1. National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
Scheme overview and implementation update
Chris Skurrie & Sean Pearson
Community Engagement, NSW North
Coffs Harbour
May 2017

2. Build community awareness of disability
NDIS and the NDIA
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) administers the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
The Agency’s job is to:
Deliver the NDIS
Build community awareness of disability
Ensure financial sustainability of the NDIS
Develop and enhance the disability sector
The NDIA Board governs the NDIS
Role of the NDIA
Delivering the NDIS
As described in:
The Intergovernmental Agreement for the National Disability Insurance Scheme launch; and
The NDIS legislation
Build community awareness of disability by:
Managing the expectations of people with disability, their families and cares regarding access to NDIS support in the launch sites
Raising community awareness of disability and the social contributors to capability
Ensure the financial sustainability if NDIS by:
Funding for individualised reasonable and necessary packages of support
Providing innovative and flexible support to people with disability
Taking a lifetime view of support needs and ensuring a sustainable balance of costs and outcomes
Report and advise on the financial sustainability of the scheme
Develop and enhance the disability sector by:
Successful transitioning of existing sector providers
Identifying and addressing barriers to success
Building a sustainable sector and workforce
Collect, analyse and exchange data about disability and supports by:
Implementing IT systems which capture robust data and produce requisite reports
Analyse and use data to promote awareness and inclusion of people with disability
Undertake research relating to disability and supports by:
Sharing information on and learn from successful participant pathways
Modelling future needs, disability prevention, evaluating early interventions and supports etc.

3. A new way Supports tailored to individual needs
Insurance approach for sustainable costs
Choice and control is central
Needs driven
Delivered in local communities
National coverage
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is the new way of providing individualised support for people with disability, their families and carers.
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) administers the NDIS.
People with disability choose the providers they work with.
Over 460,000 Australians with disability will enter the NDIS in coming years.
There are growth opportunities for providers who respond to this new demand.
Resources and tools will be available to help providers adjust to the new market environment.

4. Background to NDIS
2008: Commonwealth 2020 Summit proposes a national disability scheme
2010: Productivity Commission conducts enquiry in to long term disability care
July 2011: Productivity Commission submits report to government
Oct 2011: COAG agrees to need for reform – taskforce develops scheme design
Dec 2012: COAG sign agreement to trial the Scheme
Mar 2013: NDIS Act 2013 establishing the NDIS and NDIA passed
Apr 2013: Bilateral agreements with trial sites signed
1 July 2013: Trial sites in VIC, NSW, SA and TAS start
1 July 2014: Trial sites in ACT, NT and WA start
1 July 2015: Early transition in Nepean Blue Mountains NSW begins
Sept 2015: VIC and NSW bilateral agreements signed
Dec 2015: SA and Tas bilateral agreements signed
April 2016: Early transition in QLD begins
July 2016: Roll out begins in VIC, NSW, SA, ACT and Tas
A brief overview of the journey to where the NDIS is today:
In 2008 the Australian Government’s 2020 summit proposed a national disability scheme
The Australian Government directed the Productivity Commission to conduct an enquiry into long term disability care and support in There were over 1000 submissions.
The Productivity Commission report submitted to government in July 2011.
An intergovernmental agreement was signed in December 2012 to proceed with a Scheme trial.
The NDIS Act 2013 establishing the NDIS and NDIA was passed in March 2013.
The NDIS started in July For the first three years, it is being introduced at trial sites at selected locations because it’s a big change, and we want to get it right and make it sustainable.
On 1 July 2013, the NDIS began in Tasmania for young people aged 15-24, in South Australia for children aged six and under (on 1 July 2014), and in the Barwon area of Victoria and the Hunter area in New South Wales for people up to age 65.
On 1 July 2014 the NDIS commenced across the ACT, Barkly region of Northern Territory, and in the Perth Hills area of Western Australia.
In the Nepean Blue Mountains area of NSW, an NDIA office opened on 1 July 2015 and participant planning began on 1 September 2015 (for children under 17 years of age).
From April 2016 early transition sites in Townsville, Charters Towers and Palm Island will begin
Roll-out of the full scheme in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, ACT and Tasmania will commence progressively from July 2016.
Work continues with governments in other states to progress the roll out of the Scheme

