Providing National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a new approach to service delivery and funding for people with a disability.
The NDIS puts people with disability at the centre of the system for the first time – allowing them to determine their own future and receive funding which matches their needs, goals and aspirations.
What is the NDIS?
National:
- The NDIS is a federally funded program that is being rolled out progressively across all states and territories of Australia.
- It is designed to be a nationally consistent approach to disability support services, ensuring that all eligible Australians have access to the same range of services and support.
Disability:
- The NDIS provides support to eligible people with a wide range of disabilities, including intellectual, physical, sensory, cognitive, and psychosocial disabilities.
- Early intervention supports can also be provided for eligible people with disability or children with developmental delay, to help them achieve better long-term outcomes.
Insurance:
- The NDIS provides Australians with a sense of security and peace of mind, knowing that if they or a loved one were to acquire a permanent and significant disability, they will be provided with the necessary support.
- It aims to reduce the financial burden that disability can place on individuals and families, by providing funding for necessary supports and services.
Scheme:
- The NDIS is not a welfare system, but rather a scheme designed to help individuals with disabilities get the support they need to improve their skills and independence over time.
- It is a person-centered approach that recognizes the unique needs and goals of each individual and works with them to develop a plan for their support and services.
Types of support that the NDIS may fund for participants:
- Daily personal activities: Assistance with tasks related to personal care, such as bathing, grooming, dressing, and eating.
- Transport: Funding for transport to help participants participate in community, social, economic, and daily life activities.
- Workplace help: Funding for workplace help that allows a participant to successfully obtain or maintain employment in the open or supported labour market.
- Therapeutic supports: Funding for therapeutic supports that include behavior support and other interventions to manage and improve a participant’s mental health and wellbeing.
- Household tasks: Funding for assistance with household tasks that allow the participant to maintain their home environment.
- Skilled personnel: Funding for help from skilled personnel in aids or equipment assessment, set up, and training.
- Home modifications: Funding for home modification design and construction that enable a participant to live more independently and safely.
- Mobility equipment: Funding for mobility equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, and other devices that enable a participant to move around more easily.
- Vehicle modifications: Funding for vehicle modifications that allow a participant to safely operate a vehicle or travel as a passenger.
These supports are designed to help participants improve their daily living skills, social interaction, and overall quality of life. They can be tailored to each participant’s individual needs, goals, and aspirations, and can be provided in a range of settings, including the participant’s home, workplace, or community.
