If you're about to apply to the NDIS you might have some questions about the planning process and how to identify and get supports. We've put together some information below that will help you get plan-ready and go into your first meeting with confidence.
You can apply to access the NDIS at any time and all participants who are eligible for funding will receive a plan. This plan may include a mix of informal supports (friends and families), community and other government services and funded supports. Once completed – your plan will provide you with individualised funding that you control and choose how to use.
To get ready for your NDIS plan, start thinking about your immediate support needs and what your current and future goals might be. Here is a checklist that may help you;
Your personal details, including your name, age, where you live and about your primary disability. In preparation, make sure you have any reports and assessments related to your disability handy.
Who do you want to manage your plan? You can elect to self-manage (gives you more choice and control), get a plan manager (a registered plan manager), or let the NDIA manage your plan.
Your informal, community and mainstream supports, such as the type of support you currently receive from family members, friends and the local community.
How you manage your everyday activities, which provides an understanding of your abilities and indicates the type of supports, services, equipment, accommodation or help you may need to take care of yourself or your home.
Good day bad scenarios, to ensure all necessary support is captured
Completed Carers Checklist or completed Mental Health Carer checklist
Documented strengths, interests, challenges in daily activities
Areas in your life where you feel unsafe or where you might need extra help, to ensure you live safely and be as independent as possible.
What you do on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis, and the supports and services you may need to undertake these activities and achieve your goals.
Your goals for the next 12 months and what you are hoping to achieve through your first plan.
Once your access to the NDIS is confirmed, you and/or your nominee will be contacted by someone the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to have a planning conversation. This planning conversation will talk about your existing supports, needs and main goals. Your plan will usually be reviewed every 12 months (some people's plans may be reviewed more often or less often), but if your circumstances or needs change you can talk to us about having your plan reviewed at any time.
For a support to be funded it needs to be linked to an outcome you have identified in your plan. It also must:
Be associated with day to-day living and activities that increase your social or economic participation
Be a resource or piece of equipment, such as wheelchair, assistive technology or home and car modifications
Help you build the skills you need to live the life you want, such as opportunities to work, further your education, volunteer or learn something new.
The NDIS Act and the rules made under the NDIS Act also tell us which supports will not be funded by the NDIS. A support will not be funded if it:
is not related to the participant's disability
is the same as other supports delivered under different funding through the NDIS
relates to day-to-day living costs that are not related to a participant's support needs, or
is likely to cause harm to the participant or pose a risk to others.
Goals in your plan
You might not yet know what goals you want to set for the future. That's ok, your plan focuses on what you need right now and gives you some time to think about your longer-term needs and goals. It's good to start talking to your family, friends and carers about what your goals might look like now and into the future.
The NDIS has produced three participant booklets to support people with disability and participants throughout their NDIS journey, these can be found by clicking on the following link; https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/firstplan.html