NDIS
If you have a disability or are caring for someone who has a disability, the NDIS could provide the support you need. 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. The NDIS can also help with getting access to services. You should think and talk about what kinds of things, including services, you need to live a better life with your disability. It’s a good idea to talk to your family, friends, and other people in your community.
There are people in your community who work for the NDIS: It is always good idea to be in touch with these people, if you need help to understand how things works. People who work for NDIS are:
- Local Area Coordinator (or LAC)
- Community Connector
- Early Childhood Early Intervention partner
As explained by NDIS commission: NDIS is
- National: The NDIS is being introduced progressively across all states and territories.
- Disability: The NDIS provides support to eligible people with intellectual, physical, sensory, cognitive, and psychosocial disability. Early intervention supports can also be provided for eligible people with disability or children with developmental delay.
- Insurance: The NDIS gives all Australians peace of mind if they, their child or loved one is born with or acquires a permanent and significant disability, they will get the support they need.
- Scheme: The NDIS is not a welfare system. The NDIS is designed to help people get the support they need so their skills and independence improve over time.
Step 1: Find out if the NDIS can help you or you are eligible for support? : You can talk to one of the representatives in your community or you can directly contact to NDIS commission about your eligibility. Your eligibility for the NDIS will be assessed by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), the government body responsible for administering the NDIS.
Step 2: Making a Plan: Once your eligibility for an NDIS plan is confirmed, you will have a meeting to talk about how you live now and what your plans are for the future. Together with an NDIS representative, you will make a plan that outlines your goals and the support, services and equipment you need to meet them.
Step 3: Using your plan: You can use NDIS money to pay for the support, services, and equipment you need for your disability. You might already have family, friends and service providers working with you. You can choose to keep getting support from the same people or you can make changes. You can talk to your Local Area Coordinator about choosing service providers.
Step 4: Review your Plan:Generally, a year after you create your first plan, you will have a meeting to check how your plan is going. This is so you can change your goals or the help you receive. The amount of money you can use for your plan might change when you make a new plan.
