirements to be eligible for the insurance. If you qualify the insurance can assist with early intervention with regards to developmental delays. The NDIS provides support with regards to cognitive, intellectual, sensory, physical and psycho-social disabilities. 

The NDIS is not designed to be a welfare system but more as a support to improve skills and encourage independence.  The scheme is controlled and operated by the NDIA (National Disability Agency). They make decisions on eligibility and the amount of funding applicants receive. 

What Support Does the NDIS Offer? 

When you have to deal with a disability, whether congenital or sudden onset, being able to access information is very important. The NDIS allows you to get the information you need as well as get access to services that can help you and your child. There is a range of services and support available through the NDIS which includes employment opportunities, social participation, education, development of independence and help with living arrangements, health and well-being. 

What is notable is that the NDIS treats every situation individually. The look at your situation and offer funding and support to best suit your needs. This could mean help to make modifications to your home such as a wheelchair ramp, personal care support, someone to help around the home, special accommodation, technology and equipment needed such as modification to cars, purchasing wheelchairs and more. 

The NDIS can also help you with early interventions such as behavioural and speech therapy. The main aim of this scheme is to support you and your child and hopefully assist with interventions to improve capabilities and quality of life. They also offer information that can help improve the long term future of a child with a disability such as potential job opportunities in the area. 

How is eligibility determined? 

Early interventions are offered for babies and children from birth to 6 years old. Support is offered for disabled people from the age of 7 up to 65 years old.  For 7 years and older, the disability would need to be significant and permanent. The disability could be cognitive, physical, intellectual or psychological.  For children under 6, no disability diagnosis is required. You would also need to be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or hold a special category visa. Unfortunately, NDIS needs to be available in your area as well for you to receive assistance. 

How can you apply? 

You can ensure that you tick all the boxes for the eligibility requirements by getting the checklist either online or from your local NDIS office.  They will ask you for citizenship information, age, the type of disability and what type of equipment is being used for assistance as well as the type of support you are wanting to apply for. 

If you meet the requirements and are eligible for assistance, you need to complete an Access Request Form (ARF) or make a Verbal Access Request (VAR). Once you have given them all the information they need, the request goes to the NDIA for a decision.  They will send you a letter to let you know if you are going to receive assistance. The letter is referred to as an “access decision” letter. If you are approved for assistance, the next step is a planning meeting. They will contact you to set this up. In the meeting, your support and funding needs will be discussed. 

What is an NDIS plan? 

Once you receive the “access decision” letter and you are notified of your meeting, you need to lay out a plan in writing. In your plan, you need to make sure that you list what you aim to achieve and what sort of support you need. 

You will need to make note of the disability of your child or children, what you have at home or what you need to set up. List the daily activities and how they are performed and the sort of support you require to improve on these.  You will also need to indicate support you are getting from friends and family that would not require funding. The plan needs to be centred around your child and his or her individual needs. 

If you need help laying out your plan, officials at the NDIS offices can help you with this as well as advise what the NDIS can offer in the way of support. Over and above funding, the NDIS can help you link up with service providers, people in your community that can support you as well as other government departments that can assist.  

Coordinators that deal with early childhood intervention assist with children from birth to 6 years. The main aim for the NDIS and the Early Childhood Early Intervention Coordinators is to help disabled children to develop to the best possible levels and be better able to cope with their disabilities. Their aim is to help young disabled children develop the skills they need for their everyday tasks.   

These coordinators can help you get involved in your local community for information and support as well as get your child involved in community activities. They will assess the support you currently get and help you lay out the support your child needs now and for the future. They will help you determine your family’s needs to be able to support your child as best as possible. 

The Local Area Coordinators work with children and adults with disabilities from the age of 7  and up to the age of 65. They will assist you in understanding how to set up a plan and access funded support to improve independence and quality of life. They can also help in your progress reviews. Specialised assistance in the form of a Support Coordinator may also form part of your plan. They are available for people in difficult situations who require help in accessing the services and support they need. 

How is your plan managed? 

Once a year the NDIS will review your plan. They ensure that it is functioning correctly and actually helping the people involved. Your coordinators will do a review to check what is helping and what isn’t. They can then adjust your plan. Where there is no further need for assistance such as a case where early intervention has worked successfully, participants are removed from the scheme. 

I’m not eligible, now what?  

Even if you are not eligible to access funds, the NDIS can still be of assistance. They can refer you to other organisations or agencies that may be able to help. They can offer information with regards to alternative support services such as the Department of Social Services. They can offer information on community resources you may be able to contact. They have experience with families dealing with disability and may be able to offer other valuable resources to assist you. 

If you have a disabled child or family member, you can contact the NDIS on 1800 800 110 during the week (Monday to Friday) between 8am and 8pm.  You can also direct emails to them at:  enquiries@ndis.gov.au