5. NDIS principles
People with disability have the same right as other members of the community to realise their potential
People with disability, their families and carers should have certainty they will receive the care and support they need
People with disability should be supported to exercise choice in the pursuit of their goals and the planning and delivery of their supports
The role of families and carers in the lives of people with disability is to be acknowledged and respected
The NDIS principles align with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the National Disability Strategy
The NDIS assists Australia to meet our obligations under the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The NDIS also forms part of Australia’s National Disability Strategy, as reflected in the NDIS principles:
People with disability have the same right as other members of the community to realise their potential
People with disability, their families and carers should have certainty they will receive the care and support they need for their life time
People with disability should be supported to exercise choice in the pursuit of their goals and the planning and delivery of their supports
The role of families and carers in the lives of people with disability is to be acknowledged and respected

6. Three key pillars Insurance approach Choice and control
Community and mainstream
Insurance approach:
Supports economic and social participation.
Mobilises funding for early intervention
Estimates and manages resource allocation based on managing long term costs across the life-course of individuals
Shares the cost of disability across the community
Choice and Control:
Participants have choice over their supports (that are reasonable and necessary) and who will deliver them.
Participants determine how much control they want over management of their funding, supports and providers
Scheme gives effect to certain obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - including respect for their worth, dignity and to live free from abuse, neglect and exploitation
Community and Mainstream:
People are supported to access and coordinate community and funded supports
The scheme will not duplicate or replace mainstream services
Effective interface with mainstream and community supports is central to the sustainability of the Scheme

7. Insurance principles
The risk of disability affects all Australians. Resulting financial costs may be too much for any individual or family to bear
The NDIS is a way of pooling these risks
Each year, all tax payers pay a premium to cover the costs of running the NDIS and providing care and support to participants
We are all at risk of being affected by disability. We all share the risk and the cost of disability. We are all covered if and when we need it
Insurance model funded through Medicare levy and State and territory Governments
Insurance that cover all Australians that acquire a permanent and significant disability

8. How things are changing

9. The NDIS is here to help participants by:
Accessing services and supports provided by the health, education, housing and justice systems. These are referred to as mainstream services
Accessing community services and supports such as sporting clubs, community groups, libraries or charities
Supporting informal care arrangements - this is the care and help from family and friends
Receiving supports funded by the NDIS
The NDIS is a new way of providing support for eligible people with disability, their family and carers.
The NDIS helps people to:
Access mainstream services and supports These are the services available for all Australians, and you can receive, from people like doctors and teachers through the health, education, housing and justice systems.
Access community services and supports
These are activities and services available to everyone in the community in your local area, such as sporting clubs, community groups, libraries or charities.
Support your informal care arrangements
This is the care and help you get from your family and friends. It is generally care you don’t pay for and is part of most people’s lives.
Receive reasonable and necessary funded supports, including early intervention if necessary
the NDIS can fund supports that are reasonable and necessary. This means they are related to your disability and are required for you to live your life and achieve your goals. You can read more about reasonable and necessary supports on our website.

10. What does the NDIS fund?
The NDIS pays for different supports for different people. The type of support depends on what different people want to achieve and what areas of their life they need help with
Funded supports may include:
Help with household tasks and personal activities
Vehicle and home modifications
Mobility equipment and assistive technology
Transport to be involved in community, social and employment activities
Therapies related to the disability
The NDIS funds different supports for different people.
The type of support depends on what different people want to achieve and what areas of their life they need help with. Funded supports may include:
Help with household tasks and personal activities
Vehicle and home modifications
Mobility equipment and assistive technology
Transport to be involved in community, social and employment activities
Therapies related to the disability
The NDIS funds reasonable and necessary supports that help a participant to reach their goals, objectives and aspirations and to enable the participant’s social and economic participation.
A participant’s reasonable and necessary supports take into account any informal supports already available (informal arrangements that are part of family life or natural connections with friends and community services) as well as other formal supports, such as health and education.

11. What doesn’t the NDIS fund?
There are rules for the NDIS that mean some supports cannot be funded in an NDIS plan
The NDIS will not fund:
Supports that are not related to a person’s disability
Supports that are funded by a different mechanism or system, such as Medicare or the Health system
Day-to-day living costs that everyone pays for such as food, electricity and water
Things that may cause harm
The NDIS Act and the rules made under the NDIS Act also tell us which supports will not be funded by the NDIS.
A support will not be funded if it:
is not related to the participant’s disability
duplicates other supports already funded by a different mechanism through the NDIS
relates to day-to-day living costs that are not related to a participant’s support needs, or
is likely to cause harm to the participant or pose a risk to others.

