About the NDIS
ABOUT THE NDIS
National Disability Insurance Scheme (often called the NDIS) is a national scheme run by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to help people with disability get the care and supports they need.
It is a free, national system funded by the Australian Federal Government, so it is the same for people all over Australia.
ELIGIBILITY
The NDIS is for people with disability who live in Australia and
- Are under 65 years of age when they first access the NDIS
- Are an Australian citizen OR a permanent resident, OR
- A New Zealand citizen (with Protected Special Category Visa)
- Have a ‘lifelong’ disability that affects their ability to take part in everyday activities.
You can access information about eligibility from the NDIS Eligibility checklist page.
You can contact DACSSA to discuss your situation if you have difficulty with Eligibility or being funded as a Participant.
CONTROL FOR PARTICIPANTS
People with disability who get support from the NDIS are called “participants”.
The NDIS is a Participant-led model, whereby participants and their family have planning meetings, where they are able to have input into the supports they require.
WHAT THE NDIS SUPPORTS
The NDIS can pay for supports that are reasonable and necessary, related to the person’s disability and are needed in order to take part in community activities, to reach their goals. This might include
- General daily living tasks like paying bills, solving problems or making decisions
- Activities at home-such as meal preparation and cleaning your house
- Personal care such as washing, dressing and eating meals
- Joining in social activities and participating in the community
- Going to school, studying and having training
- Communication in order to communicate and be understood by other
- Mobility for getting around your home or community, including equipment or aids
- Making relationships and feeling connected to family, friends and other people in the community
- Finding and keeping a job
WHAT THE NDIS WON’T FUND
The NDIS will not fund anything that:
- is not related to the person’s disability
- relates to day-to-day living costs that are not related to the person’s support needs
- should be funded by another agency, such as education, health or housing
- is likely to cause harm to the participant or to others
KIDS EARLY INTERVENTION
NDIS will assist with support for children with disability, with the aim that early intervention (support) may help reduce the longer-term impact of disability on the child and their family.
APPLICATIONS
Information on how to make a request to access NDIS, and can be found on their How to Apply page.
This includes links to eligibility and information for those people who currently receive support from other governments.
You will need to provide details and evidence of your disability.
Translation services are available to support you.
