You’re in

Control An introduction and planning guide for the National Disability Insurance Scheme

The information in this book at the time of printing is correct. No responsibility is taken for information changes that have occurred after printing. The NDIS implementation is a system in progress which means that information is constantly changing. For the most up to date information please visit the NDIS website at http://www.ndis.gov.au

You’re in

Control This workbook accompanies the ‘You’re in Control’ workshops presented by Deaf Services Queensland. It will help you remember what the NDIS is. It will help you collect information about yourself. You can keep your workbook and add things when your life changes. You can take the workbook to your NDIS planning meetings.

Contents What is different from before? The Old System

6

The New System 7 What is the NDIS 8 What is the NDIA 9 Who can access the NDIS 10 What NDIS pays for 12 What NDIS won’t pay for 13 Mainstream Services 14 Reasonable and Necessary

15

5 Steps in planning 17 Your life now 24 What I want for the future 32

What is different from before? The Old System Before the state government would pay money to an organisation who would then provide support services to people. For example, the Queensland government paid Deaf Services Queensland money to provide support to deaf people with additional disabilities to live in their home. This service was only available in Brisbane.

Queensland Government gives block funding to Deaf Services Queensland

Deaf Services Queensland provides different supports to people

6

The New System Under the NDIS the funding package will be for the individual and this means the individual can pick who they want to provide support.

Funding

Select supports (remember your choice)

Supports provided

This makes it fairer for all people who need help as they will get the help and support they need and want. Not what other people decide for them.

7

What is the National Disability Insurance Scheme?

The NDIS is an insurance scheme. It is a way of providing care and support to people with a disability in Australia. It will help people with a disability access supports and the community. The NDIS helps support informal care and will fund reasonable and necessary supports. The supports may help achieve goals in many aspects of life including, independence, involvement in the local community, education, employment and health and well-being. NDIS gives people more choice and control over how, when and where supports are provided. The NDIS is looked after by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and provides support to deaf people with additional disabilities to live in their home. This service was only available in Brisbane.

8

What is the National Disability Insurance Agency? The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is responsible for delivering the NDIS. The NDIA is an independent statutory agency whose role is to implement the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). It is not a government organisation.

NDIS Board

NDIA

Actuary gives advice to the CEO

9

Who can access the NDIS? Are you eligible for the NDIS? You may be able to receive an individual support plan if:

65

You are under 65 years of age

• You are an Australia citizen or • A permanent resident or • You have a special visa and have been living in Australia for 12 months or more

You also need to meet the disability requirements: • You have a permanent and significant disability • The disability affects everyday • You need help from others

Or you need to meet the early intervention requirements: • You or your child have a disability • Your child has a developmental delay • Getting access to supports now (early intervention) will help in the future

10

How do you check if you are eligible? My Access Checklist My Access Checklist is a tool to help you work out if you are able to access individualised assistance from NDIS. You should complete the My Access Checklist before contacting NDIA. You can find My Access Checklist online at: http://www.ndis.gov.au/ndis-access-checklist If you are not sure if you are eligible or you want more information you can contact the NDIA directly and ask for more information and help. Internet relay users, connect to the National Relay Service at www.relayservice.com.au and ask for 1800 800 110.

NDIS Access Checklist

11

What the NDIS pays for The NDIS pays for different supports for different people. The supports must help you...

Be more independent e.g. changes to your car, changes to your house

Join in the community e.g. get a job, join a group

Get services you need e.g. transport, a support worker to help at home

To get equipment and aids you need e.g. a wheelchair

12

What NDIS does not pay for The NDIS will not pay for supports not related to your disability. For example, the NDIS will not pay for things that everyone has to pay for like • • • • • •

Food Electricity Phone bills Movie tickets Internet connectivity Enrolment at TAFE

The NDIS will not pay for things that other government services already pay for. For example Medicare already pays for • X-rays • Blood tests • Some doctors fees

13

Mainstream Services The NDIS will not change existing services you already use. Services like Education, Housing, Health, Employment, Justice, Transport and Aged Care. These services will still operate the same.

