NDIS
What is the NDIS?
The NDIS is short for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. It is a free government service ran by the NDIA short for the National Disability Insurance Agency to support eligible Australians either born with a lifelong disability or have acquired a permanent or significant disability that effects a person’s ability to complete their everyday living tasks.
The aim of the NDIS is to improve and support people living with a disability to live better lives as independently as possible. To empower people to live life the way they want to live and have the freedom to make their own decisions the same as a person living without a disability.
What are Goals?
When we think about our lives we think about different things we would like to achieve that brings us joy, happiness and that we consider to be a part of living a fulfilling life. This is different and unique for each and every one of us.
Goals are things we identify in our own lives that we see as important, that if we achieve will help us to live the way we want to live.
This may include but are not limited to activities like
- Learning to catch a bus to the cafes, shops, school, work, friends’ houses so you don’t have rely on others
- Getting and keeping a job so you can save to buy a home or to buy a car
- Purchasing a powered wheel chair so you get around your local community independently
- Learning how to cook healthy meals so you can cook for yourself and your family
- Going to the beach, sporting matches of your choice, going to cultural community events
- Making new friends
- Playing a sport or being an active member of a sporting club
- Having the equipment that you need at home so you can shower and dress more independently
Goals are very important part of your NDIS plan and are what you will work towards over life of your plan.
What does the NDIS Funding Cover?
The NDIS funds the things that you need to help support you to:
- achieve your goals
- increase your independence
- increase your participation in the community, and
- stay connected in the community
The NDIS calls these things “reasonable and necessary” – that means they are important for you to be able to live your life.
What the NDIS Won’t Fund
Please see the follow link for the most up to date information on the NDIS public website
NDIS Eligibility
To be eligible for the NDIS, you need to be:
- in-between the ages of 0 – 65 when you make your application
- have a significant and/or permanent disability and need support now and or special equipment to support you with your everyday life activities
- live in Australia and be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Visa holder or have a Protected Special Category visa
How can we help you with the NDIS?
Community Access and Services SA (CAASSA) is a registered service provider for the NDIS and has been supporting culturally and linguistically diverse communities in the northern and western regions of Adelaide for many years.
Our team of multi-skilled and multicultural staff have qualifications in Support Coordination, social work, disability support work, counselling, case management, working with different cultural groups and interpreting and translating. They have the skills and knowledge to provide you with the support you need.
We offer a person-centred approach that focuses on ways to help you achieve your goals set out in your NDIS plan.
We can offer you a range of support to help you with
- Level 1 & 2 Support Coordination to build your knowledge about the NDIS and your NDIS plan. Help and educate you to find and engage service providers of your choice. Advocate for you. Liaise with the NDIA and service providers directly to address any issues. Gather therapy reports and report to the NDIA. Support you to engage with mainstream and low/free cost community programs.
- Personal care such as showering, dressing and grooming
- Transport to attend community events, appointments, shopping and pay bills
- Learning new skills
- Domestic assistance
- Meal preparation
- Social civic and community participation
- Other supports based on your needs
My Pre-Planning Booklet
CAASSA has designed and developed “My NDIS Planning Booklet” to help you think about your goals and what supports you might need now and in the future. It includes information about your life, what is important to you, your current supports, and what you like doing in the community.
“My NDIS Booklet” is for people with a disability who have become successful NDIS participants. If you recieve a letter which says you are successful in becoming an NDIS participant, The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) or a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) will contact you to organise a planning meeting. This booklet will help you prepare for this meeting. It is important to prepare as much information as possible as the NDIA or LAC will ask you lots of questions about your life and support needs to help them create your NDIS Plan. The more prepared you are for your planning meeting, the more likely your new NDIS Plan will cover all your needs.
The Booklet is available in a number of different languages including:
You can access an electronic copy of this booklet here or we can provide you with an interactive version when we meet with you. The interactive version has reusable photo stickers which might be helpful if you can’t read or write your own language or you prefer to communicate in other ways.
One of our bi-lingual support coordinators can meet with you in person to help you go through the booklet and prepare for your planning meeting. You can bring a friend or support person to your meeting if you like.
We can also attend your NDIS planning meeting if you need extra support. After your plan is approved by the NDIS, we can meet with you and provide you with a quote for any supports you would like from CAASSA.
If you choose Community Access and Services SA (CAASSA) as your service provider, we will offer you a Service Agreement. This is a document that explains all the services you will receive. We use this to make sure our service is meeting your needs.
Need Help?
If you need help contacting the NDIS, please call Community Access and Services SA on 8447 8821 or the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.