NDIS what is it and how is it meant to help
The information on this page is also available as a downloadable Quick Guide, by clicking below. There are.pdf and word versions.
Introduction
The members of many peer networks around Australia, whether focused on people living with disability or carers are often concerned about what the NDIS means for them and how they can make use of it to improve their lives. The first step in taking full advantage of the NDIS, is through having access to good information.
This quick guide is intended to provide facilitators and members of peer networks with an overview of what the NDIS is and how it aims to help people living with disability, their families and carers.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is the newest way of providing support for Australians living with disability, their families and carers.
When it is fully rolled out the NDIS will provide around 460,000 Australians under the age of 65 with a permanent and significant disability with the reasonable and necessary supports they need to live an ordinary life.
As an insurance scheme, the NDIS takes a lifetime approach, investing in people living with disability early to improve their outcomes later in life.
The NDIS gives all Australians peace of mind that if their child or loved one is born with or acquires a permanent and significant disability they will get the support they need.
Each participant will have an individualised plan that is tailored to their goals, personal circumstances and disability support needs.
Let’s make it happen
A great first step in preparing for the NDIS is building your understanding of what support the NDIS will provide. This section can be a useful starting point to help peer group members begin to think about the types of supports that would help them to ‘live an ordinary life’.
The NDIS will help by providing information and referrals, support to access community services and activities, personal plans and supports over a lifetime. The types of supports that the NDIS may fund to support people with disability include:
| Home | Support with home modification and/or assistive equipment |
| Daily Living | Support with personal care, help around the home and everyday activities |
| Social and Community | Assist people with disability to enjoy social and community interactions , assistance with transport and vehicle modifications |
| Work | Assistance to maintain or access employment opportunities |
| Lifelong Learning | Assistance to maintain or learn skills and access learning opportunities |
| Health and Wellbeing: | Assistance to access health and wellbeing supports, behavioural support, products and equipment related to the disability |
| Choice and Control: | Assistance to increase independence and have choice and control over supports and services you need. |
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NDIS Words used in this Quick Guide NDIS: The National Disability Insurance Scheme Participant: The person with disability receiving NDIS support Plan: The document that outlines how the participant will get support. Reasonable and Necessary: Reasonable means something that is fair. Necessary means something you must have. NDIS will help determine what reasonable and necessary supports are. |
Where you can find more information
The NIDS is a complex change and all sorts of organisations are offering information to help people to transition smoothly to the NDIS. These links are the places that we have identified as great places to start finding information.
The NDIS website is a wealth of information but it can be tricky to find what you are a looking for, a tip is to google the topic you are searching for, for example “NDIS transport funding.” Normally the first result will be a page on the NDIS website with the information you are looking for.
The links below contain a range of other useful websites which peer network facilitators and members may find helpful.
To find out more about the NDIS:
Website: https://www.ndis.gov.au/ or Phone: 1800 800 110
| .pdfree-of-charge translator, interpreter or other assistance | phone 1800 800 110 |
| Text telephone (TTY) users | phone 1800 555 677 then ask for 1800 800 110 |
| Speak and Listen (speech-to-speech relay) users | phone 1800 555 727 then ask for 1800 800 110 |
| internet relay users | National Relay Service website and ask for 1800 800 110 |
For Peer support: {CCM:BASE_URL}/
.pdfor carers: https://www.carersaustralia.com.au/ or www.everythingcarers.org.au
State and Territory Websites
Australian Capital Territory
Disability ACT
Website: http://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/disability_act/
New South Wales
Department of Family and Community Services
Website: https://www.ndis.gov.au/understanding/ndis-each-state/new-south-wales
Northern Territory
Northern Territory Government Office of Disability
Website: https://nt.gov.au/wellbeing/disability-services/ndis
Queensland
Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services
Website: www.communities.qld.gov.au/ndis/
South Australia
Department of Human Services
Website: https://dhs.sa.gov.au/services/disability-services
Tasmania
Tasmanian Government Disability and Community Services
Website: http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/disability
Victoria
Department of Health and Human Services
Website: www.dhhs.vic.gov.au or www.ndis.vic.gov.au
Western Australia
Disability Services Commission
Website: http://www.disability.wa.gov.au/
Co authored by Carers Victoria
