Understanding
What is NDIS ?
NDIS stands for National Disability Insurance Scheme. The NDIS provides funding for people living with disability to gain greater choice around how they get the support they need to improve their independence and an improved quality of life.
The NDIS now supports over 500,000 Australians with disability to access the services and supports they need.
The NDIS provides support to eligible people aged 7 to 64 who have intellectual, physical, sensory, cognitive, and psychosocial disability.
How does the NDIS work?
The NDIS is Australia first national scheme providing funding directly to individual living with disability.
– attached link to check Eligibility and (information) (https://www.ndis.gov.au/applying-access-ndis/am-i-eligible)
If you’re eligible and want to participate in the NDIS you can:
Call the NDIS on 1800 800 110 and ask to make an Access Request
Heart To Hold Foundation charges pricing for NDIS services and support is based on the current NDIS price guide and support catalogue. The NDIS Price Guide and updated pricing rates can be found
As a Participant
NDIS Journey
Access NDIS
The first step is to apply for NDIS Access by completing the 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.
If your application gets accepted then you become an NDIS Participant, you can always ask for explanation if your application was found to be ineligible. Review on decision must be made within three months of being notified of the decision.
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
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has been developed to improve choice and create better outcomes for people with a disability. NDIS funds any goal that you set for yourself (those that NDIS considers reasonable and fair of course) and you are free to choose any NDIS service provider you want. You can learn more about the NDIS on the official federal government NDIS website.
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is a federally appointed organisation that manages the administration of all NDIS funding. They are funded by the Department of Social Services (DSS).
The NDIS provides ongoing funding for all ‘reasonable and necessary’ disability equipment, care and support services. Generally, the supports and services provided to you assist you to achieve your goals and live as independently as possible. Services also include community participation and assistance with gainful employment.
- The NDIS does not provide funding for support if it is:
- Not related to your disability
- Duplicate of another support.
- Is better addressed by an alternative support option.
- Is related to daily living expenses that are not related to your disability.
If you are over the age of 65 years, you will not be eligible to participate in the NDIS. You might be eligible for funding by the Aged Care System, instead.
The NDIA is tasked with assessment of your eligibility to participate in the NDIS. The following are the eligibility criteria:
- Be under the age of 65 years of age
- Be a resident of Australia (Australian citizen, or Permanent Visa Holder or a New Zealand citizen who holds a Protected Special Category Visa)
- Have a condition or an impairment that is permanent and prevents you from participating in everyday activities.