What is the NDIS?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme is called the NDIS. The NDIS is a new way to help people under 65 with a disability to get care and support. The NDIS also helps families and carers with information about services to support people with a disability. When people get help from the NDIS they can enjoy an ordinary life now and as their life changes.
The NDIS is an Australia-wide scheme to support people aged 0 to 65 years with permanent and significant disability.
Through the NDIS, people with disability will be able to access ‘reasonable and necessary’ supports to achieve their personal goals. Reasonable and necessary supports are those that help participants to live an ordinary life – that is, to build their skills and capabilities so they can engage in education, employment and community activities. The NDIS gives participants more choice and control over their disability supports and how those supports are provided.
The NDIS is managed by the National Disability Insurance Agency, or NDIA. The NDIA is responsible for determining eligibility for the scheme and for developing personalised support plans for participants.
Accessing the NDIS
If you believe you or a child you care for may be eligible, you can contact the NDIS by phone 1800 800 110 or NDIS customer service centre (https://ndis.gov.au/about-us/locations.html#nsw). We recommend visiting a customer service centre and speaking directly with a Local Area Coordinator (LAC).
You will find more information about Understanding the NDIS and the process through the following link https://ndis.gov.au/participants/planning-process.html
If eligible, families will need to, on request, provide copies of existing assessments, reports, plans or other information on a child’s disability to support an NDIS access request. Schools are not required to complete new reports for the NDIS .
Families of children aged between 0-6 should refer to Early Child Early Intervention (ECEI) https://www.ndis.gov.au/ecei.html
Should your child be eligble and you wish for an external provider to provide supports during school hours, WRPS has guidelines in place for such a request. This request must first be made by completing a request form which is available through the office or your child's classroom teacher. This request is then subject to approval by the Learning and Support team and the external service provider, satisfying mandatory requirements.
For a visit to occur in school during school time, the following criteria needs to be met.
· Visit needs to be directly related to the student’s education, and expected outcomes shared with the school.
· Completed Parent/Carer request provided and consent signed.
· Meeting has occurred between parent/carer, provider and staff to determine the nature of the service being provided and whether the school can accommodate it.
· Staff supervision and space is available.
· Working with children check number, insurance details and 100 points of ID provided by external provider.
· Mandatory reporting guidelines and induction requirements met.
· Signed declaration and agreement completed by provider and Principal.
· Parent is responsible for advising the provider of any changes in routine which may affect service provision.