Are you supporting a person with disability to access the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), get the right supports or to find suitable housing?
Click on the options below to access resources to help you through the process.
1. Overview of the NDIS
The NDIS is the way the Australian Government provides funding to people with disability to meet their individual needs. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is the agency that runs the NDIS.
When a person becomes a ‘participant’ of the NDIS, they are allocated an individual package of funding based on their needs. This gives the person control over which providers and services they choose to support them.
Here is information about what type of disability related supports the NDIS can fund.
When a person asks for access to the NDIS the NDIA considers the NDIS Act and applies the Reasonable and Necessary criteria.
The COAG Principles set out the responsibility of the NDIS and other service systems.
2. Supporting someone to access the NDIS
After checking the eligibility criteria, you need to:
1. Complete an Access Request Form (ARF) OR make a Verbal Access Request (VAR)
- The ARF form can be downloaded from the NDIS website
- You can make a VAR by calling the National Access Team on 1800 800 110
- Use our Step by Step: How to fill out the NDIS Access Request Form if you are supporting someone with an ARF
- When a person may be vulnerable to risk and needs urgent supports, use our Urgent Access Request cover letter
2. Provide evidence about the person’s disability
An access request to the NDIS requires supporting evidence about the person’s disability and how it impacts their everyday life. The NDIA outlines which evidence can assist it to make a decision about eligibility for the NDIS including reference to the person’s disability and level of impairment. The person will need assistance from professionals, such as their doctor and occupational therapist to apply.
Our guide on ‘Accessing the NDIS – Providing Support Evidence’ and supporting template gives you an example of a supporting evidence template that reflects NDIS legislative requirements.
It’s important to learn about how you can write effectively for the NDIS for access and planning. Use our ‘Getting the language right’ to assist with this.
Help applying to NDIS – Local Area Coordinators
NDIS Local Area Coordinators are funded to assist people to enter the scheme.
It may be useful to reach out to the LAC partner if you require support to access the NDIS.
You can find a local LAC partner on NDIS website here
Timeframes
The NDIS Act and Participant Service Guarantee outline timeframes that can be expected from NDIA.
3. Supporting someone to get the right supports
Guide to NDIS pre-planning
Describes how to use NDIS language and descriptions for disability related supports. Gives an example of a pre-plan template that incorporates NDIS legislative requirements.
Sample interim NDIS plan
An interim NDIS plan aims to facilitate a successful and timely discharge from hospital for NDIS participants.
Collaborative Support Approach for Young People in RAC
Outlines the cooperation between stakeholders, working together to assist a younger person leave aged care and details the “who does what”.
Collaborative Discharge Approach Overview
Outlines how health can work with support coordinators to achieve a collaborative discharge and includes links to resources that align with specific actions.
Housing Needs and Preferences to Support Discharge
For health professionals to support a person with disability to describe the housing and support they want and need so that they can be discharged to suitable housing.
How to write a housing plan guide and template
The purpose of a housing plan is to provide the NDIA with evidence that the person you’re working with requires SDA to reach their goals, maximise their independence, and social and economic participation.
Guide to developing a participant’s housing statement
4. Supporting someone to find appropriate housing
The Housing Hub
The Housing Hub is an online community of people with disability and housing providers working together to create accessible housing options. Housing seekers can search vacancies and create their own profiles so the Housing Hub can help find the right property.
The NDIS Housing Advice Line for housing seekers, their families and supporters is available for all questions about SDA and other housing options under the NDIS. You can contact the NDIS Housing Advice Line on 1300 61 64 63.
SDA Eligibility Criteria Flowchart
Housing Options Learning Package
Occupational Therapists Resources
UpSkill is a Summer Foundation program that offers training and resources for NDIS professionals assisting people with complex support needs
