What can NDIS do for me?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme is called the NDIS. The NDIS is the new way to help people under 65 with disability get care  and supports. 

NDIS can help people with disabilities do things for themselves; join the community; and get important equipment.

•  The aim is to help people live a better life.
•  You will have choice about who provides your care and supports. 
• Everyone is an individual. Every NDIS plan is different, and made to fit your needs. As your needs change, so does your NDIS plan.
• Once you are found eligible for the NDIS, you will be supported for the rest of your life, in most cases.

Disability vs. Recovery

People experiencing mental illness may not see themselves as disabled. They hope for personal recovery, which is about living a satisfying, hopeful, and contributing life even with effects caused by the illness.

The NDIS needs evidence that the disability caused by the mental illness is to be  lifelong. However, the person can still achieve personal and emotional wellbeing.

Can I have NDIS supports?

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) are the Australian government agency who will decide who can have NDIS supports. The Agency will need you to send them some paperwork that proves your age and your address. Your doctor will need to give you a letter for the NDIA that proves your disability needs.

The NDIA will need to know:

• You are under 65 years of age
• You are a permanent Australian resident
• You have an ongoing  disability with high support needs

If you think you may be eligible for NDIS please read on.

If you have a child living with a developmental delay or disability and they are under 7 years, they may be eligible for Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) under the NDIS.  Please see the NDIS website for more details.

How can I apply for NDIS supports?

Once you decide you want to test your eligibility for NDIS, start by talking with your care and support people, including your doctors. They can support you to apply for NDIS, and may help you make the access phone call.

To make the access phone call, be ready with a pen and paper.

Call the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) on 1800 800 110

You will be asked about:

Your name; age; where you live; and whether you were born here or otherwise are allowed to live in Australia permanently.

Let the NDIA know who you want the NDIA to talk with about your disability e.g. Services Australia; your G.P; or people providing support to you.

After the phone call, the NDIA will send you a letter asking for evidence to help them make a decision.

Useful evidence includes:

• Evidence of your age and residence.
• Details and evidence about your disability and how it effects you each day.
• Reports from medical specialists or other professionals.

If you are looking for someone to support you to make an NDIS application, call the EACH Mental Health Access team on 1300 003 224 or your Local Area Coordinator

NDIS information for families and supporters

Although the NDIS supports people with permanent and significant disability, their NDIS-funded supports and services may have a direct or indirect benefit for families and carers.

Your Local Area Coordinator (LAC),  Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) Coordinator or the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) can also give you information about supports available to you under other government-funded programs, including counselling and carer support groups in your community.

A ‘carer impact statement’ is useful when your loved one is applying for NDIS. This is a written document describing the support you provide to the person you care for, and detailing their support needs and the impact of their disability. This statement can be used as part of a person's application for NDIS support, but it's not compulsory.

How do I write a Carer Impact Statement?

Write a letter that includes the following information:

• About their disability and how it impacts their day to day functioning.
• What they need support with, and what their carer does to support them.
• Your own needs and goals as a carer, and how the caring role affects you.
• Whether you can keep caring for them in the same way into the future.