In Australia, there is specialised funding and support available for people with a permanent and significant disability. This funding is offered through the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which is more commonly known by its acronym, the NDIS. Speech Pathology services, as well as other Allied Health services like Occupational Therapy, accessible housing and support workers can be accessed with funding from the NDIS.  

If you’re new to this and are seeking a straight-forward guide to what the NDIS is and where you can get started, we’re here to help! SpeechEase Speech Therapy is a registered NDIS provider and over the years we’ve worked with many families and individuals accessing the NDIS for the first time.  

For more information on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and to apply for support, visit the official NDIS website here. 

 

What is the NDIS – National Disability Insurance Scheme? 

The Australian Government created the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to provide financial supports to individuals who are impacted by a permanent and significant disability. Qualification for NDIS depends on age, residency status and disability.   

The primary goal of the NDIS is to enable those with a disability to achieve greater independence and to enjoy an improved quality of life. While the NDIS mainly offers funding for goods and services, the NDIS also works to connect persons with a disability to services in their local community.  

 

Who can access the NDIS? 

Did you know that the NDIS now supports over 500,000 Australians with a disability? This includes supporting approximately 80,000 children with developmental delays! By providing this level of support early, the NDIS is helping little ones to achieve the best outcomes possible.  

If you’re a carer for someone under the age of 65 with a permanent and significant disability, it’s important to know that they are likely eligible to receive NDIS funding. If you’d like to get started with the NDIS but are unsure of where to begin, the NDIS have set up Partners in The Community (PiTC) that you can contact to help you navigate the process and interactions with the NDIS system. 

 

What is the NDIS Early Childhood Early Intervention approach? 

f you care for a little one under 7 years old, they may be eligible for the NDIS Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) scheme if they are not meeting their milestones. This funding is provided with the goal to support your child in achieving developmental milestones or identifying a diagnosis that may require funding into the future through the NDIS after they have turned 7. Please note, you will need to require support from at least two disciplines (i.e. Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy) to be eligible.

Because access to ECEI is based on early intervention, you don’t need to get a formal diagnosis to be eligible to apply. Instead, written statements and phone interviews from people close to your child, like teachers, family, carers or therapists outlining the difficulties your child has and how it impacts on their daily life are usually enough to highlight why ECEI would be good for them. 

The first step in applying for the Early Childhood Early Intervention approach is to set up a planning meeting with an Local Area Coordinator (LAC). These professionals will work closely with you to understand your child’s situation and support needs and then create their ECEI plan. You can also apply for support online or by mailing in a printed application. During your meeting with the LAC you will be interviewed and asked to provide information on the different areas of delay your child may be facing; this can include communication, sensory, emotional regulation, and gross motor skills. They will also answer any questions you may have and can even connect you with appropriate supports in your local area.  

Find your nearest Early Childhood Partner here! 

To learn more about early intervention funding, view the ECEI page here. 

 

What can NDIS funding be used for? 

The NDIS provides funding for goods and services that improve the quality of life of people with permanent and significant disabilities.

If you’re curious about what exactly the funding can be used towards, here’s a quick overview of the types of supports that the NDIS may fund for participants: 

• Daily personal activities 

• Transport to enable participation in community, social, economic and daily activities 
• Workplace support to gain or keep employment  
• Therapeutic supports including behavioural support 
• Cleaning or maintenance support to maintain their home environment 
• Skilled personnel in aids or equipment assessment, set up, and training 

• Home modification design and construction 
• Mobility equipment and vehicle modifications 

 

How to apply for NDIS funding: 

If you believe that you or someone you care for is eligible for NDIS funding, you can apply for supports by making a verbal application or through submitting an Access Request Form. 

Step 1: Call the NDIS  

You can apply to the NDIS by calling 1800 800 110 to make a verbal application. 

You will be asked for the same information that is listed on the NDIS application form. 

This includes being asked: 

• to confirm your identity and/or a person’s authority to act on your behalf 

• questions about providing consent to apply for the NDIS and about getting information from third parties. 

 

Step 2: Complete an Access Request Form 

To apply for the NDIS you may be asked to complete an Access Request Form. 

You can: 

• download the Access Request Form from the NDIS website – (note this is not compatible with Internet Explorer) 
• call or email the NDIS and ask them to send you the form, or 
• collect a form from your local area coordinator, early childhood partner or NDIA office. 

You need to complete Section 1 and then sign and date the form.  

A treating professional (like a Speech Pathologist!) then needs to complete Section 2 and sign and date the form.  

