What is NDIS?

Australian government program launched in 2013 to support individuals with permanent and significant disabilities. It offers personalized support plans, funding for necessary aids, and promotes choice and control for participants. Key features include early intervention, enhancing social and economic participation, and improving life outcomes. The NDIS is distinct from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), which administers the scheme.

What is NDIS?

What is NDIS? The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a groundbreaking initiative in Australia that has revolutionised the way support is provided to individuals with disabilities. This guide explores its various aspects, from its fundamental principles to specific programmes and support options.

What is the NDIS?

The NDIS, which stands for National Disability Insurance Scheme, is a national programme implemented by the Australian government to provide support to Australians with permanent and significant disabilities. Launched in 2013, the NDIS aims to empower individuals with disabilities by giving them more choice and control over the support they receive.

Key Features of the NDIS

• Personalised support plans tailored to individual needs and goals
• Funding for reasonable and necessary supports related to a person’s disability
• Choice and control for participants over how they use their funding
• Focus on early intervention to improve long-term outcomes
• Aim to improve life outcomes and increase social and economic participation

Historical Context

The NDIS was born out of the recognition that the previous system of disability support in Australia was inadequate, fragmented, and underfunded. The scheme was inspired by similar models in other countries, particularly New Zealand’s Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).

Read: how much does it cost to become an ndis provider

NDIS vs NDIA: Understanding the Difference

While often used interchangeably, the NDIS and NDIA are distinct entities:

• NDIS: The scheme itself, providing support to participants
• NDIA: The National Disability Insurance Agency, the government body responsible for implementing the NDIS

The NDIA is responsible for:

• Assessing eligibility for the NDIS
• Approving NDIS plans
• Paying providers and managing the scheme’s funds
• Registering providers
• Providing information and referrals

NDIS Eligibility and Age Limits

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the NDIS, an individual must:

• Be under 65 years of age when first applying
• Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a Protected Special Category visa
• Have a permanent and significant disability that substantially impacts their ability to perform daily activities

Age Considerations

• There is no lower age limit for the NDIS, meaning children can access the scheme
• The cut-off age for new applicants is 65 years
• Participants who enter the scheme before 65 can continue receiving support beyond this age

Permanent and Significant Disability

The NDIS defines a permanent and significant disability as one that:

• Is likely to be lifelong
• Substantially impacts the person’s ability to complete everyday activities
• May include physical, intellectual, cognitive, neurological, sensory, or psychosocial disabilities

NDIS Worker Screening Check

The NDIS Worker Screening Check is a critical component of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Framework, designed to protect participants from harm.

What is an NDIS Worker Screening Check?

It’s a national clearance process for workers in risk-assessed roles within the NDIS. This check:

• Assesses a person’s suitability to work with people with disabilities
• Replaces different state and territory screening arrangements
• Is valid for five years and is portable across employers and states/territories

Process of Obtaining an NDIS Worker Screening Check

1. The worker applies for the check through their state or territory screening unit
2. The screening unit conducts a national criminal history check and other relevant background checks
3. The worker is either cleared or excluded based on the results
4. Cleared workers receive an NDIS Worker Screening Check clearance

Risk-Assessed Roles

Not all roles in the NDIS require a Worker Screening Check. Risk-assessed roles include:

• Key personnel of registered NDIS providers
• Roles involving more than incidental contact with people with disability

NDIS Worker Orientation Module

In addition to the screening check, workers are required to complete the NDIS Worker Orientation Module. This online course:

• Introduces workers to their responsibilities under the NDIS
• Covers the NDIS Code of Conduct
• Is free and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete

NDIS Support Categories

The NDIS provides funding across three main support categories:

1. Core Supports

These are fundamental supports that help participants with everyday activities. Examples include:

• Assistance with daily life (including SIL – Supported Independent Living)
• Consumables (everyday items and equipment)
• Transport
• Assistance with social and community participation

Assistance with Daily Life

This category includes supports that enable participants to live as independently as possible. It can include:

• Personal care assistance
• Domestic assistance (cleaning, laundry)
• Meal preparation and delivery
• Supported Independent Living (SIL)

Consumables

Consumables are everyday items and equipment related to a participant’s disability needs. This can include:

• Continence products
• Low-cost assistive technology
• Specialised nutrition products

Transport

The NDIS can provide funding for transport assistance when a participant cannot use public transport due to their disability. This can include:

• Taxi fares
• Specialized vehicle modifications
• Driver training

Assistance with Social and Community Participation

This support category aims to help participants engage in social and community activities. It can include:

• Support workers to assist with community access
• Group activities and programs
• Individual skills development

2. Capacity Building Supports

These supports are designed to help participants build their independence and skills. They include:

• Support coordination
• Improved daily living skills
• Improved life choices
• Employment supports
• Improved relationships
• Improved health and wellbeing
• Improved learning
• Improved life choices

Support Coordination

Support coordination helps participants understand and implement their NDIS plans. It includes:

• Connecting participants with service providers
• Helping resolve issues with supports
• Building participants’ capacity to coordinate their own supports

Improved Daily Living Skills

This category includes therapies and interventions that help participants develop skills for independence. It can include:

• Occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Psychology services

Employment Supports

The NDIS can provide funding for supports that help participants find and keep a job. This can include:

• Employment-related assessments and counselling
• Workplace assistance
• School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES)

3. Capital Supports

This category covers larger, one-off purchases such as:

• Assistive technology
• Home modifications
• Vehicle modifications

Assistive Technology

Assistive technology includes any device, system or design that allows individuals to perform tasks they would otherwise be unable to do. Examples include:

• Mobility devices (wheelchairs, walkers)
• Communication aids
• Hearing aids
• Prosthetics and orthotics

Home Modifications

The NDIS can fund modifications to a participant’s home to improve accessibility and independence. This can include:

• Ramps and handrails
• Widening doorways
• Modifying bathrooms and kitchens

Specific NDIS Supports and Programmes

Plan Management

Plan management is a financial intermediary service that helps participants manage their NDIS funding. A Plan Manager:

• Pays providers on behalf of the participant
• Keeps track of funds
• Provides monthly statements
• Helps participants understand their budget

Supported Independent Living (SIL)

SIL is a type of core support that provides assistance with daily life tasks to help participants live as independently as possible. It can include:

• In-home support
• Shared living arrangements
• 24/7 care for those with high support needs

SIL funding is typically for participants who require significant support and may live in specialist disability accommodation.