12. Scheme achievements
The achievements so far are many:

13. Estimated intake
It is estimated that around 460,000 Australians will be supported by the NDIS by 2020
There are two key concurrent challenges:
Significant growth in demand for supply
Significant shift in how services will be delivered – block funding to NDIS participant choice (individualised funding)
This chart shows the supply growth needed at Full Scheme. It is estimated that there will be more than 460,000 participants in the NDIS at Full Scheme.
Currently, there are approximately 304,000 people with disability receiving funded supports (14,000 funded by NDIS). As people with disability on existing services transition into the NDIS, there will be need for an expansion in the total supply.
The Agency is working with the Scheme Actuary and jurisdictions to analyse the supply gaps, including the gaps by support type, location and timing in the phasing of the NDIS.

14. Accessing the NDIS
People with disability who meet the access requirements will become participants
People with disability enter the NDIS through multiple channels
There will be a gradual intake of participants around Australia
People in areas where the NDIS is active can contact the NDIA to ask questions and request an Access Request Form
To access assistance from the NDIS
Live in Australia as a permanent resident of Australia; and
Be under 65 years of age; and
Meet the disability requirements; and/or
Meet the early intervention requirements
To meet the “disability requirements” means having a significant and permanent disability that affects communication, mobility, self-care or self-management.
To meet the “early intervention requirements” means having a disability or developmental delay where early intervention support would likely reduce the person’s future needs for supports in relation to disability.
It is only possible to get a definitive answer about being able to access the scheme by going through the assessment process.
Information is available about the Scheme for everyone through the Agency and multiple points in the broader human service system. The gateway harnesses generic disability, community and mainstream supports and the local Agency presence.

15. People aged 65 and over
People aged 65 and over are not eligible to access the NDIS
If you are aged 65 or over and currently accessing a disability service, you will get continuity of support consistent with your current arrangements
If you are not eligible for the NDIS, you can still engage with existing Australian and State Government disability services around your support needs
Visit myagedcare.gov.au to find out more

16. Disability requirements
To access the NDIS a person must have permanent disability which has a significant impact on everyday life and on their ability to participate in the community and will mean they will need ongoing supports.

17. Early intervention requirements
Early intervention is for both children and adults. To meet the early intervention requirements a person must have an impairment that is, or is likely to be, permanent. AND
There is evidence that receiving supports now (early interventions) will help:
Reduce the level of support needed, now and in the future OR
Assist their family and carer to keep providing support
A person meets the early intervention requirements if the person:
has one or more identified intellectual, cognitive, neurological, sensory or physical impairments that are, or are likely to be, permanent; or
has one or more identified impairments that are attributable to a psychiatric condition and are, or are likely to be, permanent; or
is a child who has developmental delay.

18. Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) objectives
The following early intervention objectives are particularly focused on children.
Investment in early intervention is a key feature of the NDIS. Access to early intervention in childhood will aim to:
Increase functional capacity
Reduce the impact of disability
Help maintain independence
Increase opportunity for social, economic and community participation
Utilise evidence based interventions
Early intervention is the means of providing specialised support and services for example to infants and young children with disability or developmental delay. It may also apply to adults with recently diagnosed conditions that without intervention would result in significant impairment.
Early intervention for a child with a developmental delay or disability is important in maximising benefit for the child and family. Providing quality intervention early in a child’s life reduces the possible need for longer term intervention and improves the functionality, inclusion and wellbeing of a child.

