I attended a  National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)  information session this week, to better prepare my families and myself for the launch. The training was provided by Every Australian Counts, a key campaigner for the NDIS. If you'd like to receive a summary of my notes taken from the session, please read on...

What is the NDIS?

• A new government policy and approach to nationwide disability services. It will provide disability support to 'all eligible Australians'.
• Choice and control: People with disabilities (and their families) should be empowered to set their own goals and choose their own supports. Provides control over their own budget.
• Individual and portable funding - not tied up to a specific Local Government Area (LGA).

Launch

• July 2016 - service transition will commence for South West Sydney (including Bankstown, Fairfield, Liverpool and Campbelltown LGAs.
• 2018-2019 - rest of NSW
• 2020 - nationwide

Costs and reach

• Approx. $9billion in current national disability budget (pooled state resources)
• Approx. $22billion will be needed to fund the NDIS when it is implemented nationally
• Approx. 220,000 people currently receive a disability service (nationally)
• Approx. 460,000 people will receive a disability service when NDIS is at capacity

Financial/ Employment benefits of NDIS

• ^ Specialists at an organisational level will be needed to meet demand
• Carers may return to the workforce
• People with a disability may trial employment
• If early intervention is provided ASAP, people with a disability might meet milestones and not be NDIS participants for life

People with high support needs who are 'known' to services will be given priority (with initial transfer)

• Local Area Coordinators (through NDIA and supporting organisations - Uniting and St Vincents de Paul) are encouraging organisations to help people with a disability transition to NDIS.
  • will seek English as a Second Language/Non-English Speaking Background groups that need NDIS support
• Ability Links and Early Links (and others) will be helping people with disabilities who are in the community and not yet accessing services, to be more active.
• Basically: if you are an existing service user (i.e. receiving ADHC services), NDIA will contact you. You will receive information on what to do from your current service.

Eligibility

• Have a permanent and significant disability
• Be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Enter the Scheme before 65 years of age
• NDIS is not means-tested (does not change carer's allowance, etc)

Assessment process

• Functional questions will be asked re: 'how does your disability affect you?', 'what does your disability make it hard to do? Remember to talk about how you access the community, the degree in which you live independently, etc.
• Bring information re: disability diagnosis to the assessment
• There is an 'auto-entry' list of disabilities on the NDIS website.
• 'Yardstick' - if you are currently receiving support and services, you will be in the NDIS and transfer first
• If you have not been receiving services:
  • NDIS expects to cater for you, too
  • Make contact with NDIS or support agency for notification of transfer to NDIS
• Shopfronts will be available before scheme rolls out - for enquiries, etc
  

Supports that will be available (not exhaustive)

• Aids, equipment, home and vehicle modifications
• Personal care
• Support community inclusion
• Federal Packages (HCWA, Better Start)
  • If currently receiving this package - use allocated funds before transitioning to NDIS
• Respite
• Special housing support
• Domestic assistance
• Transport assistance
• Therapies
  • Budgets are currently in blocks of 6K, 12K, 16K
• Guide/assistance dogs
• Case management and coordination
• Employment services
• Crisis/emergency support (block funds available to be moved into packages, if needed

Packages

• Ask for supports during assessment and planning meetings
  • If not in the plan, will need to be self-funded
• Criteria for approval in plans: support needs to be 'reasonable and necessary'
  • Won't buy you a car but may approve modifications
• Plans are currently up for review every 3 months (in trial sites), annually, or as circumstances change
• Trial site data
  • Average package cost is $36,000 a year
  • There is 'no cap' on package costs, dependent on need
• Funds are a mix of fixed and flexible amounts
  • Fixed cost example: vehicle modifications
  • Flexible cost example: community inclusion/ respite
• Service providers implement based on signed agreements - work in arrears now
• Education: schools still pay for assistance teachers, NDIS will fund if extra support required
• Can change service providers mid-service if not meeting need
• ^ in sole traders (within therapy)
  • Have to be registered providers with the NDIS
  • There is a state-based quality and safeguards system - not yet nationwide

More information

• www.everyaustraliacounts.com.au
  
• www.ndis.gov.au
  
• www.ndis.gov.au/nsw
  
• www.ndis.nsw.gov.au
  
• search for the Facebook group 'NDIS Grassroots Discussion Group'
  

I still have many questions but hope this has answered some of yours.
Exciting times ahead for people with disabilities - and their families!

- Chantelle

We have begun adding our communication newsletters to the site.
The first two editions for 2016 can now be accessed by visiting our newsletters page.
This includes our latest newsletter on Easter language activities and the bonus Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) newsletter.

We are about to update our visual aids store with even more resources. Keep checking back for new items and contact us directly to place an order.

Feel free to share our newsletters with your friends, families and colleagues.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child's communication skills, please contact us.

Chantelle Mortimer