You are already aware of how the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) benefits every Australian who has a severe and ongoing disability. Individuals will benefit from the program’s improved health outcomes in the future, enabling them to lead productive lives.  

The NDIS might at first seem overwhelming, but we are here to assist you. Any new person wishing to use NDIS services may find the organization’s many departments and terminology confusing.  

Starting out can be difficult. However, if they give you funding or access to necessary services, you should take advantage of them. It can be difficult to locate the ideal NDIS price guide.  

For your benefit, we have compiled a number of suggestions. It’s important to keep in mind that plenty of resources are available and that many people have already experienced this process. You should seek assistance at every stage as going through it alone can be very difficult.  

You will have the opportunity to discuss your present and future goals as part of the NDIS plan review, and you can proceed with the review if any significant changes need to be made or if your current funding is insufficient.  

If you are prepared for the meeting, it will be easier to express your needs and make sure you don’t forget anything. Start planning as soon as you can because doing so will give you the self-assurance you need to stand up for yourself or a loved one.  

 

NDIS plan meaning  

If the NDIS is new to you, you may be unsure of what an NDIS plan is. Your NDIS plan essentially serves as a roadmap for helping you live the best life possible and accomplish your objectives. Your goals, aspirations, and supports will all be described in detail in your NDIS plan. This will help you decide what kind of funding you need to Support your goals.  

Your plan will contain details on:  

• Basic details about your disability, regular activities, residence, and informal supporters are provided by you (such as your parents)  
• Your family and friends, as well as any unpaid assistance you receive from them to help you achieve your goals, are examples of informal support.  
• Services and community groups: Support groups, health facilities, libraries, and public transportation are just a few examples of the services and support that are funded and provided by the community or other government services.  
• Your goals, including the short-term objectives you have for your plan and the long-term objectives you have set for your life.  
• Funded Supports: How much money you have been given in each category of assistance and what it is for.  

Goals and support vary from person to person. Because of this, each person’s NDIS plan is unique as well. Your NDIS planning meeting will assist you in creating a special NDIS plan that will assist you in reaching your individual objectives.  

 

#1. Understand how the NDIS works  

Don’t wait for the NDIS to come to your area. Start thinking about it right now! To make the most of your involvement in the scheme, you must understand it completely. Visit the NDIS website and read it from beginning to end.  

Attend the webinars. Print the printable documents and put together a folder so you can keep all of the information in one convenient spot. Attend NDIS information sessions in your area and ask questions. When it comes to accessing and making the most of the scheme, knowledge is POWER.   

 

#2. Preparing for the NDIS planning meeting  

You are eligible for NDIS plans. You should utilize it to reflect your values, who you are, and your goals. Based on your experiences and interests, you and your planner can create your plan. 

Before approaching advanced care, the majority of our clients described their experiences of going blank during their initial NDIS plan meeting. The situation is understandable as you might be overly nervous, stressed, or emotional. Nobody benefits from a sudden outburst of emotion.  

Prepare ahead of time! Do your homework properly. Go through all of the reports to ensure that you can rely on the information and NDIS services you require.  

  

#3. Identifying your support requirements  

Make a list of your daily tasks, duties, and hobbies. An excellent workbook will help you address your activities and compose a simple inquiry about family support and transportation. Keeping photographs of your daily tasks can help to make the workbook more visible.  

You’ll also track your daily activities and habits as part of the preparation, which you’ll be questioned about during the planning meeting. Based on the workbook, you can look for NDIS transportation funding, home modifications, and transportation modifications.  

 

#4. Expectations from your NDIS first plan 

You and your LAC (Local Area Coordinator) or Planner meet for a minimum of an hour and a maximum of two hours during the planning meeting. At the first NDIS planning meeting, they will ask you about the following things: 

• Your primary disability, age, and personal and medical background. 
• Community, informal and support (also mention the informal support in your plan, keep in mind that no funding is offered). 
• What management style do you want for your plan? Your preferred method for handling plan management (who will be responsible for paying your bills). You are not required to seek assistance from registered providers for this; you are free to seek advice from unregistered sources as well. Additionally, there is no need to handle different paperwork or bank accounts. 
• Your daily activities and the kind of assistance you may require, including equipment, accommodations, support, and services. 
• Your plans for the coming month, quarter, or year. How do you intend to achieve your objectives over the upcoming 12 months? By keeping your goals more definite and broader, you can improve your chances of receiving assistance and support. 
• Daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, and even ad hoc activities that don’t need assistance or outside help are all examples of activities. 

The providers will also quiz you about the NDIS funding plan and package at the conclusion of the session. A sample plan will be made and reviewed further before submission before the final plan is made. 

 

#5. Collect your reports and evidence  

You will need to provide proof to support any requests you make for NDIS care plan assistance in order to reach your NDIS goals.  

You should gather reports from therapists (occupational therapists, speech pathologists, psychologists, and/or physiotherapists) describing how the disability affects your functional life and what kind of activities are used to help you achieve your goals for the NDIS programme before your NDIS plan review planning meeting.  

Allied health professionals can explain how particular tools and equipment would help you achieve your objectives. This could even include modifying your house or car, allowing you to, for example, do the following:  

• Get around the neighbourhood safely.  
• Obtain community involvement by utilizing assistive technology.  
• Eat, take a shower, or use the restroom on your own.  

 The reports will outline specific strategies and support to help you achieve or better your goals in the ideal NDIS pre-planning session.  