19. Early Childhood Early Intervention Approach
Children between 0-6 years
Family centred approach
Supports greater inclusion in mainstream settings
Builds capacity of child and family
Early childhood partners in local community
The Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) Approach is how the NDIS is working with Early Childhood Providers to deliver early childhood intervention for children aged 0-6 years.
The overall aim of ECEI is to ensure that parents or primary caregivers are able to provide young children who have developmental delay or disabilities with experiences and opportunities that help children gain and use the functional skills they need to participate meaningfully in their environment.
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) recognises that timely access to best-practice early childhood intervention is vital for children with developmental delay or disability to ensure that they achieve the best possible outcomes throughout their life. The ECEI approach aims to ensure children are provided with the right level of support at the right time for the right length of time.
Working in collaboration with sector experts, evidence-based research has been used to design Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) as a family-centred approach. The NDIA will engage Early Childhood Providers around Australia, called Early Childhood Partners who in their work with the family will use their clinical and specialist expertise in Early Childhood Intervention to understand the child’s developmental delay or disability and the impact on their everyday functioning. Together they will identify goals and using their expertise, the Early Childhood Partner will discuss evidence based supports that can help meet the goals of the child and family.
The type of supports offered will be different for every child and their family according to their individual needs.  The Early Childhood Partners enables the NDIA to be implemented at a community level. 
Children between 0-6 wont be coming directly into the scheme in the first instance. However, the Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) approach is in line with the Scheme’s focus on the individual – every child and their family will receive the right support to meet their goals and aspirations based on their needs, regardless of diagnosis.
If a child is aged 0-6 years and has a disability, or if there are concerns with their development, they may be eligible to receive support from the NDIS under the Early Childhood Early Intervention model.

20. Existing and New ECEI Participants
The ECEI journey
Key Features of the ECEI approach
Family will meet with early childhood partner
Determine best supports for child and family
Information and linkages
Identify community and mainstream supports
Short term intervention and supports
If required, help to request NDIS access
Capacity building
The focus of capacity building is to ensure children and their families are connected into their communities. This can be achieved in two ways:
Personal capacity building - making sure children and their families have the skills, resources and confidence they need to participate in the community or access the same kind of opportunities or services as other children and families.
Community capacity building - making sure mainstream services or community organisations become more inclusive of people with disability
Building community inclusion is pivotal to the ECEI approach and will be implemented through awareness raising, peer support, resource provision and information collection.
Family-centred
The ECEI approach builds on the strengths and capacity of the family and supports greater inclusion in a child’s everyday environments.
The approach will deliver a service that supports a partnership between the child’s family or primary caregivers and professionals.
The ECEI approach empowers a family’s decision-making and ensures the values and needs of the whole family are considered to improve the child’s development. Through education, the approach aims to empower families to understand best practice early childhood early intervention supports, and increase their confidence in managing their child’s support needs.
Everyday Environments
Research and evidence shows children learn and develop best in their natural, everyday settings.
Through the ECEI approach, supports can be offered in a range of everyday environments such as at home, childcare, playgroup, sporting and community activities. Families and carers will also be supported to help their children develop and use new skills in these environments.
Accessing ECEI in your area
The ECEI approach is being implemented in line with the scheduled full-scheme roll out of the NDIS.
If ECEI is available in your area, the ECEI approach utilises the existing referral pathways into early childhood intervention through maternal child health, paediatricians and GPs. Families are able to self-refer to their local Early Childhood Partner or make contact with the NDIA through the call centre and you will be directed to an Early Childhood Partner in your local area.
The current arrangements in NSW North are still sitting with FACS.
The agency isn’t bringing in any new participants until What does this mean for the Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour areas?
If a child is already an NDIS participant, their current arrangements will continue. The agency will talk about the different ECEI options for the child at their next scheduled plan review.
If a child is not currently supported by the NDIS, but they are receiving state government funded supports, they will continue to receive these supports until the NDIS becomes available in their area. The agency will contact the family when the NDIS is available where they live.
If the child is not currently receiving any support and there are concerns about their development, they can still apply for the scheme, but they wont receive a funded plan until However, they can still access State Based supports until then.

21. ECEI Providers
ECEI Transtion Providers in Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour have now been identified
Accessing ECEI in your area
The ECEI approach is being implemented in line with the scheduled full-scheme roll out of the NDIS.
If ECEI is available in your area, the ECEI approach utilises the existing referral pathways into early childhood intervention through maternal child health, paediatricians and GPs. Families are able to self-refer to their local Early Childhood Partner or make contact with the NDIA through the call centre and you will be directed to an Early Childhood Partner in your local area.
The current arrangements in NSW North are still sitting with FACS.
The agency isn’t bringing in any new participants until What does this mean for the Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour areas?
If a child is already an NDIS participant, their current arrangements will continue. The agency will talk about the different ECEI options for the child at their next scheduled plan review.
If a child is not currently supported by the NDIS, but they are receiving state government funded supports, they will continue to receive these supports until the NDIS becomes available in their area. The agency will contact the family when the NDIS is available where they live.
If the child is not currently receiving any support and there are concerns about their development, they can still apply for the scheme, but they wont receive a funded plan until However, they can still access State Based supports until then.
At this stage we don’t know who the ECEI providers are for Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour. Handover to FACS for update????

