You can put your NDIS funds towards services that support you in living a life just like anyone else. This includes having a job, somewhere to live, participating in hobbies, accessing appointments and social engagements, and much more. It can make a significant difference to the quality of someone’s life.

Depending on your type of funding, NDIS funds can be used to access services such as:

• Daily personal care to support independent living, such as bathing, eating and grooming
• Achieving work or study goals
• Transport to enable participation in community, social, economic and daily life activities
• Household tasks, including cooking, cleaning and washing laundry to maintain a client’s home environment
• Companionship and social support such as learning a new skill or support to be involved in the community.

NDIS support workers can also provide specialised services. These include:

• Nursing services
• Personal care
• Speech therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Psychology support services.

Learn more about what services can be accessed on Mable.

The NDIS is available to people who have a disability caused by a permanent impairment. According to the NDIS, this includes intellectual, cognitive, neurological, sensory, physical, or psychosocial impairments.

Review conditions that are likely to be covered by the NDIS.

It’s hard to pin down one standard definition of person-centred care. However, one common defining principle is a shift in thinking about the care recipient.

In person-centred practices, you are no longer a passive recipient but an active participant in making decisions about your healthcare and the support you need to live your life.

Here’s how that might play out in real life:

• It means you should be asked what you want and what matters to you regarding your health and wellbeing.
• Your individuality as a whole person – likes, dislikes, goals, values – is considered when making decisions about your care.
• Your whole life and wider social network are also considered when planning your support needs.
• Your providers and health professionals work with you to listen and adapt to your changing needs.
• You are given the time and information to understand the choices you have about your options.

One thing to consider is how active you wish to be in your management of the team. Some people are very involved and want input and control over every aspect of the support team. Others are very happy to leave that to the service provider, if there is one, or they might refer issues to the Plan Management organisation, the Support Coordinator or whoever is their go-to person.

If you are the one managing the team, it is reasonable for you to have standards you expect paid support to uphold, like the importance of being on time, dressing neatly and appropriately for the activity being undertaken, speaking to you or the person receiving support in a respectful manner at all times, for example.

It is also important to hold people to the job description that they are being paid to perform.

It is also okay for you to set some non-negotiables. For example, no smoking in your car or home, no drinking alcohol while at work, and no personal calls to be taken (unless it’s an emergency). It is up to you to decide what is okay and what is not as long as you are being fair and reasonable.

Managing a team does take time and effort. Like most things, the more effort you put in, the more you will get out! A well-managed team will provide good support because they are sure about what is expected of them, and they feel supported and backed by you or by whoever is their supervisor.

Learn more about how to manage your team.