14

Housing

Education

Centrelink (Pensions)

Medicare

Hospitals/Health

Relay Service

Reasonable and Necessary The NDIS will fund someone who needs ongoing support. They will fund supports that are reasonable and necessary. Reasonable means something that is fair. Necessary means something you must have. Everyone has different support needs. The NDIS will work out with you what supports you need. The supports you need must be • Related to your disability • Useful • Good value

What is reasonable and necessary support? Reasonable and Necessary supports will mean you can be more independent and work towards your goals You will be able to: • Do things on your own • Spend time with friends and family • Meet new people • Find work • Be part of community Supports can be equipment: • Wheel chair • Bus

15

Supports can be a person: • Support worker • Interpreter • Carer

You may already have some support: • Family • Friend • Community services • Health • Education

You might want support for: • Learning • Work • Social fun groups • Independence • Where you live and who you live with • Health

16

5 steps in planning The NDIS planning process There are five steps involved in developing your plan of supports for the NDIS. The five steps are: Step 1 – Think about your needs and goals Step 2 – Meet with your personal planner Step 3 – Develop your plan and consider how to manage your supports Step 4 – Implement (start) your plan Step 5 – Review your plan

Step 1 – Think about your needs and goals You need to plan before you meet with the planner at the NDIA. You need to think about your goals and dreams for the future and write these down. To help you think about the future you can think about: • What support do you need to do everyday activities? • How would you like your life to be in a few years? • How can the NDIS help you? You may decide to discuss these questions with your family, friends or carer. It is important you are prepared before you meet the planner at the NDIA.

17

Step 2 – Meet with your personal planner What is a planner? A planner is a person from the NDIA who helps you make your plan. A planner from the NDIA will arrange to meet at a time and place that is convenient for you. At this meeting, you will talk about your life, including the things you have written down. If you want, you can bring someone with you to this meeting. Together with your planner you will talk through your Participant Statement. A Participant Statement is information saying how you would like to live your life. It describes what is important to you, the supports you have already, how you are involved in the community- do you work, do you go out, meet friends etc.

How long will the meeting take? The time required is different for each person. You may only need one meeting, or you may need more. Your planner will take the time you need to talk through what’s important to you and help you make decisions.

Carer statements If you have a carer, that person may also wish to make a statement about the care they provide. If this is the case, your planner will ask for your permission.

18

Sample meeting agenda Introductions

Your planner will introduce themselves and outline what you will talk about in the meeting.

Your preparation

Your planner will ask if you understand the information in this workbook and the materials sent to you before the meeting. Don’t worry if you have not been able to complete the Participant Statement paperwork. Your planner can help with this.

Your Participant Statement

You will discuss: • Your current situation: living arrangements, social activities, employment • Your current supports and what is working well • What you would like to achieve • What you would like to change • Your goals and aspirations

Setting your objectives

You and your planner will turn your goals and aspirations into a set of actions.

Developing your strategies

Your planner will help develop the steps you need to take to achieve your goals and aspirations.

Measuring your achievements

You will discuss how you and your planner will be able to tell if your personal plan is working.

Managing your personal plan

Your planner will talk to you about options for managing your plan.

Setting review dates

You and your planner will agree on review dates for your plan.

Next steps

You may need a second meeting to finish your planning conversation. If this is the case, you will agree on a time. Once your planner has all the information they need, they will develop a plan of supports for you. Your planner will tell you when you can expect to receive your plan of supports and what will happen next.

19

Step 3 – Develop your plan and consider how to manage your supports Using the information gathered during your planning meeting, your planner will work out which supports will best help you and help you achieve your goals. Your planner will then write up your plan of supports. The planner will ask you questions about what you want and who you want to help you. This is self-direction.

Self-Direction Self-direction means you make the decisions. You can say ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’

What can you choose? Remember you choose what and who you want to help you.

The support worker you want



Where you want to live

20



Personal Carer

Managing your package If you have NDIS funded supports in your plan, your planner will talk to you about how you would like to manage that funding. A number of options are available. Look after the package yourself. This means you will pay the people who help you.

You name another person to look after your package. This is called a ‘plan nominee’.

Use an organisation to look after your package.

Ask the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to look after you package.

A mix of all these options. This means you create your own way of looking after your plan.



21

Step 4 – Carry out your plan The NDIA planner will send you a copy of your plan to sign. The planner will confirm how you want your plan managed. Your plan is started. The support and/or help you asked for is in place.

