National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
The National Disability Insurance Scheme, or NDIS, is a Australia-wide way of funding disability services and supports. It is a uniform national scheme and will increase overall funding for disability services.
NDIS provides funding to people with disability based on their individual needs, rather than block funding to organisations to provide disability services. This gives people with disability control over the 'how, when, what and where' of accessing the services they need or want.
All eligible Australians are legally entitled to NDIS funding for all "necessary and reasonable" supports.
Who can access the NDIS?
To be eligible you must:
- Live in an area where the NDIS is available
- Meet the age and citizenship requirements
- Meet either the disability or early intervention requirements
To check NDIS eligibility, visit the Access Checklist on the NDIS website.
How will participants be assessed for the NDIS?
There are two assessment processes: an eligibility assessment to determine whether someone is eligible for funding; and, if they are, a planning assessment to determine their goals and aspirations and help them design a funding package tailored to their needs and meeting their goals.
Who is delivering the NDIS?
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is the independent Commonwealth government agency responsible for implementing the NDIS.
The NDIA:
- Helps empower and inform people with disability to be confident consumers.
- Provides information and referrals, links to services and activities, individualised plans and where necessary, funded supports to people over a lifetime.
- Provides service providers with clarity and transparency so they can grow their business and respond to need.
- Raises community awareness and encourages greater inclusion and access for people with disability to mainstream services, community activities and other government initiatives.
The NDIA is partnering with the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments and well known community organisations to deliver the NDIS in your local area.
How will the NDIS work?
If you are eligible, you will be involved in developing your own plan, tailored to your needs and designed to help you achieve your goals.
You will receive funding on an annual basis to buy the services, aids and equipment that you have been assessed as needing – all from a service provider/s of your choice.
If you choose to manage your own NDIS funding, these will be paid into your nominated bank account. Alternatively, you can ask the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), which administers the NDIS, to manage your funding for you.
What services will the NDIS support?
The NDIS will help provide supports and services that will help individuals to:
- Achieve their goals
- Become as independent as possible
- Develop skills for day-to-day living
- Participate in the community
- Work and earn money.
These services and supports can take many forms. They may be based around enhancing mobility, communication, self-care and self-management and capacity for economic and social participation.
When an individual develops their NDIS plan, they should consider all their daily activities and the aids, equipment, training and/or support that would make life easier, whether or not they currently receive these.
Where can I get more information about the NDIS?
Information about the NDIS can be found on the NDIS website or by phoning 1800 800 110.
You can also speak to the NDIS in person at Melton Centrelink, as well as their planning partners, Brotherhood of St Laurence, 367-369 High Street, Melton.
How do I find out more?
For more information about the NDIS in Victoria you can call the NDIA on 1800 800 110 or visit the NDIS website. You can also subscribe to the NDIS e-newsletter for the latest news and information about the scheme.