The NDIS: Everything you need to know to get started
Whether you have heard of the NDIS before but have no idea what it is or you’re already an approved participant but don’t really know much about it, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know to get started with the NDIS.
What is the NDIS?
The term NDIS stands for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. This Scheme was instituted by the Australian Government in 2013 and rolled out over the following 7 years across the country to help provide funding to Australians with a permanent disability.
The purpose of the NDIS is to provide all people with a disability with access to the funding, services and support they need.
What does the Scheme pay for?
The NDIS provides funding for a variety of physical, sensory, cognitive, developmental, or psychosocial disabilities. There are three broad categories of support under which individuals will be provided specific amounts of funding.
NDIS funding can be allocated to:
- Core Supports
- Capacity Building
- Capital Support
Core Supports
The core support budget includes every day items and most low-cost equipment and devices to help with every life. Funding for core supports can be used to help with general daily activities, social participation, community interaction and transport.
Capacity Building
Capacity building funding is aimed at helping participants to achieve a specific health, employment, education, relationship or living arrangement goal.
Capital Support
Capital support budgets are allocated for use for funding devices such as assistive technologies or home modifications.
Who is eligible to apply for NDIS funding?
Criteria
Anyone who is either an Australian citizen or permanent resident can apply for funding. There are special visa categories that are included as well.
Location
Since the completion of the nation-wide rollout in 2020, people with a disability across Australia can apply for national funding.
Age
The NDIS is available for people between the ages of 7 and 65.
If your child is below the age of seven, head to the NDIS website to find out about help and support for children.
If you or a loved one is above the age of 65, find out more about other supports available here.
Disability
If you have a permanent and/or significant disability requiring support from someone else or special equipment, you may be eligible to apply.
How do you apply for NDIS funding?
There are a few ways in which you can apply for funding either for yourself or on behalf of someone else. To download our helpful quick guide graphic, click here.
Phone
You can make a verbal access request by phoning 1800 800 110.
You can download and complete an application form from the website and email it in to the National Disability Insurance Agency.
Post
You can download and complete an application form from the website and mail it by post to the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
You can also phone your local NDIA office or email nat@ndis.gov.au to ask for the application form to be sent to you by post.
What is the difference between the NDIA and the NDIS Commission?
The NDIA
You might hear the term NDIA. It stands for National Disability Insurance Agency. The NDIA is the government agency in charge of implementing, managing and monitoring the NDIS and ensuring that the people who need support and funding receive it.
The NDIS Quality & Safeguards Commission
Often simply referred to as “the NDIS Commission”, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission is an independent agency that is appointed to ensure that the quality of supports and services provided under the Scheme is of regulatory standard.
Their role is to ensure that all participants are able to exercise choice and control and receive safe, quality support that upholds their human rights and individual dignity.
What does it mean to be a Registered NDIS Provider?
While the term “NDIS worker” is used widely to refer to any worker providing supports or services to people with disability using Scheme funding, the term “registered NDIS Provider” is different.
Registered NDIS providers, such as us here at One Central Health, are required to meet very strict government regulations regarding the quality of supports and various safety requirements. As a registered provider, One Central Health can provide services to any and all participants in need of our allied health therapy services.
Non-registered providers can only serve participants who either self-manage their funds or use a Plan Manager to manage their funds. More on that in just a moment.
Did you know that One Central Health is a registered NDIS provider?
Who is required to obtain an NDIS Worker Screening Check?
The Worker Screening Check is a recently introduced measure that the NDIA uses to determine that workers providing NDIS services do not present an unacceptable risk of harm to their clients.
Having a Worker Screening Check is mandatory for all NDIS workers and is not dependent on whether or not the organisation is a registered provider.
What does an NDIS Plan Manager do?
Participants who are approved for funding can manage their NDIS-funds in one of three ways.
Self-manage
Self-management means that the participant, or their parent/guardian or support worker, will manage all of the invoices related to the provision of services and supports.
Plan Manage
Plan Managers are an external third party that will manage, monitor and track your funding for you. They’ll receive and pay the invoices for services received so the participant doesn’t have to.
Agency-manage
Agency-managed participants are similar to Plan Managed participants in that they do not manage and pay their own invoices. Instead the service provider will lodge the invoices for payment directly with the NDIA.
While any participant under any form of management can use registered providers, agency-managed participants can only use a registered NDIS provider.
What do Support Coordinators do?
Support coordinators provide valuable services to approved participants by helping to ensure that their NDIS Plans are understood and used properly. They help participants find, access and benefit from the support and services they need.
Support coordinators can help you find the provider that you wish to use but do not recommend any specific providers to avoid any perceived or actual conflicts of interest.
What is the process once I am an approved NDIS participant?
After you are approved, you will attend a Plan Preparation meeting and work with a local area coordinator to prepare your NDIS Plan. This Plan will set out the goals and objectives you are aiming to achieve with your funding, and will outline the allocation of funding to the various supports.
What is the NDIS Code of Conduct?
The Code of Conduct outlines the manner in which providers must deliver supports and services. The Code ensures that all people with disability and participants enjoy respect for:
- Their individual rights to freedom of expression.
- Their rights to self-determination and decision making.
- Their rights to privacy.
- Their rights to receive services in a safe and competent way.
- Their rights to being served with integrity, honest and transparency.
- Their rights to raise concerns and have their voice heard.
- Their rights to being protected from abuse and misconduct of any form.
What is the NDIS Pricing Arrangement?
The Pricing Arrangements Price Limits sets out and regulates price controls for all supports and services provided to NDIS participants. It outlines maximum prices registered providers can charge and includes various other policies such as non-arrival and late cancellation fees.
One Central Health operates in line with the NDIS Pricing Arrangement and regulations.
We’re here to help you.
One Central Health is a registered NDIS provider. Our comprehensive offering of allied health therapy and services are available for participants of all ages and all abilities.
To find out more about how we can help you, give us a call today on (08) 9344 1318.