Preparing for your first NDIS planning meeting

Transcription

1 Preparing for your first NDIS planning meeting w. scia.org.au t e.

2 This Workbook has been prepared by Spinal Cord Injuries Australia to assist people with a spinal cord injury or similar physical disability to prepare for their first NDIS planning meeting. It is intended to be used in conjunction with a number of the NDIS documents listed on the Participants section of the NDIS website. These documents are included at the back of this workbook. If you have any questions please call SCIA on or info@scia.org.au SCIA acknowledges the funding received from the NSW Government - Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Department of Family & Community Services which has made the production and printing of this document possible. w. scia.org.au t e. info@scia.org.au 2

3 The NDIS planning process what you need to do 1. Confirm your eligibility for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) this will usually be done by the NDIS contacting you. If you have not received contact you will need to contact the NDIS yourself on Confirm your NDIS planning meeting the NDIS Developing your first NDIS plan factsheet (attached) states that most people s first plans will be completed over the phone but there is scope for alternative planning arrangements. SCIA suggests you request a face to face meeting to maximize your opportunity to get the best outcome. Note: the majority of NDIS planning meetings are being held with a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) who is employed in NSW by either St Vincent de Paul, Uniting or Social Futures. These three organisations have been contracted by the NDIS to employ staff (LACs) to assist with the planning process. Usually the LAC will meet with you to assess your specific disability needs. They will provide this information to an NDIS planner who will create and approve your plan. On limited occasions a person may directly engage with an NDIS Planner. 3. Get ready for your NDIS planning meeting refer to the NDIS Getting ready for your planning conversation factsheet (attached). It provides examples of things you will be asked in your first NDIS planning conversation. 4. Decide on the type of supports you will need in your plan see the SCIA NDIS Plan Checklist Information and Detailed Checklist for MY NDIS Planning Meeting table on pages 7-12 for help and use the Notes for My NDIS Planning Meeting table on pages to record your information. 5. Think about how you would like to manage your plan discuss this issue with your planner (the person you meet to discuss your plan either LAC or National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) staff. The options you have to manage the payment of the goods and services in your plan are: i. Manage your funding yourself ii. Choose another person (plan nominee) to manage your plan iii. Use an NDIS registered plan management provider (such as SCIA) iv. Have the NDIA manage your funding v. Use a combination of these options. 6. Starting your plan refer to the NDIS Starting your Plan factsheets (attached). Your planner should advise you on: i) How you link to the NDIS participant portal ii) Whether you will be supported by a Local Area Coordinator to help you implement your plan iii) Whether you qualify for funding for an NDIS registered support co-ordinator organisation (such as SCIA) to help you implement your Plan SCIA suggests you ask for support coordination specifically if you feel you need specialist help implementing your plan. iv) You will implement the plan yourself. w. scia.org.au t e. info@scia.org.au 3

4 Understanding the Parts of an NDIS Plan It is important that you understand the sections that will be in your NDIS Plan. This will help you prepare for your planning meeting and achieve the best outcome. Remember the NDIS is based on providing you with more choice and control over your life. You need to start your preparation now. The following information outlines the various sections of an NDIS Plan (sample NDIS plan attached) and provides comments from SCIA. Part 1: About Me You will work with your planner to develop your Participant Statement that includes information on your day-to-day life. The Participant Statement in your NDIS Plan will have the following two headings: Where I live and the People who Support Me My Daily Life It is very important to think about these topics prior to your planning meeting use the Notes for my NDIS planning meeting table on pages Part 2: My goals Your NDIS Plan will include the things you want to achieve in the short and longer term. You will be asked to identify goals for your first NDIS Plan and also your longer term goals and aspirations. SCIA has noted most plans contain two or three short term goals, but this is up to you to discuss with your planner. Some examples of goals from people with a spinal cord injury or other physical disability who already have an NDIS plan include: To maintain my current supports in my home and find additional supports for better community access I would like help with my housework and gardening so I can continue to live independently To have my everyday support needs met and understand how to use my NDIS supports effectively To have an occupational therapist assessment to identify what equipment and supports help me become more independent both at home and when I go out into the community I would like to increase my independence and improve my self confidence I would like to be able to participate in leisure and community activities to increase my social participation. To have an active involvement in social activities, community participation and work with less pressure on my family and friends (more care hours and help with transport costs) I would like to maintain and improve my independence at home w. scia.org.au t e. info@scia.org.au 4

5 To find new accommodation that is accessible and suits my needs I would like to remain safe and independent as much as possible in my own home by getting some home modifications I would like to maintain and improve my health and well-being by undertaking a specialised exercise program I would like to be able to continue with my gym sessions twice weekly to improve my fitness and muscle strength. I would love to engage in physical therapies to help improve my physical health and mobility I would like to find a job that I can manage and I am capable of doing I want to explore courses at TAFE and start as soon as I can I would like to continue to be supported at work so that I can continue in the job that I enjoy I would like to go on holiday and take a support worker to assist with my needs I would like to implement an exercise plan with the help of an allied health professional to increase my mobility around home and in the community To learn to drive so that I can become more independent and continue to be able to attend social activities in the community To modify our family car so that I can drive I would like to move into my own home and be independent I would like to have my equipment maintained so that I can be as healthy as I can be To replace my current outdated and damaged equipment I need to have funding to continue to see my counsellor to maintain my mental and emotional well-being I want to reduce the burden on my wife and children who currently do so much to support my physical needs Use the Notes for my NDIS planning meeting table on pages to write down your short and long term goals. Part 3: My supports This part of your NDIS Plan will include information you have discussed with your planner under the following headings: Family and friends - these are who the NDIS calls 'informal' (unpaid) supports Services and community groups - these supports might include things like health or mental health services, schools or education services, community groups, sporting or hobby clubs, or other government services. These are what the NDIS calls 'community and mainstream' (paid) supports. This part of your plan includes your NDIS reasonable and necessary supports budget. This is the final part of your NDIS Plan w. scia.org.au t e. info@scia.org.au 5

