Hints & Tips | Community Support Inc

Hints & Tips

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is Australia's national scheme to help support people with living with a disability.

Accessing the NDIS

If you would like to receive support from the NDIS, you must firstly call the NDIA (National Disablity Insurance Agency) on1800 800 110 to start an access request. You can ask a legally appointed representative, a family member, friend, or support worker to make the access request on your behalf. You will need to provide permission first for them to make the request on your behalf. 

 You – or your appointed person – will be asked for the following information:

  • Your name, age, where you live and whether you have permission to live in Australia permanently
  • Evidence of your age and residence
  • Details and evidence about your disability and how it impacts you each day
  • Current and/or relevant reports you already have from medical specialists or allied health professionals
  • Whether you give permission for the NDIA to talk to other people about your disability, including Centrelink, your GP or a person providing support to you

The NDIA will let you know what evidence you are required to send. This can be sent to any of the following:

  • Post: GPO Box 700, Canberra, ACT 2601
  • Email: [email protected] 
  • In-person: Take it in person to your local office 

Once the NDIA has all the required information, they will send you a letter with their decision of whether you are eligible for the NDIS. If you are not eligible for the NDIS, there are many other options still available for you and your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or Early Childhood Early Intervention Partner (ECEI) will help you gain access to these supports. 

You can review your access decision, or if your situation changes in the future you can make a new access request. Your LAC, ECEI, or the NDIA can help you with the decision review. 

For more information visit the NDIS website.

Preparing for your planning meeting

The NDIS Planning Booklet has been created by the NDIA,  and is interactive so you can start to prepare all your information before your planning meeting. It is important to have as much information ready as possible so you can get the absolute best plan for your support needs.

You can bring along a family member, friend, advocate, or anyone else to support you during your planning meeting. 

After your plan has been approved by the NDIA, you will receive your plan either in the mail, or in person, and through the Myplace portal. This is a portal on the Australian Government’s MyGov website where you can access your NDIS information. 

Community Support is here to help.  If you need assistance to prepare your application or would like someone to attend with you, our Client Engagement staff are here to support you.  We can even help you manage your plan if you need some assistance. If you disagree with what’s in your plan, you can ask for an internal review of your plan by the NDIA. If you are still unhappy with this internal review, you can apply for a review with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). This can only be done after the internal review by the NDIA.  Your LAC, or IECEI or an advocate can assist with both the internal review and AAT process.

Click here to access the interactive planning booklet and start your planning journey.

Using your NDIS plan

You will be given a myplace activation code so you can log on and view your NDIS details. Your NDIS plan will be available on myplace around 24 hours after it has been approved.  The activation code is only active for 10 days after being sent , so it is important to activate this as soon as possible.

Your NDIS plan will contain information about you, your family and friends, your services and community groups, your goals, and lastly your funded supports. 

Your funded supports lets you know what funding you have been allocated in each support category. 

Your NDIS plan will include support budgets; there are three types that may be funded in your plan. 

Core Supports budget

  • Helps you with everyday activities, your current disability related needs, and work towards your goals
  • The most flexible funding.

Capacity Building Supports budget

  • Helps you build your independence and skills to help you reach your long-term goals
  • Cannot be moved across support categories
  • Includes things like therapists, support co-ordinator or plan manager.

Capital Supports budget

  • Funding for higher-cost pieces of assistive technology, equipment and home or vehicle modifications, and funding for one-off purchases 
  • Funding can only be used for its specific purpose 
  • Quotes will need to be provided at the planning meeting

Once you have your NDIS plan, contact Community Support on 08 8429 1200 so you can begin to receive your support services. You do not have to share your NDIS plan with us, or you can choose to share only certain parts such as your goals. 

Find out more at the NDIS Website: ndis.gov.au

NDIS