The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a national disability support scheme that provides funding to eligible people based on their individual support needs. The supports and services purchased using NDIS funding assist individuals work towards and hopefully, ultimately achieve their goals.
The NDIS Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or an NDIS Planner:
- Gathers information and reports provided by the participant or their nominee and based on various legislated requirements
- Creates a plan linked to identified goals and
Allocates funding to be used on purchasing services and supports in order to achieve the stated goals.
If the participant is a child, it will be a person from an Early Childhood Partner organisation who will gather the initial reports and information.
What types of supports can be purchased using NDIS funds?
Some of the supports that can be purchased include:
- Daily activities
- Transport to enable community participation or to access chosen activities
- Assistance in the workplace
- Therapies like speech therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy
- Assistance to maintain the home environment
- Assessments to enable the purchase, set up and training in the use of aids and equipment
- Home or vehicle modifications
- Mobility equipment
- Consumable items.
However, this is not a definitive list. The NDIS decides what supports are deemed ‘reasonable and necessary’ for each eligible participant and funds the plan accordingly. To be considered ‘reasonable and necessary’, a support or service:
- Must relate to the participants disability
- Must not include day-to-day living costs not related to the disability support needs of the participant
- Should represent value for money
- Must be likely to be effective
- Should take into account supports provided via other avenues i.e. family, other government agencies, etc.
To know more about the supports funded under the NDIS, visit the NDIS website.
What doesn’t the NDIS cover?
The NDIS won’t fund supports that are:
- The responsibility of another Government system
- Not related to the person’s disability
- A day-to-day living cost and not related to the person’s support needs
- Likely to cause harm to the participant or others.
Find out more about how to apply for the NDIS.
