Individuals with disabilities may need a little extra support and assistance with certain aspects of their lives, and fortunately, many organizations in the country offer such services. One of these organizations is the NDIS. This article gives a general idea of what the NDIS is, a summary of its services, and how one can access its services.
What is the NDIS?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an organization that is both governed and funded by the Australian and participating states and territory governments, according to the website of the Parliament of Australia. The NDIS aims to support people in Australia with a disability and their carers and families.
What Services Does the NDIS Offer?
The NDIS offers a variety of services that are classified into:
- Aged Care –
This service involves providing funding to go towards helping an individual afford an aged care facility and carer support services and provide training and assistance in this sector.
- Employment –
The NDIS helps provide funds for any personal care, aids, or equipment that people with a disability may require at their workplace. Training and guidance that individuals might need – such as learning basic work skills and networking – are also funded by the NDIS. The NDIS also offers School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES), which are programs that provide the necessary resources and help school-leaving NDIS participants gain skills that will let them better transition into the workforce. NDIS often offers this service through SLES NDIS providers such as atWork Australia, which help connect NDIS participants to the right employers and jobs that best fit them. It also helps to note that the NDIS funds SLES NDIS providers’ services for up to 2 years in most cases.
- Child Protection and Family Support –
This includes services such as offering training to parents and carers with disabilities, guardians who care for a child with a disability. Any support required due to the impact of having a disability of a child or guardian is also covered.
- Transport –
The NDIS can help cover costs associated with making modifications to private vehicles and even training to help individuals use public transportation.
- Justice –
The NDIS helps fund any support necessary for a person with a disability both in and not in custody and any support required to help the individual transition out of a custodial setting as a result of their disability.
- Health –
The NDIS can provide the funding required for any therapy or equipment for an individual with a disability. The NDIS can also help support the training of carers and the individuals with the disability themselves to decrease dependency.
How To Apply To Be A NDIS Participant
The first step is to ensure you meet all the requirements to be an NDIS participant. These requirements include:
- Being between 7 and 65 years of age
- Require special equipment as a result of a permanent and significant disability
- Living in Australia or having an Australian residency
- Require support to help with future needs as a result of a disability
- Require a person’s aid as a result of a disability
If you meet these requirements, you will need to go onto the NDIS website, make an Access-Request and provide details regarding your disability.
We hope this article helped provide a better idea about the services offered by the NDIS. If you are eligible and think you will benefit from these services, reach out to the NDIS or NDIS provider!