6 Some information and things for you to consider in relation to what you could apply for in your plan based on feedback from SCIA members who currently have an NDIS Plan The budget you receive in your NDIS Plan will be identified against the NDIS Support Categories as outlined below. SUPPORT PURPOSE CORE CAPITAL CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT CATEGORIES IN AN NDIS PLAN Core Supports: Assistance with Daily Life, Consumables, Assistance with Social & Community Participation Transport Assistive Technology Home Modifications Coordination of Supports - implementing your plan Improved Living Arrangements Increased Social and Community Participation Finding and Keeping a Job Improved Relationships Improved Health and Wellbeing - SCIA s NeuroMoves Improved Learning Improved Life Choices - Plan management/financial intermediary Improved Daily Living - OT/Physio etc - SCIA s NeuroMoves w. scia.org.au t e. info@scia.org.au w. scia.org.au t e. info@scia.org.au 6

7 SCIA NDIS Plan Checklist Information The following table provides information and suggestions as to the type of things you need to think about and what are some of the things that may be considered as reasonable and necessary supports in your NDIS Plan. The table provides information to consider against each NDIS support category based on feedback to SCIA from people with spinal cord injury and similar physical disability who already have a plan. A detailed checklist follows to provide a summary of the issues listed in this table. SUPPORT CATEGORY Core Supports Assistance with Daily Life things such as personal care, household tasks, (cleaning, gardening etc) and shared care in a share home Consumables primarily continence products Assistance with Social & Community Participation Transport THINGS TO CONSIDER Clearly identify all your personal care and household tasks funding currently allocated to you by the NSW government this is the minimum that should be allocated to you by the NDIS. Any request for additional funding you will have to justify. Think about who you would like to engage to provide you with care and ask them for a quote based on the hours of care you currently receive or need (even if you intend to continue with your current personal care provider). It is important to ask for a quote as the NDIS hourly prices may be different to what they currently are charging you. Make sure the Provider includes everything they will charge you under the NDIS over a 12 month period (including things like travel time) this is crucial to ensure your annual NDIS budget covers all your personal care costs. Is the current funding you receive for continence products (CAPS/other) enough to cover your current needs? Get a statement from your current continence products Provider on what you spend monthly/annually and ask for this, at least, to be included in your plan. Many SCIA members have received substantially more in their NDIS plan than they were previously receiving in this area. SCIA s corporate partner Coloplast can also help take the worry of remembering everything and documenting it by building an annual estimate of the quantity and type of products you will need based on your requirements so that you can hand this in during your planning meeting For help in this area call the Coloplast NDIS planning support line on freecall to have a confidential discussion about your continence needs or visit Do you currently receive or need funding for personal care to assist you to access community, social or recreational activities, including exercise programs? Make sure you ask for personal care support in your plan if this is relevant to you. Do you currently receive the mobility allowance? Make sure you let your Planner know. Think of all your transport requirements? Think about work, accessing community and social events, exercise programs, other things. This is a key area to discuss with your Planner as many people underestimate their transport needs. Note: you may be limited by NDIS allowances see the NDIS Participant Transport Factsheet (attached). w. scia.org.au t e. info@scia.org.au 7

8 Capital Assistive Technology Home Modifications Capacity Building Coordination of Supports this is about receiving funding in your plan to choose an organisation to support you to help implement your NDIS Plan Improved Living Arrangements Increased Social and Community Participation Finding and Keeping a Job Does your current equipment meet your needs? What other equipment would improve you daily living and increase your independence? Do you have an OT report to support this equipment? Make sure you ask for a budget for repairs and maintenance and/or rental of equipment how do you know think back over the last few years and provide a best guess based on your experience. Make a list of your current assistive equipment. If this is currently funded by Enable NSW, ask them for a statement of your equipment. Include any vehicle modifications you may have in mind. Think about home modifications to assist to increase your independence. You will need quotes and a supporting OT report for most items. If you believe you need support in implementing your NDIS Plan including things such as identifying networks, understanding funding flexibility, reaching agreement with providers, commencing a new service, helping you resolve points of crisis in your life, helping you develop your support networks, resolving service delivery issues (when things go wrong) and assisting in coordinating supports from a range of sources etc ask for this to be included in your plan. SCIA is registered by the NDIS to provide Support Co-ordination as are many other Service Providers it is always your choice who you use if you receive funding in this category. SCIA understands that a recent NDIS change to the Plan Management/Financial Intermediary category (below) means that if you choose to use a Provider to manage your plan and pay your invoices, and you need their time to help resolve payment related issues, you will need hours for this under this Coordination of Supports category. This area is primarily about if you need support to obtain/retain appropriate accommodation. Do you currently receive any funding to take part in social and community activities, eg Life Choices, active ageing? This would be covered by this category. Also if you currently access any government funded services such as SCIA events or peer support led activities to help you participate in the community and develop skills to be more independent in the community, this is where funding would be provided. Do you currently receive workplace support funding as an employee of an Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE) and need continued support in the workplace? Do you need support to find or retain a job in another ADE or in open employment? These items will be covered by this category w. scia.org.au t e. info@scia.org.au 8