22. Types of funded supports
Most participants will access a blend of informal, mainstream and funded supports.
Supports that are NDIS funded must be reasonable and necessary and must:
focus on the participant’s goals and aspirations
foster greater independence, social and economic participation
be evidence based
represent value for money
Choice of and control over NDIS funded supports means safeguards may be required to reduce risk of harm, abuse or neglect of the participant.

23. What if I’m not accepted into the NDIS?
People with disability who are not eligible for the NDIS, but still need help, will have access to Information, Linkages and Capacity (ILC).
ILC has two main focuses:
Personal capacity building – this depends on the person’s needs. It may include information about a community service, or how another government agency can help you. ILC will be available to all people with disability regardless of NDIS eligibility.
Building community inclusion – helping mainstream services and community organisations be more inclusive for people with disability.

24. Information and Community Linkages (ILC)
A key component of the NDIS insurance model.
Contributes to the sustainability of the scheme by building the capacity of the community, people with disability, their families and carers, and fosters greater community inclusion.
ILC supports will be delivered through five streams of activity:
Information, linkages and referrals
Capacity building for mainstream services
Community awareness and capacity building
Individual capacity building
Local area coordination
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has two parts:
NDIS plans (sometimes known as individually funded packages) for eligible people with a disability, an
Information, linkages and capacity building or ILC.
Both parts work together to support people with a disability. ILC is not something separate to the rest of the NDIS but an integral part of it. Its success will make an important contribution to the success and sustainability of the scheme by ensuring that people are connected to their communities, they are using the same services and participating in the same activities as everyone else and that over time they will rely less on specialist disability support. ILC also has an important role to play in supporting people with a disability who do not have a NDIS plan.
The focus of ILC will be community inclusion – making sure people with disability are connected into their communities. ILC is all about making sure our community becomes more accessible and inclusive of people with disability.
We want to do this in two ways:
Personal capacity building – this is about making sure people with disability and their families have the skills, resources and confidence they need to participate in the community or access the same kind of opportunities or services as other people.
Community capacity building – this is about making sure mainstream services or community organisations become more inclusive of people with disability. 
Unlike the rest of the NDIS, ILC won’t provide funding to individuals. It will provide grants to organisations to carry out activities in the community. Many of the activities that we will fund in ILC will be available to both people with disability and families. Providing information about a particular disability or condition on a website or through a phone line, for example, will help both people with disability as well as family members. And the activities we fund to build the capacity of mainstream services and community activities to be more inclusive will benefit all people with disability, as well as their families and carers.
ILC contributes to the sustainability of the scheme by building the capacity of the community, people with disability, their families and carers, and helping to foster greater community inclusion. Overtime, this will reduce the demand for and the level of support required from individually funded responses.
ILC supports will be delivered through five streams of activity:
Information, Linkages and Referrals
Capacity building for mainstream services
Community awareness and capacity building
Individual capacity building
Local area coordination
Tender process closed 8th March 2017 for service provision in 2018.

25. Differences between LAC, Planner & Support Coordinator
Uniting and St Vincent de Paul Society NSW until 30 June 2018.
NDIA Staff
NDIA Registered Service Providers
Conduct information gathering process for participants streamed as general, supported and intensive.
Conduct information gathering for participants in large residential centres and those who are streamed as super-intensive.
X Do not conduct information gathering
X Do not make reasonable and necessary decisions or approve plans.
Make reasonable and necessary decisions in accordance with the NDIS Act 2013, approve plans.
X Do not come into contact with NDIS participants until they have an approved plan.
Support participants streamed as general or supported to implement and review their plans.
X Do not support participants to implement their plans.
Support participants streamed as intensive and super-intensive to implement and review their plans.
There are 3 key roles in the planning process within the agency.
LAC
Local Area Coordinators (LACs) will support some participants and their families to join in and contribute to the life of their community and assist with the planning process, plan implementation and community participation.
LACs will support participants through all steps on the Scheme pathway services.
LACs will also deliver some activities to people who are not eligible for the Scheme and in building community capacity.
In the Port Macquarie and Coffs Region areas, the NDIA has partnered with Social Futures to deliver NSW LAC services during transition to 30 June 2018.
These funding agreements are for the transition period only, with an open market process expected to be undertaken to deliver the LAC function in full scheme post 1 July  
It is anticipated that 60% of participants will utilise LAC plan implementation supports,
Role of the Planner
A planner will gather the information from a planning meeting with the participant and using that information (together with any other information and reports provided) prepare an individual plan of supports and allocate the funding to the plan.
Support Coordinator
There are a number of activities required by the SC, who is a registered provider. It is anticipated that 30% - 40% of participants are streamed as intensive and super intensive and will requires support coordination to implement tier plans.
The Support Coordinator will:
Implement the plan by identifying options for all supports required including informal, mainstream and community, and funded supports.
Strengthen and enhance the participant’s abilities to coordinate supports and participate in the community, reach decisions and develop agreements with support providers.
Ensure mainstream services meet their obligations (i.e. housing, education, justice, health).
Build capacity of the participant to achieve greater independence, self-direct supports in the longer term and understand funding flexibility.
Be available – to ensure new support arrangements endure and in times of ‘crisis’.
Provide NDIA with reports on outcomes and success indicators within agreed reporting frequency.

