Information and advice on NDIS

Presented by Richmond Wellbeing, funded through the NDIS in WA ILC Project.

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OVERVIEW

1. What is the NDIS

2. Who is it for?

3. What do I need to do?

4. Stories

5. Resources

6. Questions and Answers

What is the NDIS?

Aims to deliver better support for all Australians with significant & likely to be permanent disability;

Ongoing support;

You have more choice in the supports you receive;

You get more control in how your life can look

Different ways of doing

NDIA

administers

the NDIS

“A mental health issue that affects people’s daily activities in…”

Communication

Social interaction

Learning

Mobility

Self-management

Self-care5

What is “psycho-social” disability?

The NDIS supports people who…

are aged less than 65 at the time of their request to participate in the NDIS

are Australian citizens or holders of a permanent visa or a protected Special Category Visa (subclass 444); and

live permanently in an area where the NDIS operates and

meet the disability requirements for the NDIS

What are WA’s NDIS rollout dates?

NDIS Rollout across Western Australia is scheduled to be complete by 2020

The NDIS will continue to roll out on a geographic basis and will be fully rolled out across Western Australia by 2020.

From 1 July 2018, the nationally-delivered NDIS will begin to be available to new participants in the Wheatbelt and Central South Metro regions.

From 1 October 2018, the nationally-delivered NDIS will begin to be available in the Goldfields-Esperance, North Metro regions and to new participants in the South West region.

From 1 July 2019, the nationally-delivered NDIS will begin to be available in the Midwest Gascoyne, Great Southern, Central North Metro and South East Metro regions.

From 1 July 2020, the nationally-delivered NDIS will begin to be available in Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

What evidence of disability do I need?

“significant” and “likely to be permanent”

must have a diagnosis

enough to meet NDIS disability requirements

gathered from treating professionals

shows the impact on your daily life

• Add a better picture of a participant of the NDIS or a background image.

What if my application is rejected?

People have a right to seek a review of the decision

There is an appeals process

https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/reasonable-and-necessary-supports/decision-review/application-review-reviewable-decision.html

call the NDIA for more information.

Bring your team and paperwork together. Think about what you are looking for.

Planning conversation with NDIS representative

Look at your dreams, goals, hopes for the future

Choose your supports and the NDIA will help you link up with them

Work the Plan

Review- How did we go? What needs to change for next time?

NDIS approved

Your NDIS plan is approved

Prepare your plan

Planning Process elements – your first plan

The NDIS planning process

Step 1: Get your support team and paperwork together

Step 2: Participate in a planning conversation

Step 3 Think about your needs/goals

Step 4: Explore options

Step 5: Develop your plan

Step 5: Work your plan

Step 6: Review your plan

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Normal clinical & community mental health services continue:

The NDIS does not replace other mainstream services.

Supports are intended to help with your

• daily life

• community participation

• social & economic life

***Supports must be reasonable and necessary

What types of supports can be in my plan?

Working on your plan

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Toolkit

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Vision and dreams

With your NDIS representative, you will work on answers

to questions like these:

1.How would I like my life to be?

(Vision) 2. My story/our story (Current Situation)

3. What would I/we like to build on? (Goals)

4. How can this happen? (Strategies)

Developing your NDIS plan

How would I like my life to be?

Think about what you want and need for your life, and use the spaces below to make some notes.

• Focus on the next few years, how would you like your life to be?

• What would an ideal living situation be for you? (e.g living on your own, with family, with friends)

• How would you spend your days and who with?

• What will you do during the day? (e.g. working, socialising, playing sports)

15.

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Write your notes here…

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My story/our story (Current Situation)

What is your life like now? Focus on what happens currently in your life and/or in your family

• What sort of things are you good at? What do you enjoy?

• What are some of the things you like to do?

• What sort of things do you find challenging?

• What would you like to build on/improve?

17.

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Write your notes here…

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My story/our story (Current Situation)

• What are you current living arrangements?

• What relationships do you have now?

o Think about who is important in your life and in what way

o what informal supports you have from family, friends, neighbours, social groups, community, work

• What supports do you currently have?

19.

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Write your notes here…

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What would you like to build on? (Goals)

• Are there particular skills that you would like to develop?

• What do you look forward to?

• What goals do you want to achieve in the future?

• Are there areas of your life you would like to focus on? (e.g. finding work, studying, meeting new people, getting fit, cooking, learning to budget

21.

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Write your notes here…

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How can this happen? (Strategies)

• What can you start doing?

• What can you keep doing?

• What can you reduce or do less of?

• What parts of your life could use some guidance or extra support, if any?

• What is needed to assist in building your skills or developing personal and community connections?

23.

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Write your notes here…

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Questions and answers

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I am in a regional location – can I buy a car, as

there are no buses here?

No – buying a car is the personal responsibility for all people

in the community. NDIS may support modifications to a

vehicle required because of disability.

Can I have a new cochlear implant? The Department of Health funds cochlear implants. The

NDIS will fund repairs and maintenance to the equipment

where it is reasonable and necessary.

I have ADHD and was referred by Centrelink.

How can you get me back to the Pilbara?