Supports

My Plan



Goals

Community

Step 5- Review you plan You will meet with your planner to see if the plan is working for you. You can make changes to your plan as your life changes.

What if I don’t agree with the decision? At any time you are not happy with your plan you can contact the NDIA and ask them to review or change your plan.

22

Planning for the future When you meet with the planner your planner will consider supports that will help you: • Pursue your goals and aspirations • Increase your independence • Take part in employment or community activities Together you will discuss informal, community and mainstream supports available to you. These include family, friends and community services, or more formal supports such as health and education services. Should you require them, the NDIS funds reasonable and necessary supports. These supports could include assistance with employment or in the workplace, therapies, home modifications, mobility equipment, or vehicle modifications. At your first planning session, you will discuss what you are doing now and what you would like to try in the future. You will talk about three aspects of your life: • Your daily routine • Your living arrangements • Your current relationships and supports from other people. Use the spaces on the following pages to make notes about these aspects of your life.

23

What is your life like now?

Think about: • What you participate in such as education, work and social activities • What is working well in your life • What you would like to change or improve • Whether there is something new you would like to try (this could be a therapy, an activity in your local community or a volunteer group you would like to join) • Activities you enjoy or you are good at • What you do when someone comes to help you in your home

24

It may help to fill in the timetables on the following pages.

Regular activities Day

What I do

What help I have

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

25

Occasional activities Things you do now and again.

Month

26

What I do / how often

What help I have

What are your current living arrangements? Think about:

Who you usually live with

The type of accommodation you live in Do you want to change anything? Write your notes here

27

What relationships do you have now? Think about: Who is important in your life and in what way? • Family • Friends • Community Groups • Social workers • Carers

What do people help you to do • Travel • Cleaning • Looking after your money • Taking part in social activities • Work • Study

Write your notes here

28

What supports do you currently have? Programs and therapies Think about: • Specific programs you access, such as those provided by your local council, religious, community or support groups, your hospital or school • Any therapies you require, such as therapeutic support or behaviour support

Write your notes here

29

Aids, equipment or modifications Think about: • Any special equipment you have or you need. For example, a wheelchair, speech aid or hoist. How often do you use this equipment? Is it appropriate for your needs? • Whether your home has been, or needs to be, modified. Do you have or need any ramps or lifts?

Write your notes here

30

Assistance with activities Think about: • What assistance you have to carry out your day-to-day activities, including participating in work or study, transport, sport, day program or community access, managing money, respite etc. • What formal supports you have through the health care system, community centres, work or education, cleaners, personal helpers etc.

Write your notes here

31

What I want for the Future Your goals There may be things you want to achieve in the short and longer term.

What is a goal? Something you want enough that you will work to achieve it. Goals can be long term - they take a long time to achieve. Goals can be short term - they are easy to reach and you can get there soon. Think about: • What help/support do you need to reach your goals? • What steps you need to take to get where you want to be • If something is stopping you from achieving your goals

Write your notes here

32

Use the spaces below to write down your goals in different areas of your life. You don’t need to write in every box; just those most important to you.

Employment

e.g. would you like to get a job, volunteer or change your work hours?

Write your notes here

33

Education

e.g. would you like to attend school, university or a course?

Write your notes here

Social participation

e.g. would you like to join a club, be more able to attend events, see your friends or make new friends?

Write your notes here

34

Independence

e.g. would you like to get around the house or community on your own or with less assistance?

Write your notes here

Living arrangements

e.g. would you like to modify your home or live somewhere different?

Write your notes here

35

Health and wellbeing

e.g. would you like to be more active or take up a sport?

Write your notes here

36

Is anything stopping you from reaching your goals? Are there any issues that are stopping you from reaching your goals? For example - you need ramps, a signing support worker, an interpreter.

Write your notes here

37

Where to get more information If you want more information you can contact:

Phone

1800 800 110 8am – 8pm Monday – Friday

Website

www.ndis.gov.au

@

Email

[email protected]

TTY users

Phone 1800 555 677, then ask for 1800 800 110



Speak and Listen (speech-to-speech relay)



Internet relay users





38

Phone 1800 555 727, then ask for 1800 800 110

Visit the National Relay Service website at: relayservice.gov.au and ask for 1800 800 110

An NDIS participant readiness activity funded by the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services