The introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was a major change to the way disability care supports and services are delivered and funded.
There is a lot of information about the NDIS, so we’ve written this guide to give you a clear overview of:
- What the NDIS is
- What types of services it funds
- How you can access it
At Absolute Care & Health, we provide disability care services for our clients across Melbourne, and we’re a registered NDIS provider.
If you have any questions about how the NDIS works or how to get started with it, please get in touch with our friendly team. We’d love to help.
What is the NDIS?
The NDIS is a federal government program which is run by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), and it provides funding for Australians who have a disability.
NDIS funding is used to provide disability care services and supports for people aged between 7 and 65 who have a permanent and significant disability.
The types of supports and services you can receive as part of your NDIS funding will cater to your specific needs. One of the goals of the NDIS is to help people improve their skills and independence, so support services are put in place with this in mind.
NDIS funding
What services can be funded by NDIS?
The amount of funding you receive through the NDIS will be equivalent to the amount of support you need. This means that you should receive enough funding for all of the ‘reasonable and necessary’ supports you need.
To be considered reasonable and necessary, a support or service must:
- Be related to your disability
- Represent value for money
- Be likely to be effective and useful for you
- Take into account existing supports, including relatives and other services
Reasonable and necessary supports can include many different types of supports. This includes services which help you with:
- Education
- Employment
- Social participation
- Independence
- Living arrangements
- Health and wellbeing
Read more about what supports and services can be included in your NDIS funding.
How is NDIS funding managed
There are three different ways to manage your NDIS funding:
- Self-management—The NDIA provides you with funding so you can directly access the supports you need.
- Plan-managed funding—You will have a Plan Manager who pays your service providers on your behalf, helps you keep track of funds, and handles financial reporting for you.
- NDIA-managed funding—The NDIA directly pays for service providers on your behalf.
The best method of funding management for you will depend on your individual circumstances. Read more about the different ways to manage your NDIS funding here.
Eligibility criteria
The NDIS is designed to help people with a broad range of disabilities, including intellectual, physical, sensory, cognitive, and psychosocial disabilities. This means the eligibility criteria are quite broad, and everyone who needs support should be eligible.
To be eligible for NDIS funding, you must be living in Australia with Australian residency, and you must be aged between 7 and 65. At least one of the following statements must also be true for you to be eligible:
- If you usually need support from a person because of a permanent and significant disability
- If you use special equipment because of a permanent and significant disability
- If you need some supports now to reduce your future needs
Read more about NDIS eligibility criteria. If you are not eligible for the NDIS, there may be other services you can access instead.
Accessing the NDIS
To receive NDIS funding, you must make an Access Request to the NDIS. Here’s what you need to know about making an Access Request:
- You can call 1800 800 110 to make an Access Request
- You can request a form to fill out instead of making an Access Request over the phone
- You can contact your local NDIS office if you need help making an Access Request
- You will need to provide information and evidence about your disability
If you currently receive disability supports, your service provider can provide information to the NDIS on your behalf, but you will need to give them consent to share your information first.
Read more about making an Access Request to the NDIS.
Get the disability care services you need
The NDIS makes it easier than ever for Australians to access disability care services. At Absolute Care & Health, we are a registered NDIS provider, which means we are approved to provide NDIS funded disability care services.
As a leading provider of disability care services in Melbourne, we work with our clients to help them improve their independence and achieve their lifestyle goals. Our team of dedicated disability support workers and personal care attendants are all qualified and experienced, and they share our values of truly caring for our clients.
If you have any questions about our services or how we work with the NDIS, please get in touch.
