Questions, answered kindly.

The NDIS supports Australians with a significant and permanent disability that affects their ability to take part in daily life. You may be eligible if you are:

• Aged between 7 and 65
• An Australian citizen, permanent visa holder or Protected Special Category Visa holder
• Living with a permanent and significant disability, or needing early intervention

Applying involves three steps:

• Check your eligibility using the NDIS eligibility checklist on ndis.gov.au.
• Gather supporting evidence. Ask your GP, specialist or allied health professionals for recent reports on how your condition affects your everyday life.
• Complete the Access Request Form. Download it from the NDIS website, complete it over the phone with the NDIA, or visit a local office, then email it to applications@ndis.gov.au.

Once you’re eligible, an NDIS planner or Local Area Coordinator works with you to create a personalised NDIS plan. It includes funding for supports that match your goals, such as independence, work, social connection or health.

A simple three-step start:

• Check eligibility: make sure you meet the age, residency and disability criteria.
• Plan creation: work with an NDIS planner or support worker to outline your needs and goals.
• Plan approval: once your plan is approved by the NDIA, you can begin receiving services.

You can manage your NDIS funds in one of three ways. Each gives a different level of flexibility and control.

• NDIA-managed: the NDIA pays providers directly.
• Plan-managed: a registered plan manager helps you with payments and budgets.
• Self-managed: you choose and pay providers yourself.

You can ask for a plan review at any time if your needs change. The NDIA also holds scheduled reviews, so your supports stay relevant and useful.

NDIS funding is grouped into three main categories:

• Core supports: daily living, transport, social participation and consumables.
• Capacity building: skill development, therapy, employment support and support coordination.
• Capital supports: assistive technology, vehicle modifications and home changes.

We’re registered to provide supports under these NDIS registration groups:

• 0101 Accommodation and tenancy
• 0102 Assist access or maintain employment
• 0106 Assistance with life stage and transition
• 0107 Assistance with personal activities
• 0108 Assistance with travel and transport
• 0115 Daily tasks and shared living
• 0116 Innovative community participation
• 0117 Development of life skills
• 0120 Household tasks
• 0125 Participate in community
• 0132 Support coordination
• 0133 Specialised supported employment
• 0136 Group and centre activities

The NDIS can support everyday activities such as:

• Personal hygiene, like showering and grooming
• Dressing and undressing
• Meal preparation
• Basic home tasks

Community participation funding helps you take part in social, recreational or educational activities. That could mean support to attend appointments, join clubs, or try hobbies and events.

Support workers can help with transport, gentle guidance and encouragement to join activities that matter to you, which can ease isolation and lift wellbeing.

The NDIS doesn’t fund carers directly, but it does fund services that help them, like respite and carer training, which can ease stress for the whole family.

Assistive technology ranges from simple aids like modified utensils to mobility devices and communication tools. It helps you manage daily life more independently. Talk to your planner or support coordinator about what is “reasonable and necessary” for your plan.

Support coordination is a capacity building support that helps you:

• Understand your NDIS plan
• Connect with providers and services
• Organise and manage your supports

Look for someone experienced in your kind of support needs, such as psychosocial or early intervention. A good coordinator listens, speaks up for your goals and helps you build independence.

If you’ve been diagnosed with another disability, or your support needs have changed, you may need to give the NDIA updated information and evidence. Our Support Coordination and Psychosocial Recovery Coaching team can help you:

• Work out what information may be relevant
• Coordinate reports from treating and allied health professionals
• Find gaps in your existing evidence
• Talk with your wider care team
• Understand the next steps

It depends on your circumstances, but generally evidence covering:

• Your diagnosis and the impairments that come with it
• Whether the impairment is likely to be permanent
• Your past and current treatment
• How it affects your everyday functioning
• Whether your support needs have changed

It describes how your impairment affects what you can do day to day: what you can do on your own, what’s difficult, what help you need and how often. The NDIA looks at six areas: mobility, communication, social interaction, learning, self-care and self-management.

Depending on your situation, your GP, a medical specialist, psychiatrist, psychologist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist or speech pathologist.