NDIS

If you have already dealt with NDIS you will know how complicated it can be! We have put together a list of the 10 ‘must know’ terms to help you on your NDIS journey.

1 – Choice and Control

‘Choice and control’ are key terms in the NDIS putting you in the driving seat for the supports you receive. It means you can have as much input as you want over who, how, when and what supports you receive.

2 – Local Area Coordinators versus Early Childhood Early Intervention Practitioners

Usually,  a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) and an NDIS Planner will be the people who build your plan with you and agree on your goals and budget in your plan. An Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) Practitioner will be involved instead of a LAC for children under seven years of age.

3 – Goals

Your NDIS Plan will include some goals you have agreed you want to work towards during your plan period. The goals will be specific and personal to you and they may not be related to each other. For example, you may have one goal which is ‘I want to learn interview and CV writing skills, so I can get a job’ and another might be ‘I want to be able to get the bus on my own’.

4 – Reasonable and Necessary

When a LAC or ECEI Practitioner and/or NDIS Planner is helping to build your plan, the funded supports will be ‘reasonable and necessary to your situation. They will assess whether support is:

• Related to your disability
• Value for money
• Likely to be effective in helping you reach your goals

What is considered ‘reasonable and necessary’ for one person, may not be considered ‘reasonable and necessary’ for another person. During your planning session, you should tell your planner why you need the supports you are requesting and specifically how they will assist you.

5 – Informal Supports

This is the support you already receive from your family and friends. For example, your sister, mum or aunty may already take you to do food shopping once a week. Your LAC, ECEI Practitioner or NDIS Planner will consider all the informal supports you already have during the NDIS planning process.

6 – Support Categories

Your NDIS Plan includes your budget, which will be broken down into support categories, each with a different purpose:

• Core – flexible funded supports you with day-to-day activities to enable you to work towards your goals and take part in your community.
• Capital – supports you to pay for assistive technologies, equipment and home or vehicle modifications to help you live your life.
• Capacity Building – supports you to build the skills you need to live the life you want, such as opportunities to further your education, learn something new, take part in social activities and work, where possible.

You use the funds within each Support Category for specific services or items.

7 – Plan Management

There are three ways an NDIS Plan can be managed and you can choose a combination of the three:

1. Self-managed – your services are managed directly by you
2. Plan managed – your services are managed by your Plan Manager
3. NDIA managed – your services are managed directly by the NDIA

Plan-managed and self-managed funding gives you the option to choose unregistered service providers. If the NDIA manages your funding, you can only use NDIA registered service providers, which ensures your safety and the quality of the service. Affirm Care is an NDIA registered service provider.

8 – Plan Review

A Plan Review is when you and an LAC or ECEI Practitioner and/or NDIS Planner meet to discuss what you need in your next plan and agree on the goals you want to achieve. Plan Reviews can be scheduled (towards the end of your current plan) or unscheduled (in the middle of your current plan) if your situation or needs change. Your Plan Review is the time when you can choose how you want your plan to be managed.

9 – Service Agreement

A Service Agreement is a document agreed between you and each of your providers describing what services are being provided to you and for how much it will cost. A Service Agreement is useful so both parties know what is expected of each other.

Plan Managers can set aside funding from your budget to reflect the Service Agreements you have in place with your existing service providers, giving you peace of mind you’re not at risk of overspending your budget.

10 – Service Booking

Plan Managers can help you create Service Bookings to set aside some of your NDIS funding for your existing service providers. When you make Service Agreements with your providers, it will say how much you’ve agreed to spend with them over a specific period and limiting this amount in a Service Booking can ensure you’re not at risk of overspending your budget.

Still need help understanding the NDIS?

Don’t worry, the Affirm Care team knows the NDIS and the terminology they use. You’re welcome to chat with our friendly team members no matter where you are on your NDIS journey. We’re happy to point you in the right direction, and help you understand your Support Coordination and service options.

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