Ways to put the NDIS plan into action, including looking at agencies who can help with this
The information on this page is also available as a downloadable Quick Guide, by clicking below. There are.pdf and word versions.
Introduction
It can be quite overwhelming when you get your first NDIS Plan. NDIS Plans use words that are unfamiliar, and sometimes don’t make much sense, and many people have no idea what their Plan means, what they can purchase with their funds from where, or how to make claims.
There is quite a lot of information available on the NDIS website to help people understand their plans, but sometimes you just need someone face-to-face (or even on skype!).
Let’s make it happen
Here are some of the people who should be able to help you get started.
Local Area Co-ordinator
Many areas around Australia now have Local Area Co-ordinators (LACs). They are organisations contracted by the NDIA to help get people into the NDIS and to develop and help implement their plans (they also help communities be more accessible for people with disability).
If you have a Local Area Co-ordinator, they should be able to help get your NDIS plans up and running – help you learn to use the portal, understand what everything in your plan means and how you can use the funds, provide referrals to providers and community groups as well as talk about innovative ideas on ways to make the most of your funds.
If your area has a Local Area Coordinator, you can find their contact details at https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/locations.html
Support Co-ordinator
.pdfor people with more complex NDIS Plans or situations, there might be funds in the plan for “Support Co-ordination”. Support Co-ordinators can help people do all the same things as Local Area Co-ordinators, but will likely have more time to help you sort through complex stuff as well, like health, education, behaviour or even justice systems (if you get in trouble or need help with the law or police).
If you have Support Coordination in your Plan, you can find a provider by searching for “Support Coordination” in the link to your state at https://www.ndis.gov.au/document/finding-and-engaging-providers/find-registered-service-providers.html
When choosing a Support Coordinator, it’s a good idea to choose a co-ordinator from an organisation that does NOT provide any services that you use, or want to use. Your Support Co-ordinator should be independent so that they don’t have a conflict of interest and send you to use their own services.
Disability Service Provider
A trusted service provider can be useful in helping you understand your plan, but once again, be careful that they do not have a conflict of interest, and tell you things that make you want to spend more of your funds with their organisation.
Other People with Disability or Carers (Peer Support)
Information from other people with disability and carers are often some of the best ways to get help and referrals. Going to a peer support group, meeting other parents at school, or joining a local advocacy group can connect you with other people with similar needs and experiences.
NDIS rules and the ways they do things change all the time, so take everything you hear with a small grain of salt, and check what you hear by using the NDIS website, or contacting the NDIS directly yourself. Everyone has a unique NDIS Plan, and what is ‘reasonable and necessary’ for your peer, may not be ‘reasonable and necessary’ for you, or vice versa.
Online Help
There are loads of NDIS Support Groups online, especially on Facebook, and these can be great places to connect with other people in your area, or with similar disability related needs. If you use Facebook, just type ‘NDIS’ and your state or area to find a local group. If you or the person you care for has Down syndrome, for example, that group is called ‘NDIS and Me’ on Facebook.
There is also a very big group, with more than 30,000 people in it called ‘NDIS Grassroots Discussion’. It’s filled with people asking questions, sharing information and giving their opinions every day. Sometimes the information they share is not quite right, sometimes it’s wildly wrong, and sometimes it’s right for that person and their State, but not for others. So, once again, don’t make any important decisions based on info on these groups, but rather use them as a starting point to gather information and ideas.
Where you can find more information
The NDIS phone lines are open from 8am until 11pm every weekday. Sometimes you can wait on hold for a very long time during the day, but if you call after 6pm, there is usually no wait!
The NDIS phone number is 1800 800 110. You can find TTY and Speak and Listen contacts for the NDIS here: https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/contact-us.html
If you have a local NDIS office, you might be able to drop in and ask your question. Sometimes this is quicker than waiting on hold.
You can also email the NDIS or your Local Area Coordinator by finding your local office at https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/locations.html
Co-authored by: The Growing Space
