The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) supports Australians with disabilities, their families, and carers by providing personalised support. It’s funded by the Australian government and state/territory governments. The NDIS gives individual support packages to eligible people with disabilities.
Beyond funding, the NDIS supports people to access services like health and education, community services and to maintain informal supports from family and friends. Unlike means-tested programs, the NDIS is uncapped, meaning it adapts to meet demand like Medicare or income support.
Established under the NDIS Act, the scheme is managed by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). Its goals include supporting independence, providing necessary supports, and letting individuals control their support plans. The NDIS replaces the old system under the National Disability Agreement (NDA), aiming for a unified, fairer approach nationwide.
The NDIS operates like an insurance scheme, planning long-term support rather than short-term budgets, promoting independence to reduce long-term costs. To access support, individuals must live where NDIS operates, meet residency and age requirements, and have a qualifying disability.
Supports covered include daily activities, transport, workplace assistance, therapy, home modifications, and equipment. Participants work with the NDIA to develop an NDIS plan tailored to their needs and goals. They can manage their funds directly or through the NDIA or a plan manger. Services are ideally provided by registered providers in a competitive market.
The NDIS aims to improve quality of life and participation for people with disabilities across Australia through individualised and sustainable support.
As a registered NDIS provider UCWB, offers support for NDIS participants in the following ways:
Support Coordination
Our Support Coordinators empower you to effectively manage your NDIS plan by:
- Understanding your plan: breaking down your NDIS plan and funding, ensuring you understand the supports available to you
- Connecting you: linking you with service providers and community resources aligned with your goals
- Building skills: developing your skills to confidently manage your supports and make informed decisions
- Resolving challenges: advocating for you in resolving any issues with service delivery or funding.
Specialist Support Coordination
For more complex needs, our Specialist Support Coordinators provide:
- Expertise: tailored support for participants requiring intensive assistance due to complex challenges or multiple service providers
- Navigational assistance: guiding you through intricate aspects of the NDIS system, ensuring you access the right supports and maximise your plan effectively
- Advocacy: ensuring your voice is heard and your needs are met in all interactions with service providers and within the NDIS framework.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the NDIS, it’s important that you meet certain criteria tailored to your situation:
- Residency: you must be an Australian citizen, have a permanent visa, or hold a Protected Special Category Visa, and currently live in Australia.
- Age: when you apply to join the NDIS, you must be under 65 years old
- Disability: you need to meet specific disability requirements, which include:
- Having a disability caused by one or more impairments, such as intellectual, cognitive, neurological, sensory, physical, or psychosocial.
- The impairment(s) should be permanent or likely to be permanent
- The impairment(s) significantly reduce your ability to perform everyday activities like communication, social interaction, learning, mobility, self-care, or self-management
- The impairment(s) affect your ability to participate socially or economically
- There should be a likelihood that you will require support under the NDIS for your lifetime.
If you’re under seven years old, your eligibility may be assessed based on early intervention requirements. This applies if early support can reduce your future support needs or prevent a decline in your functional capacity.
To apply for the NDIS, you must be under 65 years old.
If you don’t meet the general criteria, you may still be eligible under early intervention requirements if early support can reduce your future support needs or prevent deterioration in your functional capacity.
These guidelines ensure that the NDIS can assist those who need it most, based on unique circumstances and needs.
Please reach out to us on 8245 7100 or ndisreferrals@ucwb.org.au to discuss your unique circumstances and how we can help.
For more information about the NDIS including eligibility visit www.ndis.gov.au or call 1800 800 110.