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Accessing the NDIS

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (also called the NDIS) is the new way of providing disability support.

The NDIS will provide all Australians under the age of 65 who have a permanent and significant disability with the reasonable and necessary supports they need to enjoy an ordinary life.

It will help people with disabilities achieve their goals. This may include greater independence, community involvement, employment, and improved wellbeing.

As an insurance scheme, the NDIS takes a lifetime approach, investing in people with disabilities early to improve their outcomes later in life.

The NDIS also provides support to disabled people, their families, and carers with information and referrals to existing support services within the respective community

Can I Access the NDIS?

To become an NDIS participant a person must:

  • Have a permanent disability that significantly affects their ability to take part in everyday activities.
  • Be aged less than 65 when they first enter the NDIS.
  • Be an Australian citizen or hold a permanent visa or a Protected Special Category visa.
  • Live in Australia where the NDIS is available.

Preparing to access the NDIS

  • If you already receive supports from a State or Territory government disability program, you will be contacted by a National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) representative when it is time to transition to the NDIS.
  • For some people already receiving supports from State and Territory disability programs, evidence of your disability may not be needed. This is because some State and Territory programs have the same eligibility criteria as the NDIS.
  • If you do not currently receive disability supports and the NDIS is available in your area you can request access by calling the NDIS.

Who can help you prepare to access the NDIS?

You can choose who you work with to help you prepare to access the NDIS. You might work with a family member, friend or carer, an NDIS Local Area Coordinator (NDIS Adelaide) or early childhood partner, a General Practitioner (GP) or other health professionals. At Care Plan Management, we provide the complete NDIS plan management service that will help you get the best national insurance scheme.

Evidence of your disability

To allow the NDIA to determine whether you meet the disability or early intervention access requirements, you may need to provide us with evidence of your disability. This includes information on what your disability is, how long it will last and its impact on your life. Evidence of disability and functional impact may be provided by a health professional in the following ways:

  • in the NDIS Supporting Evidence Form;
  • in the Access Request Form; or
  • via existing assessments or reports.

For some disabilities, information about impact on functionality may not be required

What is the role of your health professional in the NDIS access process?

GPs and other health professionals may be asked to provide evidence to support a request to access the NDIS. This may involve:

  • completing the NDIS Supporting Evidence Form or sections of the Access Request Form;
  • documenting that the person has or is likely to have a permanent disability; and
  • providing copies of reports or assessments that outline the extent of the functional impact of the disability.

When documenting the impact of a person’s disability a GP or other health professional will be asked to write down how your disability impacts your mobility/motor skills; communication; social interaction; learning; self-care; and self-management.

If a health or education professional finds that a child aged 0 to 6 years may benefit from early intervention or disability support under the NDIS, they should refer the parents to an NDIS early childhood partner.

Can I still receive support if I do not meet the access requirements for the NDIS?

A person does not have to be an NDIS participant to receive support from the NDIS. The NDIS will connect people with disability, their families and carers, including people who are not NDIS participants, to disability and mainstream supports in their community.

Why is the NDIS important?

People with disabilities have the same right as other Australians to determine their best interests and to have choice and control over their lives. The NDIS recognises that everyone’s needs and goals are different.

The NDIS provides people with individualised support and the flexibility to manage their supports to help them achieve their goals and enjoy an ordinary life.

The NDIS replaces a disability system that was unfair and inefficient with a new, national system that is world-leading, equitable, and sustainable.

This provides certainty and consistency for people with disabilities, their families, and carers. Australians will now have peace of mind that if their child or loved one is born with or acquires a significant disability that is likely to be with them for life they will get the support they need when they need it.

Why an insurance scheme?

The NDIS is social insurance, not welfare. As an insurance scheme, the NDIS takes a lifetime approach to support, investing in people with disabilities early to improve their outcomes later in life.

Who is delivering the NDIS?

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is the independent Commonwealth government agency responsible for implementing the NDIS.

  • The NDIA helps empower and inform people with disabilities to be confident consumers.
  • The agency provides information and referrals, links to services and activities, individualised plans, and where necessary, funded supports to people over a lifetime.
  • The NDIA provides service providers with clarity and transparency so they can grow their business and respond to need.
  • Raises community awareness and encourages greater inclusion and access for people with disabilities to mainstream services, community activities, and other government initiatives.

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