9 Improved Relationships Improved Health and Wellbeing covers physical well-being activities and dietetics Improved Learning Improved Life Choices includes plan management and financial intermediary support. If you require funding in relation to social skills development and behaviour intervention these areas will be covered under this category. Do you currently access, or wish to access, physical well-being activities such as personal training and exercise physiology to support, maintain or increase your physical mobility? If so, this is the key category, along with the Improved Daily Living category (see below in relation to therapy services) to cover this support. You will need to outline that these supports are due to the additional requirements you require because of your disability. Eg SCIA s NeuroMoves suite of exercise programs have been specially developed to meet the specific requirements of a person with a spinal cord injury or other disability which affects their mobility? It is very different to a general gym program which will often not be fully accessible or meet the specific needs of a person with a physical disability. If you wish to undertake or continue a specialist exercise program to cater for your disability seek additional information from your professional on your individual goals and how the program you wish to do will achieve these - take this information to your planning meeting. If applicable to you, it is also important to point out the community participation benefits of your participation in a specialised exercise program which caters to your needs. Many SCIA members have highlighted the community and social interaction benefits of their participation in NeuroMoves meeting other people with disability, learning from their experiences and developing a peer network. Do you currently access, or wish to access, advice available to you in regard to managing your diet? This is the category for funding in this area. If you wish to access skills training, advice, assistance and orientation to assist you if you are moving from school to further education including university and TAFE this is the category to ask for this. If you would like an organisation to help you manage your Plan and undertake payments to your Providers on your behalf (called being your Financial Intermediary) you will need to request funding for this against this category. You need to consider your options see earlier section of this Workbook and NDIS Factsheets. One of the advantages of using a registered Plan Manager is that they can pay any Provider you choose, even if they are not a registered provider with the NDIS. Self-managing also achieves this. Ensure you discuss all options with your planner. SCIA is a registered Plan Management/Financial Intermediary provider along with many other Service Providers it is always your choice who you use if you receive funding in this category. One issue SCIA has noted is that most people with a spinal cord injury or other significant physical disability (especially those who w. scia.org.au t e. info@scia.org.au 9

10 have personal care) have complex plans and therefore require hours in their plan for support in regard to resolving issues around payments to providers and claiming from the NDIS, not just the base level of funding that everyone receives if they choose to use a registered plan manager. So ask your planner for hours to be included in your plan if this is your choice. SCIA understands this may be covered by Support Coordination see Coordination of Supports category above. Improved Daily Living includes assessment, training, development and/or therapy to assist with skills for independence and community participation. Covers allied health professionals such as OT s, physiotherapists, counsellors and registered nurses. This category also covers early childhood intervention supports Do you currently access or need assessment, fitting, training, customisation etc. by an OT, physiotherapist or other allied health professional for aids and equipment, vehicle modifications or home modifications? Do you use a community nurse for catheter changes etc or need individual assessment by a nurse specific to your disability? Do you need training for carers/parents or driver training? Do you need specialist therapy for early childhood intervention? Do you need an assessment regarding involvement in a specialist intensive individual exercise program aimed at improving function and developing skills to lead a more independent life or undertake activities to meet this goal? If so, this is a key category, along with the Health and Wellbeing category above. People seeking funding to undertake SCIA s specialist exercise programs, NeuroMoves, will need to discuss with their planner the most appropriate category or mix of categories between Improved Daily Living and Health and Wellbeing. The community participation benefits again need to be highlighted if applicable. w. scia.org.au t e. info@scia.org.au 10

11 Detailed checklist for my NDIS planning meeting The following checklist is provided to assist you to think about things you may need for your planning meeting. It would be ideal if you had the following information that is relevant to you ready for your meeting Checklist Tick Assessments and reports Diagnosis from specialists Occupational therapist and speech pathologist reports for equipment and functionality Home modification assessments Neuropsychological assessments Medication charts Mental health reports Incontinence assessments and management plans Care needs assessments Any other appropriate reports and assessments Manual handling assessment and training My community and mainstream supports Current support plan from my service provider listing all supports List of (unpaid) supports from my family and friends List of (paid) supports from community groups/other Hours of personal care days/times and schedule List and amount of drop in (ad hoc) support services you presently receive e.g. wound care management, community nursing, catheter changes etc. Quote from my provider(s) for the above supports Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) Attendant care Domestic assistance (incl. cleaning) Community access Personal assistance Transportation usage (wheelchair accessible taxis, community transport) Lawn mowing/garden maintenance Meals/preparation Work Day programs Exercise Dietician Counselling Driver training w. scia.org.au t e. 11

12 Consumables bed protectors (blueys, washable mattress protectors etc) catheters (indwelling and intermittent) leg bags, leg bag straps/holders, night bags/night bottles and skin adhesives bowel care products (enemas, suppositories, colostomy etc) cleaning solutions such as Milton solutions and lubricants (KY, Glycerol, saline, water ampules etc) syringes and needles Incontinence pads (wearable) Gloves Wound care dressings (bandages antiseptic creams etc) BIPAP accessories List of equipment you need in your daily life Wheelchair (power and manual) commode chair Hoist and sling Pressure mattress (alternating air or foam) Electric bed Environmental control unit Cough assist machine (for those with high level SCI) Home automation equipment and apps for lights, doors, etc Include whether each piece of equipment is leased or owned. If you have received your equipment through EnableNSW, they can provide you with a full inventory/list of the equipment they have supplied. List when it s due for replacement and what are the replacement costs Do you need to purchase or lease equipment in the near future when is this needed, how long will you lease the equipment, is it short or long term List the things in your house that could be modified to assist you to be more independent (may require an OT assessment) Ramps lease/purchase Air conditioning Kitchen Bathroom Grab rails w. scia.org.au t e. info@scia.org.au 12

