What is the NDIS?
The NDIS is the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The NDIS provides support to eligible people with intellectual, physical, sensory, cognitive, and psychosocial disability. The NDIS provides reasonable and necessary funding to people with a permanent and significant disability to access the supports and services they need to live and enjoy their life.
Every NDIS participant has an individual plan that lists their goals and funding. NDIS participants use their funding to purchase supports and services to help them achieve their goals. Everyone has different goals. Goals might include things like volunteering, getting and keeping a job, making friends or participating in a local community activity.
Am I eligible for the NDIS?
To be eligible for the NDIS you must be aged between 7 and 65. If you are over 65 you might like to read about services available to you through My Aged Care. The NDIS is only available to people who live in Australia, are Australian Citizens, or Permanent Visa holders, or Protected Special Category Visa holders. You must have a permanent and significant disability.
How do I apply for the NDIS?
You can call 1800 800 110 to make an Access Request. You can also submit an Access Request form which is available by CLICKING HERE.
You may be asked to provide some additional information after you make your Access Request. This may include information about your disability and how it impacts on your day-to-day life. You can provide copies of existing information, including letters or reports, or you can ask your treating health professional to fill out and sign a form.
I have my NDIS plan, how do I access services?
Once you have your NDIS plan, you can start to look for services to provide your services and supports. You might like to ask your Support Coordinator or Local Area Coordinator to assist you in this process. To find NDIS registered providers, like Your Side, you can search the Provider Finder on the myplace portal. The NDIS website also has lists of providers for each state and territory that you can use.
You might want to research providers on the internet, check reviews, get advice from friends or family and speak with different providers either face-to-face or over the phone before you agree to work with them. Each provider will be different, so it is important to find a provider who can meet your needs and provide the support services that you want to access.
What is myplace?
Myplace is the NDIS portal for participants. It’s a secure website where you can access your NDIS information. From myplace you can view your NDIS Plan, check your contact details, create and view payment requests, share your plan with a service provider and also find service providers to deliver your supports.
You need a myGov account to sign in to myplace. You might already have a myGov account for Medicare, the Australian Tax Office or Centrelink.
You can find instructions to access myplace by CLICKING HERE.
You can create an account or sign in to myGov by CLICKING HERE.
What is a Support Coordinator?
A support coordinator is someone who is funded through your plan, to help you understand and implement the funded supports in your plan and link you to community, mainstream and other government services. A Support Coordinator will focus on supporting you to build skills and direct your life as well as connect you to providers.
A Support Coordinator should work with you to link you to providers, they will help build your ability to exercise choice and control, to coordinate supports and access your local community. They can also assist you in planning ahead to prepare for your plan review.
How do I find a Support Coordinator?
You can look up registered support coordination providers using the Provider Finder tool in myplace. The Provider Finder will let you search for support coordination providers that are located near you. Every three months the NDIA publishes a list of registered providers in your state on the NDIS website. Your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) can also assist you to find and connect with a support coordinator.
Do I need to share my plan with my provider?
You do not have to give anyone a copy of your NDIS plan. Sharing your plan is your choice. If you want to, you can choose to share parts or all of your plan with your service providers. You may want to share information about you and your goals, so your provider knows what you want to achieve and how you would like them to assist you.
NDIS registered providers must follow privacy rules and should not share your personal information with anyone else without your permission. If you have concerns about your privacy, speak to your provider about their privacy policy and rules.
Can I change my NDIS provider?
Absolutely! The NDIS is all about choice and control, so you choose who your providers are. If you want to change providers, you should discuss this with your current provider and review your Service Agreement with them. Depending on the Service Agreement, you might need to give your current provider a period of notice before you can change.
If you are unsure about this process, or need to change your provider because you do not feel safe or respected, you can contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 or you can talk to the NDIS Quality and Safeguard Commission on 1800 035 544.
What services does Your Side offer?
Your Side is a registered NDIS provider. We offer a lot of different services to NDIS participants including personal care, community access, gardening, cleaning, handyman services and allied health. We work with you to create a Support Plan so that we understand your goals and your needs.
If you would like more information about our services, please call our NDIS team at Your Side on:
What is a Service Agreement?
A Service Agreement is an agreement between a provider and a participant. The NDIA recommends having a written service agreement so participants and providers are clear about what each party has agreed to. Service agreements help make sure the participant and provider have the same expectations of what supports will be delivered and how they will be delivered.
It is important that you understand what is written in a Service Agreement. If you need assistance, you can speak with your Support Coordinator or the provider to ask questions about the Service Agreement.