Australia has entered a new world of “Consumer Directed Care” with the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The purpose of the NDIS is to ensure every Australian with a disability is able to have access to the reasonable and necessary supports required to live an ordinary life. ​
The scheme has been created to ensure all participants have true choice and control in how these supports are received and who provides them. Cairns is due to roll into the NDIS from July 2018 to June 2019.
For a participant to be able to access the National Disability Insurance Scheme, they are required to meet the eligibility criteria. This criteria includes*: 

The NDIS is available in your area. (From July 2018, the NDIS will be in Cairns and the Far North Region)

Age: You must be under the age of 65 to enter the scheme
Residency:  You must live within Australia and:

  •  be an Australian citizen OR
  •  hold a Permanent Visa OR
  •  hold a Protected Special Category Visa, that is you
 -  were in Australia on a Special Category Visa on 26 February 2001 or
-   had been in Australia for at least 12 months in the 2 years immediately before 26 February 2001 and you returned to Australia after that day.
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You may meet the Disability requirements if:
  • You have an impairment or condition that is likely to be permanent (i.e. it is likely to be lifelong) and
  • Your impairment substantially reduces your ability to participate effectively in activities, or perform tasks or actions unless you have:
  • Assistance from other people or
  • You have assistive technology or equipment (other than common items such as glasses) or
  • You can’t participate effectively even with assistance or aides and equipment and
  • Your impairment affects your capacity for social and economic participation and
  • You are likely to require support under the NDIS for your lifetime.

To register to access the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) additional information can be found here. (https://www.ndis.gov.au/people-with-disability/access-requirements/completing-your-access-request-form.html)  or call the NDIA on 1800 800 110.

*(Taken from the NDIA Website here: (https://www.ndis.gov.au/people-disability/access-requirements.html)

Preparing for the NDIS?

In preparing for your NDIS planning meeting, it is important to gain as much evidence of what your disability is (any diagnosis, doctors reports etc.) as well as any evidence of the impact your disability has on your life. There are a number of pre-planning documents available to assist with this process. 

ARCS PRE PLANNING DOCS CAN BE FOUND HERE

Your NDIS Meeting


Once you have registered for the NDIS and have met eligibility criteria, a planner from the NDIA will be in contact to arrange a planning meeting. At this meeting (usually an hour and a half to two hours) the planner will meet with yourself and your support network and run through a number of discussion points to gain a greater understanding of what the impact of your disability is, along with what are your goals and aspirations. From this meeting the NDIA planner will develop your NDIA plan. This plan will detail your support needs in the areas of
Core, Capital and Capacity

Core Support

Core Supports are the supports identified to meet the basic needs of your disability.
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​This generally includes (but is not limited to)
​
personal care, daily living support and transport.

Capital supports

Capital Supports are the supports required to increase your independence.

​This generally includes (but is not limited to)

wheelchairs, hoists and assistive technology.

Capacity supports

Capacity supports are included within a participants plan to build on skills and increase independence.

This generally includes (but is not limited to) 
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​support to find and keep a job; coordination of supports for assistance with a case manager and general skills development

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I Have an NDIA plan, what now?

The whole premise of the NDIS is to promote true choice and control for people living with a disability. This means its now over to you, and your support network to take the next step. You now have the ability to engage with any number of service providers to ensure your range of support needs are met. This is often a daunting task... 
​If you would like ARC to assist you in unpacking your NDIS plan, please don't hesitate to contact us.