What is the NDIS?
The
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is the new way of providing disability support for Australians, their families and carers.
The scheme is run by the
National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), which is responsible for working with eligible children and young people, their families and carers to assess eligibility and develop appropriate support plans.
Is
my child eligible for the NDIS?
It is important to remember that only the NDIA can determine if someone is eligible to enter the NDIS.
The NDIA has provided a range of information for those wanting to know if they are eligible for the scheme, including;
The NDIS is rolling across Victoria from now until 2019. It is good to know in advance when your area will become part of the NDIS, the links below give more information on the timing of the roll-out in Victoria.
The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) patients who are eligible for the NDIS might be able access services in one of two ways:
- Early Childhood Intervention Support (ECIS) for preschool aged children
- Funding packages for older children and young people
Can the RCH help with my child’s NDIS application?
While the RCH can’t make an application for your child we can help if you are thinking of applying for the NDIS by providing support documentation.
The RCH team who are regularly involved in your child’s care know their history and the goals you have for them, and may be able to help support your application. If you would like their input please make an appointment as early as possible to discuss your child’s needs, allowing enough time for them to provide appropriate
documentation and for you to complete the application process.
The RCH people that might be able to help may include:
- Your early intervention provider/key worker
- Paediatrician
- Disability continence support nurse
- Occupational therapist
- Speech pathologist
- Physiotherapist
- Psychologist
- Dietician or nutritionist
- Social worker
- GP
- Prosthetist
- Occupational therapist
How
you can help us to help you
It helps us if you come to your appointment with all relevant paperwork and any reports from other service providers you might use.
At the appointment, talk to your clinician about the goals to be included in the support plan and the services, therapies and supports you will be asking for.
If unsure of what to include, the RCH team can help with identifying the goals you have for your child and the types of services that you may require to work towards them.
If you are eligible for the NDIS, already enrolled or thinking about registering, please let your RCH doctors and healthcare providers know at each visit, that way we can make sure this information goes into your records. This information can help guide our planning as we prepare to become an NDIS service provider.
If you already have an NDIS plan, please let your clinician know what you have been funded for and consider sharing your goals and plan. NDIS plans will be updated every year, so it’s important to keep your RCH team informed.
Going
forward
We are working hard to make sure that our RCH children, young people, families and carers will be able to make the most of the services available through the NDIS, and looking at the impact this may have for the Hospital.
The RCH will always offer the same health care services it currently offers for children and young people with a disability, regardless of whether they are eligible for NDIS.
Need more help?
If you need more help there are many resources available and the links below provide additional information:
This guide provides examples of NDIS plans that may be of use to families going through, or considering, the planning process with NDIS. This information is aimed at participants with complex disabilities and contains examples of the types of requests being made and the language used.