13 Notes for my NDIS planning meeting NDIS - Getting ready for your planning conversation checklist Issue My personal details and information about my primary disability. Include any reports or assessments. My notes My community and mainstream supports - what supports I currently receive from people in my life and in the local community. How I manage my everyday activities. Include issues such as equipment, accommodation, care supports. My safety - any areas in my life where I may feel unsafe or where you might need extra help. My goals for the next 12 months. My goals for the longer term. How I want to manage my plan. w. scia.org.au t e. info@scia.org.au 13

14 Core Assistance with Daily Life things such as personal care, household tasks, shared care in a share home. Consumables primarily continence products Assistance with Social & Community Participation Transport Capital Assistive Technology all equipment you use related to your disability, e.g. wheelchair, commode, hoist, vehicle modifications etc. Home Modifications w. scia.org.au t e. info@scia.org.au 14

15 Capacity building Coordination of Supports this is about receiving funding in your plan to choose an organisation to support you to implement your NDIS Plan. Improved Living Arrangements Increased Social and Community Participation Finding and Keeping a Job Improved Relationships Improved Health and Wellbeing covers physical well-being activities and dietetics. Improved Learning Improved Life Choices includes plan management and financial intermediary support. Improved Daily Living includes assessment, training, development and/or therapy to assist with skills for independence and community participation. Covers allied health professionals such as OT s, physiotherapists, counsellors and registered nurses. This category also covers early childhood intervention supports. w. scia.org.au t e. info@scia.org.au 15

16 Additional notes: w. scia.org.au t e. 16

17 Some Tips to consider Preparing for and things to think about during your planning meeting You need to understand the current supports you receive, to ensure these are discussed to be included in your first NDIS plan. If you have never received supports, you need to think of the things you will need to achieve your goals under the NDIS contact SCIA if you need advice in regard to support services for your disability Make sure you know if you are meeting with a Local Area Co-ordinator (LAC), on behalf of the NDIA, or an NDIA staff member for your planning meeting Make sure you have the opportunity for a face to face meeting if you believe this is better than a phone planning meeting SCIA does! Make sure you have a contact number for your LAC or NDIA planner Make sure you understand all your options around managing your plan this is primarily about paying your invoices and liaising with your Providers about payments If you decide that you would like a Registered Plan Manager (such as SCIA or any other organisation offering Plan Management) find out if there are monthly hours included in your plan, in addition to set up costs and monthly processing fees. Monthly hours are needed for most complex plans (usually people who require personal care) as there is often regular liaison with Providers required these hours may be included in the Support Coordination category check with your planner Make sure you understand what level of support you will receive to start your plan are you expected to do this yourself, will you have the help of an LAC or a Support Coordination organisation? Many people with spinal cord injury will have quite complex plans and would benefit from support coordination from a specialist organisation. Clarify how you will receive your plan - SCIA has noted that most people will receive a printed copy of their plan in the mail. The only other way to view your Plan is to log onto the NDIS portal - your NDIS planner should provide you with all the information you will need to do this. Things to do after you receive your NDIS Plan When you receive your Plan check the start date on it as there may have been a delay in you receiving your plan. Even if your Plan does not cover all the things you had hoped for you need to start using your Plan and then ask for a review if you wish to seek additional elements in the Plan. Carefully read the NDIS document Understanding your NDIS plan (attached) Always go back to your NDIS planner to ask questions if you have any concerns Contact SCIA on or info@scia.org.au for general advice and help. If you require assistance with an internal NDIS or AAT review contact SCIA on or NDISappeals@scia.org.au w. scia.org.au t e. info@scia.org.au 17

18 What if you are not satisfied with the supports provided when you receive your NDIS Plan? NDIA internal review process The NDIS website states If you think a decision made by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) about you is wrong, you can submit an application for internal review of a decision. Any person directly affected by a decision of the NDIA can request such a review. When asking for a review, you should explain why you think the decision is incorrect. A request for review of a decision can be made by: submitting a written request to: Chief Executive Officer National Disability Insurance Agency GPO Box 700 Canberra ACT 2601 talking to someone at an NDIA office calling sending an to: enquiries@ndis.gov.au You can download an application for a review of decision form from the NDIS website. You don t have to use this form but it may help you to describe why you want a review of the decision. NDIA decision external review process If you are still not happy after the NDIA internal review of the decision, you can apply for an external review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), a tribunal that exists outside the NDIA. You cannot ask the AAT to review a decision by the NDIA until the decision has been internally reviewed by the NDIA. For information about applying for a review by the AAT, see the AAT website: or call the AAT on Also refer to the attached NDIS factsheet A Review of a Decision SCIA assistance for reviews of NDIA decisions SCIA is funded by the Commonwealth Government to assist applicants in navigating the process of AAT review of NDIA decisions. SCIA is also able to help people with the NDIA internal review process if required. To request support contact SCIA on or NDISappeals@scia.org.au w. scia.org.au t e. info@scia.org.au 18

19 Attachments: NDIS Fact Sheets and NDIS Sample Plan The following NDIS fact sheets have been reproduced from those active on the NDIS website in early May You need to check the following links to ensure that the NDIS has not made changes or replaced the fact sheets contained in this booklet. Please refer to the following links: - for Developing your first NDIS plan and Getting ready for your planning conversation - for Starting your plan, Starting my NDIS plan with a Local Area Coordinator (LAC), Starting my NDIS plan with a Support Coordinator and Choice and control - Information you need to know about managing your funding - for Participant transport fact sheet - for Understanding your NDIS plan October for A Review of a Decision

