NDIS Services FAQ
Having a disability can mean that things are not always easy especially when it comes to achieving a goal or a dream. Luckily, there is a system that is wholly dedicated to supporting the needs of people who have a significant or permanent disability.
This is none other than the National Disability Insurance or NDIS. Through the programmes and interventions of NDIS, both eligible children and adults, can receive the proper treatment and assistance depending on their condition. There is a wide range of NDIS services that are offered, all of which are directed to improving the aspects of a client’s life. In this article, we will give you an overview of the services and supports that NDIS can offer those who wish to be under their care.
NDIS Services
Patients whose plans have been approved to be funded have access to supports and services that are reasonable and necessary for NDIS standards. The services of NDIS have 15 categories which are the following:
1. Improving Daily Living
To bring ease to a patient's life, the services of NDIS starts within the quarters of a home and out into the spaces of the community. NDIS offers assistance on day-to-day activities such as preparing meals, doing personal care, home maintenance, getting short-term accommodation and using the transport system.
2. Improving Living Arrangements
Part of NDIS services is to provide the patient with comfortable accommodations. More than that, the service extends to helping the patient meet their obligations if they are renting a place.
3. Assistance with Daily Life
NDIS understands that some “simple” tasks are a lot harder for people with disabilities. And so, they can assist with personal care tasks such as dressing, bathing, or eating.
4. Home Modifications
As one of their top priorities, NDIS can provide funding to help a patient have a secure, safe, and comfortable house. This means support with home repairs, yard maintenance, and providing referrals for jobs like painting and landscaping.
5. Improving Life Choices
NDIS services assist the patient in skills regarding their task management, financial aspects, connecting with providers, and the overall organisation of responsibilities.
6. Improving Health and Wellbeing
NDIS gives top priority to the physical, mental, and emotional health of a patient. And so, their treatment plan is tailored according to how the patients can reach optimum health. Services under this category include assistance with choices for a healthier lifestyle such as going to the gym or preparing nutritious meals.
7. Improving Relationships
A patient's social relationships are as important as their private life. That is why, NDIS offers to fund for family counselling, behaviour interventions, and programmes for social development.
8. Increasing Social and Community Participation
NDIS patients must receive the opportunity to try out new hobbies and meet new people in the process. That is why NDIS services include group activities in the local community.
9. Assistance with Social & Community Participation
To further encourage patients to participate in events, NDIS can assist with providing access to the community and links to activities that are beneficial to their social wellbeing.
10. Keeping or Finding a Job
NDIS knows that finding a job and maintaining your employment is a step towards a stable life. That is why part of NDIS funding can be directed to a patient’s care in the workplace, preparation and assistance for work, resume development, and links to the community.
11. Coordination of Supports
Part of NDIS services is to ensure that patients are in full control of their plan and treatment. After setting the goals they want to achieve, NDIS connects the patient to necessary supports like service providers, therapists, and doctors.
12. Assistive Technology
NDIS Services can cover systems or equipment that can improve a patient’s way of accomplishing daily chores, communication with others, accessing places in the community, and processing information.
13. Transport
If patient disabilities do not allow them to use public transportation, NDIS services can provide transport assistance. This category, however, does not include the travelling arrangement for the providers of the patient.
14. Consumables
Under this aspect, NDIS can fund the patient’s every use items including continence products and home enteral nutrition products.
15. Improving Learning
NDIS services offer different types of supports and programmes that can help the patient develop their learning in their own way, at their own pace. The supports are directed to strengthening the patient’s skills and encouraging their interests; all of which are based on the patient’s capabilities and goals.
NDIS Services FAQ
What are the other NDIS Supports?
NDIS can provide reasonable and necessary supports on these aspects of the patient’s life:
✔ Personal activities
✔ Home modifications
✔ Vehicle modifications
✔ Equipment for mobility
✔ Assistance with household tasks
✔ Transportation
✔ Help in the workplace
✔ Help in the workplace
✔ Help in the workplace
What is considered to be “reasonable and necessary” in terms of services and supports?
Services and supports that are necessary and reasonable are those that are related to the patient's disability. These supports should represent value for money and be effective in enhancing the patient's life. Note that these services do not include daily costs unrelated to the disability, like the purchasing of groceries. Furthermore, NDIS will consider other channels of support that the patient receives, such as those from the government and community.
Who is eligible to receive the services of NDIS?
You can receive funding from NDIS if you are:
7 to 65 years old
An Australian citizen or older of a permanent visa or special category visa
Require special assistance due to a permanent and significant disability
Require supports and services to ease your future needs
How does NDIS define permanent and significant disability?
NDIS considers permanent as a disability that will affect the patient all their life. On the other hand, significant means that the disability significantly impacts the ability of the patient to function every day.
What if my child is 0-6 years old?
Children participants can avail of the services and supports of NDIS through the NDIS early childhood partner. This organisation offers childhood intervention that can provide links to health services and access to therapeutic programmes.
Read more about What is NDIS Early Intervention?