26. NDIS and mainstream systems
The NDIS is not intended to replace the supports or services provided by other mainstream systems
Wherever possible we assist participants to access mainstream systems
Key principles determine whether the NDIS or another system is more appropriate to fund particular supports
A participant’s plan may include a range of supports provided by informal, mainstream and community networks. Some of these may be funded by the NDIS.

27. COAG Principles
All governments have agreed to a vision where people with disability are fully included within all service delivery systems
A set of principles were developed between governments – Principles to Determine the Responsibilities of the NDIS and Other Service Systems, in line with the National Disability Strategy.
These are known as the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Principles
There are six (6) general principles that apply to all service systems
In addition to the six general principles, applied principles have been developed in a range of other service systems to assist governments to further define the funding responsibilities during the launch of the NDIS.
This interface was updated in November 2015

28. Applied principles and tables of support
Applied principles have been developed in a range of other service systems to assist governments define the funding responsibilities for the NDIS and other systems and it does not intend to place additional obligations on other systems.
Health
Mental health
Early childhood development
Child protection and family support
School education
Higher education and VET
Employment
Housing and community infrastructure
Transport
Justice
Aged care

29. The First Plan process

30. The role of First Plans
First plans will provide an effective approach to planning.
The first plan is a person’s entry point to the NDIS and is the start of their relationship with the NDIS
Around 30,000 participants had received a plan at 30 June 2016 (the end of trial).
A further 430,000 will enter the scheme during the transition period over the next three years.

31. The First Plan process
Has been developed from our experiences during trial.
Most First Plans will be developed by phone-based planning conversations.
Alternative arrangements will be available if people are not able to complete planning conversations over the phone.
Same access to the supports and services irrespective of how the planning conversation is delivered.

32. The First Plan discussion areas
1:Your personal details Your conversation will include questions about your name, age, where you live and your primary disability. Make sure you have all your personal details in one place. 2: Your community and mainstream supports You will be asked about what supports you currently receive from people in your life and in your local community. These can include things like health services or help at school and sports groups, as well as friends and family who help out. 3: How you manage everyday activities We’ll ask you questions about how you manage your everyday activities. This helps us to understand what your abilities are as well as what you might need are including equipment, accommodation or assistance to take care of yourself or your home.

33. The First Plan discussion areas
4: Your safety
We’ll ask you some questions so you can let us know if there are any areas in your life where you may feel unsafe and where you might need extra help.
We want to support people to learn how to do new things safely.
5: Setting your goals
We’ll talk about your short term goals and what you are hoping to achieve through your first plan particularly about your immediate and essential needs.
We’ll also have a conversation about the longer term goals you are going to explore and develop during your first plan.
6: Starting your plan
We’ll talk about how you want to manage your plan.
7: Next steps
At the end of your conversation we’ll talk about the next steps including your plan approval and starting using the funding in your plan.

34. Plan approved – what’s next?
All Participants will need to register on MyPlace Portal
MyPlace Portal enables Participants to manage all interactions with NDIS.
Self Managed Participants can also receive payments for supports purchased.
Participants can be assisted to link with Providers in their local area or that provide specific services.
Local area coordinators assist in finding services in local areas for Participants.
Participants can also find and use their own Provider who is registered to provide services and products.

35. Questions?
Visit: Phone: am-8pm eastern standard time weekdays