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21 Developing your first NDIS plan As you prepare to enter the NDIS you may have some questions about planning so we ve put together some facts about developing your first plan to help you get NDIS Ready. Everyone who enters the NDIS from 1 July 2016 will receive a first plan How people will join the NDIS has been agreed by Commonwealth, State and Territory governments. You can apply to enter the NDIS six months prior to the Scheme rolling out in your area. Once you ve gained access to the NDIS we will work with you to develop your first plan. Your first plan is your entry point to the NDIS and the start of your relationship with the Scheme. Your first plan will identify the reasonable and necessary supports you require to meet your immediate needs and start to identify and achieve your goals. Once completed your first plan will provide you with individualised funding that you control and choose how to use. To get ready for the NDIS and your first plan, start thinking about your immediate support needs and what your current and future goals might be. How do I get my first plan? Once your access to the NDIS is confirmed, you and/or your nominee will be contacted by a representative of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to have a planning conversation. Most people s first plans will be completed over the phone, through a planning conversation between the participant (and/or their nominee) and an NDIA representative about their existing supports, needs and main goals. If you are not able to complete your planning conversation over the phone or are not in a position to do so, the NDIS will make alternative planning arrangements. Everyone will have the same access to supports and services irrespective of how their planning conversation takes place. Once in the NDIS, your plan will be reviewed every 12 months, including your first plan. If your circumstances or needs change you can talk to us about having your plan reviewed at any stage. What if I already receive supports? If you already receive supports from a State or Territory government disability program, there are agreements in place which may mean you qualify to directly enter the Scheme. In this event, you will be contacted by an NDIA representative when it is time to transition from your existing program to the Scheme and develop your first plan. Your existing supports and services will continue until you have an NDIS plan. ndis.gov.au

22 The NDIS will use the information about your existing disability supports to begin to develop your first plan. An NDIA representative will then have a conversation with you and/or your nominee to consider any gaps or unmet needs in your current supports and how they link to your goals. This process ensures a timely and orderly entry to the NDIS where you can gain access to the Scheme and activate your first plan quickly. It also limits the need for you to re-tell your story in developing your first plan. The NDIS funds reasonable and necessary supports For a support to be funded it needs to be linked to an outcome you have identified in your plan and it also must: Be associated with dayto-day living and activities that increase your social or economic participation Be a resource or piece of equipment, such as wheelchair, assistive technology or home and car modifications, to help you live an ordinary life Help you build the skills you need to live the life you want, such as opportunities to work, further your education, volunteer or learn something new. Goals in your plan You might not yet know what goals you want to set for the future. That s ok, your first plan focuses on what you need right now and gives you some time to think about your longer-term needs and goals. It s good to start talking to your family, friends and carers about what your goals might look like now and into the future. What happens next? Once your first plan is finalised you will be contacted by an NDIA representative to discuss how to put it into action. This contact will happen within seven days of you receiving your plan. The NDIS will then work with you to implement your plan. This support could be provided by a Local Area Coordinator, a plan support coordinator or another party who will help you to connect with community and mainstream or funded supports. As a participant, you will be able to contact your NDIA representative at any stage. They will also check in with you to discuss ideas to help you achieve your goals and connect you to community activities and mainstream support. Your first plan will give you time to think about how the supports you currently receive are working for you and what else you might need to achieve your longer-term goals before your scheduled plan review in 12 months. More information am to 11pm (local time) Monday to Friday For people with hearing or speech loss TTY: Speak and Listen: For people who need help with English TIS: Follow us on Find us on Facebook Facebook/NDISAus *1800 calls from fixed lines are free. Calls from mobiles may be charged. ndis.gov.au

23 . Getting ready for your planning conversation ndis.gov.au

24 There are lots of things you can write down by yourself or with a family member, carer or provider to help you get ready for your first NDIS planning conversation. We will ask questions about how you are going in different areas of your life. This will help us to develop a plan that provides the right support for you. We will ask these questions again at plan reviews, so you can tell us how you are progressing, and if any adjustments need to be made. Information from these questions will also be important for tracking the progress of the NDIS, and will help to improve the Scheme for everyone. If possible, we will also interview a family member, to see how they are going as well. Here are some examples of things you will be asked about in your first NDIS planning conversation. 1 Your personal details 2 Your community and mainstream supports You will be asked your name, age, where you live and about your primary disability. Make sure you have all your personal details and any reports or assessments in one place to help with this. Write down your personal details. You will be asked about what support you currently receive from people in your life and in your local community. This can include things like health services or help at school and sports groups, as well as friends and family who help you. Write down your current supports.

25 3 4 How you manage everyday activities Your safety We ll ask you questions about how you manage your everyday activities. This helps us to understand what your abilities are as well as what you might need, including equipment, accommodation or help to take care of yourself or your home. Write down what you would like to discuss. We ll ask you some questions so you can let us know if there are any areas in your life where you may feel unsafe or where you might need extra help. We want to support people to learn how to do things safely. Write down what you would like to discuss. 5 Setting your goals 6 Starting your plan We ll talk about your goals for the next 12 months and what you are hoping to achieve through your first plan, particularly about your immediate and essential needs. Goals could include: how you will increase choice and control in your life; learning and education; work; social and community activities; investigating housing options; or improving your health and wellbeing. We will also talk about how you are going to explore and develop your longer term goals over the next 12 months. We ll ask you how you want to manage your plan. Your NDIS plan will include a statement about how NDIS funded supports will be managed. The plan must specify that funding is to be managed by: you or your nominee (such as Mum or Dad) a registered plan management provider or the NDIA. The NDIS will work with you to start your plan. Write down what you would like to discuss. Write down what you would like to discuss.

