A brief overview of the NDIS

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a new way of helping and supporting Australians with a disability (and their carers). It covers Australians under 65 with a permanent and significant disability they were born with, or have acquired. By investing in and helping people as early as possible, the NDIS hopes to improve outcomes for participants from an early age.

Each person covered under the NDIS has a plan that lists their goals and the support they require. The NDIS will fund these supports, and the participant is given a choice of how to use their funding. They may choose to use services from a number of providers.

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) helps both providers and participants find each other. It helps people access providers, and gives providers support to improve their service offerings. The NDIA also helps connect participants to the service providers and supports in their community.

You can choose to manage your own funds, in which case you make claims to NDIS directly or you can also ask the NDIA – the agency responsible for administering the NDIS to manage your funding for you.

The NDIS aims to give Australians with a disability the same opportunities as other Australians to make decisions which are in their best interests and give them control over their life. It helps provide certainty and consistency for people with disabilities and those who care for them.

Every participant in the NDIS deserves to have control over how they live and access to the support they need to help them reach their goals and lead an ordinary life.

Parents of children with a disability can relax, knowing their child will be supported by the NDIS from birth.

My Home Disability Services can help you prepare for the NDIS

MHDS will work with you to assist you with identifying supports you may need to live your life. Supports which you may help you achieve goals in certain areas of your life, including independence, community involvement, health and wellbeing.

In thinking about and developing your own individualised NDIS plan, you therefore need to consider all your daily activities and the aids, equipment, training and/or support that would make your life easier, whether currently provided or not. Speak to us about this at a Preparation and Support meeting.

The government website has lots of good information about the NDIS including a handy video. Discover more here.

For more information about the NDIS please visit www.ndis.gov.au or contact us at My Home Disability Services on 9687 8980.