The NDIS is the National Disability Insurance Scheme. It has been set up by the Federal government to provide support for people with a permanent and significant disability.
A permanent disability means your disability is likely to be lifelong.
A significant disability has a substantial impact on your ability to complete everyday activities.
The NDIS provides funding for supports and services to assistance, or products that help a person in their daily life and help them participate in the community and reach their goals.
Part of the foundation thinking of the NDIS is the need for early intervention through providing support to a person, either a child or an adult. This early intervention makes it possible to reduce the impacts of disability or developmental delay and to build their skills and independence.
To access the NDIS, participants are assessed against a range of criteria with a focus on providing supports to achieve their goals. A plan is developed that provides a framework of funding to support the participant.
Once the plan is developed, the participant or their advocate have the choice regarding how to implement the plan.
This ranges from full independent control (self-managed), or plan managed (a service provider looks after the paperwork of paying the NDIS bills by your plan) or agency managed where you give control of the overall service provision back to the NDIA to manage.
The key thing is that the participant has the choice and is in control of their funding.
Once the plan is developed, the participant or their advocate have the choice regarding how to implement the funding in their plan.
Full independent control of all aspects of funding and services.
The participant selects the services and supports they need, and the Plan Management service looks after the paperwork of paying the NDIS bills funded by the participants plan. This service is funded separately to your plan.
Where the participant gives control of the overall service provision back to the NDIA to manage.
You’re in control of services, but there is a separate service to access your funding to pay bills funded through your NDIS plan.​
You’re in control of your services, but you claim monies from the NDIS to pay your NDIS bills
You delegate the control of your services to an agency and they organize and pay for NDIS approved services and contractors.​
The National Disability Insurance Scheme has been designed to give participants choice and control over the plan developed to provide the supports they need to achieve their goals. One of its strengths is that it gives the participant flexibility on how they spend their money.
Includes supports to help participants complete daily living activities related to working towards their long-term goals.
Includes supports to enable participants to build their independence and skills.
Includes assistive technologies, equipment and home or vehicle modifications, and funding for capital costs a participant may need.
AIIM Choices spends time with each participant at the start of their plan to build an understanding of what is possible, so that you have the information you need to make the best choices.