26 . 7 Next steps At the end of our conversation we ll talk about the next steps, including your plan approval and starting to use the funding in your plan. For participants who will have an LAC to support them to implement their plan: A Local Area Coordinator (LAC) from an NDIS partner organisation will be in contact with you to discuss your plan, help you access supports and discuss your longer term goals under the NDIS. For participants who receive help from a Support Coordinator to implement their plan: Your plan will include funding for a Support Coordinator to help you implement your plan. Once your plan is approved, this person will contact you to discuss your plan, help you access supports and discuss your longer term goals under the NDIS. For participants who are self-managing: You will be contacted by the NDIS once your plan is approved and we will talk to you or your nominee about the opportunities and responsibilities of self-managing your plan. Write down what you would like to discuss. For more information about the NDIS please contact: National Disability Insurance Agency Telephone Find us on Facebook/NDISAus Follow us on For people who need help with English TIS: For people with hearing or speech loss TTY: Speak and Listen: ndis.gov.au

27 Starting your plan Once your plan is approved, it is time to put it into action. The NDIS can work with you to start your plan. Depending on your situation there are a range of people who can help you implement your plan and support you to start receiving supports. You can start your plan by yourself if you are self-managed or with the support of a Local Area Coordinator or an Early Childhood Partner. Some people may also have a Support Coordinator funded in their plan to help them get started. Using the relevant getting started checklist will help you start accessing community, mainstream and funded supports and get the most out of your NDIS plan. While you may work with different people to get you started, there are few activities everyone can do either by yourself, with a family member, friend or carer to start your plan. 1. Read and understand your plan Read and understand the supports in your NDIS plan. An NDIS plan has three support budgets (Core, Capital and Capacity) and you will receive reasonable and necessary funding under the relevant budget depending on your support needs. Part three of your plan outlines all of your funded supports, budget and how the supports will be paid. The Support Area name in your plan matches the Support Category in NDIS Price Guide. To support participants to have choice and control over their NDIS plan, there is flexibility to ensure you can choose how to spend your funds to live the life you want. More information about choice and control is available at 2. Register for mygov and link to NDIS Participant Portal myplace There are step-by-step guides to help you access and use myplace via mygov and link your account to NDIS. The person supporting you to start your plan can assist you with this process. To activate myplace you will need to enter your (the participants) surname and date of birth in your mygov account. You will need this activation code: This activation code will work until: 3. Connect with the person who will help start your plan Either meet with or talk over the phone with a Local Area Coordinator, Support Coordinator or an Early Childhood Partner to get your plan started, or you can start your plan by yourself if you are self-managed. Use the relevant getting started checklist for your situation to start accessing community, mainstream and funded supports and get the most out of your NDIS plan. More information about starting your plan is available at ndis.gov.au

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29 . Starting my NDIS plan with a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) When your NDIS plan is approved, you will work with a LAC to put it in to action. This is called plan implementation and helps you connect with and maintain the supports in your NDIS plan as well as helping you to achieve your goals. What happens? You will be notified in writing that your plan has been approved. You will be contacted by a LAC to talk about what help you need to implement your plan. You will have a plan handover meeting. This may be in person or over the phone depending on your preference and the level of support you need to implement your plan The LAC will help you explore and link with community and mainstream options as required. The LAC will talk with you and your family about any other options to be considered as the year progresses and help with developing goals for your next plan. The LAC is your NDIS contact person to discuss any questions about your plan. 4 The LAC will help you understand your plan and help you choose and connect with service providers. ndis.gov.au

30 . Getting ready to meet your LAC Getting ready to meet with your LAC is important. Some things to think about before your meeting are: Your current supports. Do you have established relationships with providers that you would like to continue? Would you like to connect with new service providers? Service providers in your area. Are there any providers that you already know about? You might like to ask family or friends about their experiences with providers. Using the internet to explore service providers that are available in your area is also a good option. Getting started Your LAC will work with you to explain: your NDIS plan how to identify options for community, mainstream and funded NDIS supports how you could meet with, choose and establish service agreements with providers how to register for mygov website and link to NDIS Participant Portal myplace how to navigate and check you details on myplace If you are self-managing any element of your plan: -- how to make Service Bookings -- monitor funding -- submit Payment Requests and -- provide feedback. The activities you are currently doing in your community. Would you like help to find social or community based groups or activities to participate in? Would you like help to investigate education, training or employment options? More information am to 11pm (local time) Monday to Friday For people with hearing or speech loss TTY: Speak and Listen: For people who need help with English TIS: Follow us on Have you thought about developing your self-advocacy skills? Your LAC can help you link with training or peer support groups in your area. Find us on Facebook Facebook/NDISAus *1800 calls from fixed lines are free. Calls from mobiles may be charged. ndis.gov.au

31 . Starting my NDIS plan with a Support Coordinator When your NDIS plan is approved, you will work with a Support Coordinator who will help you put it in to action. This is called plan implementation and helps you connect with the supports in your NDIS plan, maintain them and help you to achieve your goals. What happens? You will be notified that your plan has been approved. You will be contacted by a Support Coordinator to talk about what help you need to implement your plan and manage your supports. You will have a plan handover meeting. This may be in person or over the phone depending on your preference and level of support you need to implement your plan. The Support Coordinator will help you understand your plan and help you choose and connect with service providers The Support Coordinator will help you explore and link with community and mainstream services and help coordinate these as required. The Support Coordinator will talk with you and your family about any other options to be considered as the year progresses and will help with developing goals for your next plan. The Support Coordinator is your NDIS contact person to discuss any questions about your plan. ndis.gov.au