If a person is eligible for the NDIS, reasonable and necessary

supports will be included in an individual plan. The NDIS

does not provide emergency cash supports.

Questions and answers

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What if the plan does not meet my needs? You can ask for a review of your plan in the event that there

is a change of circumstances, the plan is not meeting your

needs or there is a change in Plan management. A new plan

may be approved. If a request for review of a plan is not

agreed to, the decision not to review the plan may be

appealed.

Participants may appeal decisions that are made about their

plans to the NDIA.

I am in a NDIS trial site, but moving out of site

in WA. What are my options?

You remain an NDIS participant. NDIS packages are

portable.

Can I be paid as a family carer? No, payment of funding for a family member is not allowed.

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Questions and answers

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1. How do I get a review or lodge an appeal if I

am not happy with a decision (eligibility and

planning)?

People can appeal an NDIS decision on grounds such as:

Eligibility

Reasonable and Necessary Supports

Approval for Self-Management

Extension of Grace Periods

Review of NDIS plan

Application of Compensation reduction amounts.

Full NDIA policy on reviewing and appealing NDIS decisions is

available on line or

Call the NDIA on 1800 800 110

The appeal process is on the NDIA website at:

https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/reasonable-and-

necessary-supports/decision-review/application-review-

reviewable-decision.html

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Questions and answers

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How is ‘family member’ defined? Immediate or close family member or carer.

https://www.ndis.gov.au/families-carers/information-

families-and-carers.html

I am an Aboriginal person with autism – can an

Aboriginal person accompany me to do a plan

and be part of the plan?

Yes, a person can invite anyone that they would like to

support them in the planning process.

I have a son with autism, who is home schooled,

there is no 9am-3pm structure. Can I access

funded support during school hours?

No. It is the responsibility of the Department of Education.

NDIS Support is available to assist and connect with the

Department of Education.

Who do I contact if my circumstances change? NDIA 1800 800 110

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Example case studies

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Below are some examples to demonstrate NDIS planning in action

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Example - Alison

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Alison is 38 years of age and lives in her own home. She has an intellectual disability and autism. Alison has limited verbal communication skills, but she knows what she wants, likes and dislikes. Alison’s behaviours can be challenging and unpredictable when people do not understand her choices. She also experiences frequent seizures which require additional medication to be administered to her. Alison’s goals are to continue to live safely in her own home near her parents, increase her fitness and keep enjoying a busy lifestyle in her local community. Alison's parents are both in their 70s but remain involved in Alison’s life. They have provided her with a vehicle and a house. Alison likes to visit her parents to share a meal and play cards twice a week. Through the NDIS, Alison has been supported to develop a plan which enables in-home, around the clock support each day by a flexible team. ‘Alison’s team’ consists of five permanent staff, two casual support workers, and an unpaid volunteer Jane who helps out once a week. With this support Alison is learning to be more independent, her personal care has improved, she is contributing with jobs around the home and doing her own grocery shopping. Alison is well-known in the local community through her part-time employment at the leisure centre and she recently joined the local bowling club which Jane attends. Alison enjoys regular outings with her support staff, including swimming at the local leisure centre and going for drives in her car to the beach.

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Example - AlexAlex is eight years of age and lives at home with his family. Alex has severe cerebral palsy, a mild intellectual disability and his behaviour is frequently challenging both at home and school. He has experienced medical complications which have resulted in frequent hospital stays and intensive post-operative therapy. Alex is a reluctant school attender and whilst his mother is very committed to achieving a great life for him, she finds it challenging managing the demands of a young family as well as Alex’s additional support needs. Since engaging with the NDIS, Alex and his mum have been supported by the NDIA to develop and implement a plan to meet the needs of both Alex and his family. Alex now enjoys staying overnight once a month with a neighbouring family, who have a son the same age as him. Alex also accesses one-to-one support to attend swimming lessons with this boy. These strategies have been beneficial to Alex’s social skills and have enabled his mum to have regular breaks. With local support, Alex’s mum has negotiated with the school to make several changes including the provision of an educational assistant to support with his personal care and learning. Alex’s mother has also been connected with another family from the school who live nearby, and they are now sharing the school transport duties. Alex really enjoysthis, and so is happier to attend school. Alex’s vestibular balance and muscle strength have improved through the use of a trampoline and climbing frame. He uses PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) to communicate and the speech therapist has recommended using proloquo2go on an iPad to enhance his expressive communication. Alex has weekly transdisciplinary therapy sessions with input from a physiotherapist, occupational therapist and speech pathologist. His therapy team have provided the school with strategies to ensure consistency and enhance his overall learning and development. The individualised funding available through Alex’s NDIS plan, has enabled his Mum to choose the therapy provider that she feels is best able to meet Alex’s needs. She has also chosen to access support from a psychologist, to assist her to develop her behaviour management skills. .

Resources: Getting more information

Call NDIS NDIA: 1800 800 110

TTY (Translation): 1800 555 677

Speak and listen: 1800 555 727

Help with English: TIS: 131 450

Web: https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/our-sites/WA.html

Email: enquiries@ndis.gov.au

NDIA

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