NDIS - National Disability Insurance Scheme

What is the NDIS?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a new way of providing individualised support for people with a permanent and significant disability.

The scheme is administered by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), and is designed for individual control with greater flexibility and choice. 

If you are eligible for the NDIS, the NDIA will meet with you, together with your family or carer if you wish. Together you decide which supports you need and develop an NDIS plan. Funding will be allocated depending on your needs. Carers are given the opportunity to speak with the NDIA with or without the person they care for in regard to their ability to continue providing care and any informal supports they currently provide.

What will the NDIS fund?

The NDIS will fund reasonable and necessary supports. A ‘reasonable’ support is one that is fair and represents good value for money. A ‘necessary’ support is one which you must have to live your life independently.

The NDIS pays for different supports for different people depending on their goals. Two people with similar impairments may have very different NDIS plans because their personal goals may not be the same. Examples of the supports the NDIS will pay for include:

• Transport
• Support workers
• Therapy
• Aids and equipment
• Workplace help
• Home or vehicle modification

Who is eligible for the NDIS?

To be eligible for the NDIS you need to be:

• Under 65 years of age
• An Australian citizen
• Live in a launch site or be in a launch age group
• Have a permanent impairment and
  • Can’t join in activities or do things without assistive technology, equipment or home modifications or
  • Usually require help from others to join in or do things.

If you are not eligible for the NDIS, you will continue to receive your existing funding.

How do you find out if you are eligible?

The NDIS website’s Access Checker will give you an indication of eligibility.  If you are eligible and currently receive disability services through the Department of Social Services, or are on the Disability Support Register (DSR), your details will be sent to the NDIA when they are ready for your transition. You will be contacted three to six months before transition.

Keep up to date by going to information sessions run by the NDIA, disability agencies, etc.  There will be a lot of support through your local NDIA branch office when your area is due to transition.

If you are not currently receiving any disability services, you can contact the NDIS at any time to apply.

Where is the NDIS?

From July 2016, each state will roll out the NDIS differently. Check the NDIS website to find out when it is coming to your area or age group.

If you are caring for someone with bladder or bowel problems, practical tips and advice are available to assist you with your care. Read more on caring with someone with incontinence.

For general information about bladder and bowel control problems, continence product advice, referrals to continence services and information about your eligibility for funding schemes you can also contact the Continence Foundation of Australia:
National Continence Helpline 
1800 33 00 66

Information provided by the Continence Foundation of Australia.