32 . Getting ready to meet your Support Coordinator Getting ready to meet with your Support Coordinator is important. Some things to think about before your meeting are: Do you already work with a Support Coordinator? Would you like that to continue or would you like to work with a new provider? Your current supports. Do you have established relationships with providers that you would like to continue? Would you like to work with new service providers? Service providers in your area. Are there any providers that you already know about? You might like to ask family or friends about their experiences with providers. Using the internet to explore service providers that are available in your area is also a good option. What things are working well for you now? What are the areas of your life or services that you would like your Support Coordinator to focus on helping you with? The activities you are currently doing in your community. Would you like help to find social or community based groups or activities to participate in? Would you like help to investigate education, training or employment options? Have you thought about developing your self-advocacy skills? Your Support Coordinator can help you link with training or peer support groups in your area. Getting started A Support Coordinator is not a paid advocate or responsible for rostering and administration of individual supports. Your Support Coordinator will work with you to explain how a Support Coordinator works with you to implement and monitor your NDIS plan how to identify options for community, mainstream and funded NDIS supports how you could meet with, choose and establish service agreements with providers how to register for mygov website and link to NDIS Participant Portal myplace how to navigate and check you details on myplace If you are self-managing any element of your plan: how to make service bookings, monitor funding, submit payment requests and provide feedback. More information am to 11pm (local time) Monday to Friday For people with hearing or speech loss TTY: Speak and Listen: For people who need help with English TIS: Follow us on Find us on Facebook Facebook/NDISAus *1800 calls from fixed lines are free. Calls from mobiles may be charged. ndis.gov.au

33 Choice and control Information you need to know about managing your funding To support participants to have choice and control over their NDIS plan, there is flexibility to ensure you can choose how to spend your funds to live the life you want. How does this work? An NDIS Plan has three support budgets (Core, Capital and Capacity Building) and you will receive reasonable and necessary funding under the relevant budget depending on your support needs. What makes up the Core supports budget? The Core support budget is made up of four support categories and the funding is flexible across all the categories. These categories are: Daily activities Social, community and civic participation Consumables Transport only when managed by NDIA, Plan Management Agent or you are self-managed (excludes periodic transport payments). For example: If you have a total Core budget of $14,000, you can choose how to spend this across the four support categories. For example, $2,000 for consumables; $7,000 for daily activities; $1,000 for transport and $4,000 for social activities, or you could choose $9,000 for daily activities; $1,000 for consumables; $2,000 for transport and $2,000 for social activities. Is there any limitation within the Core support category? You may have chosen to selfmanage a proportion of your Core funding to support transport needs and receive this as an automatic periodic payment. ndis.gov.au This transport funding is then quarantined and will be deposited into your bank account fortnightly. For example: If you require more transport funding you can choose to use additional funds to complement your periodic transport payment from other support categories within your Core support budget. You can only choose additional funds for transport if this is managed by NDIA, Plan Management Agent or you are self-managed. What makes up the Capital supports budget and is this flexible? The Capital Support budget has two support categories: Assistive Technology includes items for mobility, personal care, communication and recreational inclusion such as wheelchairs, pressure mattresses, standing frames, bathing and toileting equipment, personal readers and vision equipment, and vehicle modifications Home Modifications. The funds in this budget are not flexible and can only be used for what they were allocated for, such as personal care equipment, a rail in the bathroom or a wheelchair. What makes up the Capacity Building funding? The Capacity Building (CB) funding is allocated across nine support categories with each category being aligned to your goals. The support categories include: CB Daily Activity CB Choice and Control CB Employment CB Social Community and Civic Participation CB Health and Well Being CB Home Living CB Lifelong Learning CB Relationships Support Coordination.

34 Am I able to use my Capacity Building funding flexibly? The funding within each of the nine support categories can be used flexibly to purchase any approved individual support that falls within that CB support category only, to assist you to achieve your identified goal. For example, you may initially decide to use 50% of CB Daily Activity on Occupational Therapy, 40% on Physiotherapy and 10% on Speech Pathology and decide at a later date to use more of your CB Daily Activity funding on speech pathology. This flexibility allows you to identify what you believe would be the best capacity building support to achieve your goal. However, you can t combine funding across multiple support categories. This is because each support category will align with a specific goal. For example, if you had a total budget for Capacity Building of $2,500 made up of $1,000 for CB Daily Activity and $1,500 for CB Choice and Control, you can t decide to combine your funds to spend the total budget of $2,500 on CB Daily Activity. Are there any limitations to flexibility? Funding flexibility is limited in the following ways: During your transition to the NDIS your existing provider may need to deliver some supports initially. Where you have chosen to self-manage a proportion of your Core funding to support transport needs and receive this an automatic periodic payment. Where an individual support has been specified as a Stated support. The funding allocated to this individual support can only be used for this support and is therefore not flexible funding. How can I get help with this? The person helping you to implement your plan can help you understand this more. That person might be a Local Area Coordinator or a Support Coordinator. They can also help you to work out how you would like to use your funding flexibility and help you to explain this to your service providers. For more information about managing supports in your plan visit More information am to 5pm (local time) Monday to Friday For people with hearing or speech loss TTY: Speak and Listen: For people who need help with English TIS Follow us on Find us on Facebook Facebook/NDISAus *1800 calls from fixed lines are free. Calls from mobiles may be charged. Updated November Factsheet_Choice_and_Control ndis.gov.au