Short Term Accommodation (STA)

STA, also known as respite care, provides short-term support in a different environment from a participant’s usual home. This can:

• Give carers a break
• Allow participants to try new experiences
• Provide intensive support for a short period

STA can be provided in various settings, including purpose-built facilities, holiday houses, or hotels.

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)

SDA refers to accommodation for participants who require specialist housing solutions. This can include:

• Accessible housing
• Robust housing for those with complex behaviours
• Housing with onsite overnight assistance

SDA is only for participants with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs.

School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES)

SLES is a programme designed to help school leavers transition from school to employment. It includes:

• Work experience opportunities
• Job skills training
• Support to find and maintain employment

SLES is typically provided for up to two years after a participant leaves school.

The $15,000 NDIS Holiday Myth

Contrary to some misconceptions, there is no specific “$15,000 NDIS holiday” programme. This may refer to:

• Funding for short-term accommodation (respite care)
• Support for community participation activities
• Misinterpretation of flexible funding arrangements

It’s important to note that all NDIS funding must be for reasonable and necessary supports related to a participant’s disability. While the NDIS may fund supports that enable a participant to take a holiday (such as personal care support or hire of specialised equipment), it does not directly fund holidays or vacation expenses.

NDIS PACE Plans

PACE stands for Participant Assessments and Consistent Experiences. PACE plans are part of an NDIS initiative to:

• Streamline the planning process
• Ensure more consistent decision-making
• Improve the participant experience

The PACE approach aims to:

• Reduce the number of planning meetings required
• Provide more accurate and consistent plans
• Improve the overall participant satisfaction with the planning process

NDIS in Western Australia (WA)

While the NDIS is a national scheme, its implementation in Western Australia has some unique features:

• WA joined the national scheme later than other states (July 2018)
• The WA government has more involvement in the scheme’s administration
• Some legacy state-based supports continue alongside the NDIS

The transition to the national scheme in WA has involved:

• Transferring participants from state-based schemes to the NDIS
• Aligning WA-specific processes with national standards
• Developing local area coordination services specific to WA

NDIS and Housing

The NDIS can provide support related to housing in several ways:

• Funding for home modifications
• Support to find and maintain tenancy
• Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) for those with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs

However, the NDIS does not provide funding for rent or purchase of properties in the general housing market. The scheme works alongside other government housing initiatives to support participants’ housing needs.

NDIS and Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology (AT) refers to any device, system or design that allows individuals to perform tasks they would otherwise be unable to do, or increases the ease and safety with which tasks can be performed. The NDIS can fund:

• Mobility devices (wheelchairs, walkers, scooters)
• Communication aids (speech generating devices, communication apps)
• Prosthetics and orthotics
• Smart home technology (environmental control systems)
• Vision and hearing aids

The process for obtaining AT through the NDIS typically involves:

1. Assessment by a relevant allied health professional
2. Trialling of equipment
3. Submission of an AT request to the NDIS
4. Approval and funding in the participant’s plan

NDIS Provider Types

Registered Providers

These are organisations or individuals who have undergone a rigorous assessment process and are approved to provide supports to NDIS participants. They must:

• Meet quality and safety standards
• Comply with the NDIS Price Guide
• Undergo regular audits

Registered providers can work with all NDIS participants, regardless of how their plans are managed.

Unregistered Providers

These providers have not completed the NDIS registration process but can still provide services to self-managed and plan-managed participants. They:

• Have more flexibility in their service offerings
• Are not bound by the NDIS Price Guide
• Still must comply with the NDIS Code of Conduct

Unregistered providers cannot work with NDIA-managed participants.

NDIS Business Opportunities

The NDIS has created numerous business opportunities in the disability sector, including:

• Direct support provision (support workers, in-home care)
• Specialist services (e.g., occupational therapy, speech pathology, physiotherapy)
• Plan management and support coordination
• Assistive technology supply and maintenance
• Specialist Disability Accommodation providers
• Training and development services for NDIS workers

Businesses entering the NDIS market need to consider:

• Registration requirements
• Quality and safeguarding standards
• Pricing and payment processes
• Marketing and participant engagement strategies

The NDIS Code of Conduct

The NDIS Code of Conduct promotes safe and ethical service delivery. It applies to all NDIS providers and workers, whether registered or not. Key elements include:

• Acting with respect for individual rights
• Respecting privacy
• Providing supports in a safe and competent manner
• Acting with integrity, honesty, and transparency
• Promptly taking steps to raise and act on concerns about matters that may impact the quality and safety of supports

Breaches of the Code can result in penalties, including bans from working in the NDIS.

The Future of the NDIS

As the NDIS continues to evolve, several key areas of focus have emerged:

• Improving the participant experience
• Ensuring the financial sustainability of the scheme
• Developing the disability services market
• Enhancing quality and safeguarding measures
• Improving outcomes for participants

Ongoing reviews and adjustments to the scheme aim to address challenges and improve its effectiveness in supporting Australians with disabilities.