Once complete, you can submit your Access Request Form by: 

• emailing NAT@ndis.gov.au 
• sending a physical copy to GPO Box 700, Canberra ACT 2601 
• by taking a copy to your local NDIA office 

For more information on applying to the NDIS for funding, see the official NDIS website here. 

 

Before the interview – how you want your funds to be managed 

Being able to access funding through the NDIS is wonderful, but before you get access to your funds it’s helpful to think about how you might choose to manage it. During your meeting you’ll be asked how you’ll want your funds managed, so take some time now to consider the different options available to you. There are three main ways that you can choose to manage your NDIS funding when you’ve been approved. 

There are benefits and drawbacks that come from each of the three options, so it’s important to consider your individual circumstances, your lifestyle, and all of the things that are currently on your plate. 

Have a read of the three options available and consider your circumstances. 

Self-Managed 

• Pro: Increased independence around how you spend your funds 
• Pro: You can choose between using registered or non-registered providers  
• Con: Accountability of ensuring all funding spent aligns with NDIS goals 
• Con: Paying for services upfront to be reimbursed later  

Remember: For some, spending funding can feel a little stressful and you may be tempted to avoid spending. But it is important to remember that if not all the funding allocated is utilised during the next review your funding may be decreased.

Plan Managed 

• Pro: Will take paperwork and admin tasks off your hands 
• Pro: Reduced personal financial accountability – you still need to make sure you have funding available for services you’re accessing or you’ll be required to pay for it privately.  
• Con: Someone you have to meet with regularly 
• Con: It can take time to find a plan manager you’re happy with  
• Con: It adds an extra step when purchasing Assistive Technology

Remember: This option is essentially free (you are provided funding to pay your plan manager) and takes a lot of stress off your shoulders. Your plan manager will take care of all the paperwork, admin, and will be audited to ensure they’re meeting NDIS regulations. If you were managing your own funds, you’d be responsible for this and potentially liable if funds were spent improperly!  

 

NDIA (Agency Managed) 

• Pro: You can rest assured all providers have gone through rigorous auditing 

• Pro: They manage your plan and your funding budget based on a Service Agreement you agree to 
• Con: You can only use providers who are registered with the NDIA
• Con: If living in a rural/remote area, finding NDIA registered providers can be tricky 

 

 

What happens next – after you’ve applied for the NDIS 

Once you’ve applied for the NDIS and have had your funding approved, your next step will be meeting with a local area coordinator (LAC). Your LAC will be your main contact point throughout your time with the NDIS. In your first meeting, you will discuss your needs, goals, types of supports needed and your LAC will provide personalised recommendations. During this meeting you’ll also choose how you’d like your funds to be managed, which now that you’ve gone through the options available, you’ll have a better idea of what you’d like to move forward with.  

After your meeting, a NDIS plan will be sent to you with all of your funding information and goals (for the funding) laid out. This will inform how your funds will be used and will give you a timeline of how long you have to use those funds.  

 

What if I’m not happy with my funding or NDIS plan? 

If you are not satisfied with the funding amount or there are things missing from your NDIS plan, you have three months to request a review. A review will involve meeting with your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) again, where they will establish the changes you’d like made and will put it a request for an adjustment to the NDIS on your behalf.  

However, if you do not make changes within the three months of your plan being created, the only way updates will be made to your plan is if there is evidence of a change in circumstances (I.e. new diagnoses, transitioning from primary to high school, etc).  

 

What else should I know about my NDIS plan? 

There are some things that we believe are important for you to know if you are just getting started with the NDIS. The first is that you be notified 12 weeks before the end of your NDIS plan, this will prompt you to schedule a review to apply for ongoing funding through your Local Area Coordinator. Sometimes this doesn’t always go to plan so make sure you also jot down when it’s 12 weeks before the end date of your plan so you can start getting everything together for the review.  

It’s important to have review reports from your providers outlining what they have been working on, progress made and any recommendations for the future, including additional funding recommendations. You’ll need to give your providers at least 4 weeks notice that you need this and these are due to the NDIS 6 weeks before the end of the plan.  

Upon receiving your plan, it’s important to check when the plan is due to expire. Typically, we would expect an NDIS plan to be valid for 12 months, however sometimes funding is allocated for 2-3 years at a time. In all instances, the funding you are allocated is intended to last for the life of the plan – that means if your plan will expire after two years, the amount given is the total you will have available for the two years. 

 

And if you are seeking a Speech Pathology assessment or ongoing speech therapy in Queensland, take a look at the services offered at SpeechEase Speech Therapy.