 

#6. Create a Disability Questionnaire   

At the conclusion of your first NDIS meeting, your LAC or Planner might ask you a few questions before explaining your NDIS plan. Examples of questions for an NDIS care plan include:  

• Self-care    
• Cognition  
• Life activities   
• Participation  
• Mobility  

How you respond to this question will affect how much support you receive during the NDIS plan review process.  

If you claim that you never require assistance for your NDIS participant plan, you will be highly functioning. 

Instead of responding to every question asked for the NDIS approval with an overly optimistic response, take into account your prior experiences. If you’ve ever required help with the NDIS starting your plan, it’s probably best to err on the side of caution.  

 

#7. Keep an eye on your providers  

Consider the quality and extent of your provider’s support when writing the NDIS support coordination plan review report. 

You must make sure you have the assistance you require to reach your objectives and lead the life you desire. If you’ve had issues with a specific provider, talk to your support coordinator about switching. 

Take into account the following: 

• Do my service providers arrive on time? 
• How well-mannered are they? 
• How frequently do they change their plans or with how little notice? 
• Have they fulfilled the obligations under your service agreement? 
• Your objectives have changed. Need a new service provider? 

If you do not currently have funding for a Support Coordinator, talk to your LAC or NDIA planner during your plan review for the NDIS about the possibility of hiring one. 

 

#8. Understand your needs and things NDIS does not cover  

The following types of support are not included in the NDIS:  

• Your NDIS plan cannot include any support that is unrelated to the functional impact of your disability.  
• The assistance offered through other government services is identical to that offered through those services. In other words, if you already receive support for your housing, health, or education, the NDIS won’t be able to help you directly.  

Understand every informal support when creating your NDIS plan.  

 

#9. Review your informal network of support  

As part of an informal support network, family members and friends typically offer unpaid support and assistance.  

Examples of NDIS goals include the ability of casual support to maintain the level of support they previously provided while adjusting their schedules or abilities.  

Your informal support may be discussed during your plan review for the NDIS, along with whether respite (or temporary accommodations) should be incorporated into your plan or if any informal support should be replaced with formal support.  

 

#10. Monitor your budget   

Many participants may find it difficult to monitor their spending throughout their NDIS plans so they don’t go over or under budget.  

Through the NDIS planning tools, you can access your personal plan to track the actual budget using Auspire Care monthly budget statements. If your budget has been overspent or underspent, your client manager will give you tips on how to get back on track.  

 

#11. Who should manage your NDIS plan? 

You can choose to be Self-Managed, Agency Managed, or Plan Managed, and each choice has an impact on the types of support you can access and the administrative and financial tasks you must complete.  

At your planning meeting, you must state your preferred option. The three choices are described as follows:  

 

Self-Managed  

You pay for each service directly before submitting an application to the NDIS for reimbursement. Alternatively, you can apply to the NDIS for the required amount, wait for funding to arrive, and then pay for your service or support. You should open a separate bank account, according to the NDIA. You must document your services and payments. You can directly bargain for a price under Self-Management with the service provider. You can also use NDIS providers who are both registered and unregistered.  

To put it simply, you have more options and freedom, but you still need to be organized and capable of handling paperwork.  

 

NDIA or Agency Managed  

Service providers must send their invoices to the NDIA directly, and the NDIA will pay them. You can only use providers who are registered with the NDIA under this option, though. They also have to be paid at NDIA rates. The NDIA-managed option has a lot less flexibility.  

 

Plan Managed  

An organization like Auspire Care handles the paperwork and arranges payments from your NDIS plan for the services you receive under this option. You receive monthly statements from the Plan Manager so you can monitor your progress toward your NDIS budget.  The Plan Management service is free to you, and it has no bearing on the funding for any other support in your NDIS plan. 

Because you do not pay for the Plan Management service, your NDIS plan has no impact on funding for other supports. Auspire Care handles all the paperwork in this situation and coordinates payments from your NDIS plan. The Plan Manager will send you a statement each month detailing the status of your NDIS budget.  

Self-Management provides the same level of flexibility as Plans Management, but without the paperwork. For you to combine these three options, some elements of your plan might need more control than others.  

If you want more control over some aspects of your plan than others, you can combine these three management options.  

 

Evaluate the effectiveness of your plan management 

How your plan’s funding is handled is something over which you have control and choice. You will have more flexibility in accessing a variety of supports if you choose Self Management or Plan Management (both NDIS registered and unregistered). 

 

How does your NDIS plan help you achieve your goals?  

Your NDIS plan’s goal is to support you in living the best life possible by assisting you in achieving your objectives.  

Your ECEI Coordinator, LAC, or NDIA planner will ask you about your objectives during your initial meeting. Long-term and short-term goals are both possible to set. Short-term goals may be accomplished within a year of your initial plan, while long-term goals may require you to work steadily towards them over many years.  

Setting goals helps you define the types of support you will be able to use, which is a crucial step in developing your plan. Your plan’s funding is decided based on the objectives you set and the resources you need to achieve them. Every dollar you receive in funding must be tied to a goal in your plan. This is why it’s crucial that you clearly communicate the goals you have and the resources you’ll need to achieve them.  

We are aware that both your goals and life can change. You will review your plan so that you can consider your objectives and make any necessary adjustments for the following plan. See our blog post on goal setting for more details on how to create your goals.