What is NDIS?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an Australian government initiative designed to provide support and services to people with a permanent and significant disability. Its purpose is to help people with disability achieve their goals, increase their independence, and participate more fully in their communities. The NDIS offers individualised funding, giving people with disability and their families greater choice and control over the supports they receive and how those supports are delivered. By focusing on early intervention and long-term planning, the NDIS aims to improve quality of life and build opportunities for people with disability to live the life they choose.
Who is eligible for NDIS supports?
To be eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), a person must meet certain requirements. Generally, you must be under 65 years of age when you apply and be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a Protected Special Category Visa. You also need to have a permanent and significant disability that affects your ability to take part in everyday activities. The NDIS looks at how your disability impacts your functional capacity in areas such as communication, mobility, social interaction, learning, self-care, and self-management. Early intervention supports may also be available for people whose disability is likely to benefit from timely, additional help to reduce future needs.
3 Different types of NDIS fund management?
There are three main ways NDIS participants can manage their plan funding: Agency-managed, Plan-managed, and Self-managed. With Agency-managed funding, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) pays providers directly, and participants must use registered providers. Plan-managed funding allows participants to choose a registered plan manager who handles the financial administration, pays invoices, and keeps records, giving more flexibility to use both registered and unregistered providers. Self-managed funding gives participants the most control, allowing them to manage their own budget, pay providers directly, and choose any suitable provider, but also requires them to keep receipts and manage reporting to the NDIA. Participants can choose one option or a mix, depending on what suits their needs and circumstances best.
What is an NDIS registered provider?
An NDIS registered provider is an individual or organisation that has met the quality and safeguarding standards set by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, and is officially approved to deliver services to participants whose funding is managed by the NDIA or a plan manager. Registered providers must follow strict guidelines to ensure they deliver safe, high-quality supports. When working with people with disability, they may sometimes need to use restrictive practices—such as physical restraints or seclusion—as a last resort to keep someone safe. However, these practices are regulated, must be clearly documented in a behaviour support plan, and require approval to ensure the person’s rights and wellbeing are protected. Registered providers have a responsibility to minimise restrictive practices and always seek alternatives that uphold the dignity and independence of the person they support.
What is restrictive practices?
Restrictive practices are actions or interventions that limit a person’s rights or freedom of movement, and they are sometimes used to prevent harm to the person with disability or others. Examples include physical restraint, mechanical restraint, chemical restraint (using medication to influence behaviour), seclusion (isolating a person in a room or area), or restricting access to certain objects or activities. In the NDIS context, restrictive practices should always be a last resort and only used when necessary to keep someone safe. They must be clearly documented in a behaviour support plan, monitored, and approved under strict guidelines set by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. The goal is to protect the person’s rights and dignity while working towards reducing or eliminating the need for restrictive practices altogether.
What is the NDIS Commission?
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, commonly known as the NDIS Commission, is an independent government body responsible for regulating the quality and safety of services and supports delivered under the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Its role is to protect the rights of people with disability by setting standards that providers must meet, investigating complaints, and ensuring providers and workers comply with rules designed to deliver safe, respectful, and high-quality care. The Commission also oversees the use of behaviour support plans and restrictive practices to make sure they are used appropriately and reduced over time. Overall, the NDIS Commission plays a vital role in upholding the rights of participants and improving the quality of disability supports across Australia.
What is the NDIS Supports Coordination?
NDIS Support Coordination is a type of funded service designed to help participants make the most of their NDIS plan by connecting them with the right supports and services. A Support Coordinator works alongside the participant to understand their goals, navigate the NDIS system, and build the skills and confidence needed to manage their own supports over time. This can include helping find and engage providers, coordinating different services, resolving issues, and ensuring that the supports work well together to meet the participant’s needs. The ultimate aim of Support Coordination is to empower people with disability to exercise choice and control, strengthen their informal support networks, and increase their independence.