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The NDIS Journey

Just 4 Steps to be a NDIS participant and receive the support you need!
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The NDIS Participant Journey

The NDIS aims to make sure that Australians with disability recieve the disability support they need

Your Journey at a Distance

We understand the journey a new participant undertakes when applying for the NDIS. The diagram below gives a simple overview of the proces.

Step 01

Check your Eligibility

Step 02

Submit Access Request Form

Step 03

Attend the Plan Meeting

Step 04

Develop your NDIS Plan

Your Journey at a Distance

We understand the journey a new participant undertakes when applying for the NDIS. The diagram below gives a simple overview of the proces.

Step 01

Check your Eligibility

Step 02

Submit Access Request Form

Step 03

Attend the Plan Meeting

Step 04

Develop your NDIS Plan

01 Check Eligibility

You must be between 9 to 64 years old. You may continue to recieve funding beyond 65 years, but you must be under 65 to apply for the first time.

The scheme is only open to:

  • Australian citizens
  • Permanent VISA holders
  • Protected special category VISA holders

You must have a physical, intellectual, cognitive, neurological, visual, hearing, or psychosocial impairment that meets either the disability or early intervention requirements. It must be a disability that is permanent and significantly impacts your day to day living.

For Young Children

If a child is below 9 years of age, an early childhood partner can provide supports to children before they apply, and let families know if the NDIS is right for their child.

02 Submit Access Request Form

Going through the Access Request Form can be overwhelming. Along with this, prospective participants must provide the NDIA with supporting evidence of disability or developmental delay from a treating doctor, specialist, or health professional (this includes nuses physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, psychologists).

Access Request Form

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Supporting Evidence Form

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Local Area Coordinators

When you reach out to NDIS for assistance, you will be connected to a Local Area Coordinator (LAC). This person is known as your NDIS contact and will be your main point of contact throughout your NDIS journey.

LAC near you

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03 The Meeting

You will be invited to a Plan Meeting it determine the support you will need and the funding required. During this meeting, you will meet with your NDIA Planner. A lot of preparation will be needed, and a lot of discussion will take place.

You can also ask other people like your friends, family or an advocate, to join the conversation with your NDIS planner.

You will discuss:

  • Your goals & objectives
  • Type of supports needed
  • your living circumstances
  • How much funding

If your application is successful, you will receive a letter from the NDIS confirming this.

04 Your NDIS Plan

The NDIS plan will be tailored to reflect your goals and circumstances. It is designed so you have choice and control for your well being. The type of support may include funds for items as follows:

  • daily personal activities like showering
  • transport to access the community
  • workplace placement
  • therapeutic supports, including behaviour support
  • help with household tasks
  • home modification design and construction
  • mobility equipment
  • vehicle modifications

Click here to see a more detailed write up regarding developing an NDIS plan.

Click here

FAQ

You may be eligible if you meet these 3 requirements:

  • You are under 65. You may continue to receive funding beyond 65 years, but you must be under 65 to apply for the first time.
  • You reside in Australia and are an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a Protected Special Category Visa.
  • You have a physical, intellectual, cognitive, neurological, visual, hearing or psychosocial impairment that meets either the disability or early intervention requirements. It must be a permanent and significant disability that impacts your day-to-day living. 

When it comes to the NDIS, getting organised can be overwhelming.

Start a notebook to record all your doctor and specialist conversations and appointment dates. Make sure you keep copies of your receipts, invoices, forms, and documentation in case you need them down the track.

Do your homework. With so much information out there about the NDIS, it can be a little overwhelming – but it’s important that you understand the process and what you can achieve. Don’t rely only on the media, Facebook or others for your NDIS info; check out the information we’ve provided as well as the NDIA’s own resources for a good introduction to the topic. You can even watch a video of current recipients sharing their stories about how NDIS is improving their lives.

Start your planning early. Don’t wait until your first planning meeting with the NDIA to start thinking about your plan. Prepare yourself by talking with us about how to preplan to make sure you’re ahead of the game. Don’t forget to list all the supports you currently receive and take this with you to your meeting. If you don’t tell the NDIA about all the supports you currently receive (like personal care, nursing and in-home support), they won’t know about them and might not include them in your NDIS Plan. 

Talk to us. Not clear on something? We’re here to answer any questions you might have. We will discuss how to approach your first NDIA interview. The more you share with us, the better we can support you through this process, so don’t hesitate to pick up the phone

So call us today at 8463 1333 and let us help you navigate the process.

Three types of support budgets may be funded in your NDIS plan:

Core supports

Core Supports help you with everyday activities, your current disability-related needs, and to work towards your goals. Core supports have four sub-categories:

  1. Assistance with daily life. For example, assistance with self-care activities and house cleaning. 
  2. Consumables. For example, continence products or low-cost assistive technology.
  3. Assistance with social and community participation. For example, a support worker to assist you in participating in social and community activities. 
  4. Transport. For example, travel to work or other places.

 

Capacity building supports

Capacity Building Supports help build your independence and skills to assist you in pursuing your goals. Examples include:

  • Support coordination to help you use your NDIS plan and connect you to service providers 
  • Plan management to help you manage your NDIS funding
  • Help you find and maintain a place to live
  • Assistance in finding and keeping a job 
  • Assessment, training or therapy to help increase your skills, independence and community participation.  

Capital supports

Capital Supports include higher-cost pieces of assistive technology and equipment (e.g. wheelchairs), home or vehicle modifications, and funding for one-off purchases you may need (including Specialist Disability Accommodation).

There are 3 ways to manage your NDIS plan.

Self-managed funding
The NDIA provides you with funding so you can access the supports that will best help you achieve your goals. You will need to purchase supports, manage your funding, pay providers on time, keep invoices, keep track of your funds and understand the NDIS portal and how to make claims. 

Plan-managed funding.
The NDIA will provide funding in your plan to pay for a Plan Manager who pays your providers for you, helps you keep track of funds and takes care of financial reporting for you. You can receive supports from service providers who are both registered and not registered with the NDIS. 

NDIA-managed funding
Service providers claim directly from the NDIA after providing you the support. The NDIA pays your providers on your behalf. You can only use registered NDIS providers in this option.