35 SAMPLE PLAN Jane Doe s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plan Name: Jane Doe NDIS number: NDIS plan starts: Plan Approval Date: 01 January 2016 NDIS plan will be reviewed by: 01 January 2017 The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) will contact me about my plan review before the review date. I will tell the NDIA when something important changes (or is going to change), like moving house, starting work or school, or if my goals change. If I have any questions, or if my circumstances change, I can contact the NDIA in any of the following ways: Telephone NDIA on If I use a TTY, phone and ask for If I use Speak and Listen (speech-to-speech relay), phone and ask for If I use the National Relay Service, visit their website at and ask for Plan approved: DD MONTH YYYY PERSONAL INFORMATION IN CONFIDENCE < >

36 SAMPLE PLAN Part 1: About me This part of my Participant Statement is about me, my daily life and the people in my life. Where I live and the people who support me: I am a 28 year old woman with an intellectual disability. I live in shared supported accommodation with one other housemate which we rent. We have drop in support every weekday for 2 hours to help with shopping, preparing meals, helping with money skills, and making sure the house is clean and tidy. They also help me go to the beach to make sure I am safe. My older brother drops by a few times a week to catch up and help me with any extra things I might need. My daily life: I work 5 days a week in open employment at the local grocery store. I have support from a job agency to make sure that my boss and I are happy. I enjoy working here but would like to work in an office one day, I would need help to learn how to use a computer and also to write my resume. After work I enjoy going for walks swims at the beach pool and going to the gym. On the weekends I go sailing with a local club, to the shops and to see friends. I can catch public transport to places I know, but need to be taught new routes. Plan approved: DD MONTH YYYY PERSONAL INFORMATION IN CONFIDENCE < >

37 SAMPLE PLAN Part 2: My goals This part of my Participant Statement lists the goals I want to work towards during this plan. My First Goal is: During this plan: To continue to have the support I need to be independent in my home and in the community. My Second Goal is: During this plan: To find a different job, preferably in an office. My longer term goals and aspirations are: Goal: To do a computer course. Relates to: Learning Goal: To learn to better budget my money so that I can save up for a holiday. Relates to: Learning Plan approved: DD MONTH YYYY PERSONAL INFORMATION IN CONFIDENCE < >

38 SAMPLE PLAN Part 3: My supports These are the supports that will help me work towards my goals. Family and friends These are who the NDIS calls informal supports. My informal supports My older brother: my brother visits me and helps me when I need it. He takes me to doctors appointments. Services and community groups These supports might include things like health or mental health services, schools, or education services, community groups, sporting or hobby clubs, or other government services. These are what the NDIS calls community and mainstream supports. My community and mainstream supports Sailing Club. I go sailing on the weekends with my sailing club. Gym. I go to my local gym. Job Agency. My job agency helps me to find and keep jobs. Plan approved: DD MONTH YYYY PERSONAL INFORMATION IN CONFIDENCE < >

39 SAMPLE PLAN NDIS reasonable and necessary supports budgets I can choose how I spend the amount in each budget listed below by checking the NDIS price list and the matching supports on the NDIS website at ndis.gov.au/participants. Where a support is listed in my plan as stated, I must purchase this support as it is descripbed in my plan. I cannot swap stated supports for any other supports. Support Area: Core Supports Budget: $32, Details: Daily Activities support for domestic duties Social, Community and Civic Participation support for accessing the community and participation in social and recreational activities. How will the supports be paid: NDIS will pay my support provider directly for these supports. Support Area: Transport Budget: $ Details: Transport support category comment How will the supports be paid: NDIS will pay me directly for these supports. Plan approved: DD MONTH YYYY PERSONAL INFORMATION IN CONFIDENCE < >

40 SAMPLE PLAN Support Area: Finding and keeping a job Budget: $ Details: Support for maintaining open employment, and exploring alternative employment options. How will the supports be paid: NDIS will pay my support provider directly for these supports. Support Area: Improved Daily Living Budget: $ Details: Funding to Occupational Therapist to assess and provide support in assisting you to meet your goals of independent living. How will the supports be paid: NDIS will pay me directly for these supports. Plan approved: DD MONTH YYYY PERSONAL INFORMATION IN CONFIDENCE < >

41 Participant transport fact sheet What is transport funding? A participant will generally be able to access funding through the NDIS for transport assistance if the participant cannot use public transport without substantial difficulty due to their disability; funding takes into account any relevant taxi subsidy scheme; and it does not cover transport assistance for carers to transport their family member with a disability for everyday commitments. Please note this information relates to participant transport arrangements and does not relate to travel for providers of supports. Information about provider travel is available in the NDIS Price Guide. Expected levels of transport support There are three levels of supports for transport assistance, as set out below. The three levels are used to provide a transport budget for participants. NDIA funded supports are indexed on an annual basis. Three new participant transport support levels: Level 1 The NDIS will provide up to $1,606 per year for participants who are not working, studying or attending day programs but are seeking to enhance their community access. Level 2 The NDIS will provide up to $2,472 per year for participants who are currently working or studying part-time (up to 15 hours a week), participating in day programs and for other social, recreational or leisure activities. Level 3 The NDIS will provide up to $3,456 per year for participants who are currently working, looking for work, or studying, part time up to 15 hours a week, and are unable to use public transport because of their disability. Exceptional circumstances participants may receive higher funding if the participant has either general or funded supports in their plan to enable their participation in employment. Dec

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43 Understanding your NDIS plan October 2016 ndis.gov.au July 2016