What Is the NDIS? A Simple Guide to Understanding NDIS Support in Australia

If you have a disability, or you're a family member or carer, you've probably heard of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). You might still be wondering how it works, who can get it and what kind of support it pays for.

The NDIS is an Australian Government scheme. It gives eligible people with disability funding for supports and services that help them live more independently, take part in their community, build skills and work towards their own goals.

We know the NDIS can feel complicated. This guide explains it in plain English and shows how the right supports can help you get the most out of your plan.

What does NDIS stand for?

NDIS stands for National Disability Insurance Scheme. Instead of giving everyone the same services, it's built around the individual. Each participant gets an NDIS plan based on their disability-related needs, their circumstances and their goals. Goals can include:

• becoming more independent at home
• developing everyday living skills
• getting more involved in the community
• building social connections
• learning new skills
• finding work, study or volunteering
• feeling more confident with everyday activities
• getting help with personal care or household tasks

Because everyone is different, no two NDIS plans need to look the same.

Who is eligible for the NDIS?

To become an NDIS participant, a person generally needs to meet requirements about age, residency and disability (or early intervention). You must be aged 0 to 64 when you apply. You also need to live in Australia and be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or a Protected Special Category Visa holder.

The disability requirements look at whether your disability comes from an impairment that is permanent or likely to be permanent, significantly affects everyday activities and is likely to mean you'll need NDIS supports on an ongoing basis. There is also a separate early intervention pathway for people who could benefit from getting the right support early, because it may improve how they function or reduce the support they need later.

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) decides who is eligible. If you're not sure whether you qualify, contact the NDIS or your local NDIS partner.

How does the NDIS work?

Once you're accepted as a participant, you get your own NDIS plan. The planning process looks at things like:

• your current circumstances
• your disability-related support needs
• what matters to you
• your daily activities
• your short- and long-term goals
• the support you already get from family, community and other services
• supports that could help you become more independent

Your plan then sets out funding you can use for approved NDIS supports. Plans can have different budgets, amounts and funding periods depending on each person's needs, and not every participant is funded for every type of support.

What can NDIS funding be used for?

NDIS funding has to be spent on supports that meet the NDIS funding rules and fit with your plan. Depending on your needs and approved funding, that may include the supports below.

Assistance with daily living

Daily living support helps with everyday tasks while you stay as independent as possible. It can include help with:

• personal care
• showering and grooming
• dressing
• preparing meals
• daily routines
• household jobs
• laundry and cleaning
• keeping the home organised

The amount of help should match your abilities, preferences and goals.

In-home and drop-in support

Not everyone needs help around the clock. Drop-in or in-home support suits people who want to live independently but need a hand at certain times of day or with particular tasks, such as morning routines, meals, housework or appointments.

Our approach at Passion Flower Disability Care is to support independence, not to do everything for the person.

Community participation

Being part of the community is part of everyday life. Community participation support can help participants take part in social, recreational and community activities that fit their goals. Depending on the person, that might mean:

• going to community events
• going shopping
• visiting local places of interest
• recreational activities
• joining community groups
• building social confidence
• practising communication skills
• getting to appointments
• trying volunteering
• making friends and local connections

We think community activities should have a purpose, be the person's choice and be something they enjoy. They should reflect what the person likes and wants to achieve, rather than just filling in time.

Life skills and capacity building

Practical skills help people become more confident and independent. Capacity building support can focus on:

• cooking and preparing meals
• shopping
• budgeting
• communication
• personal organisation
• time management
• using public transport
• making decisions
• household routines
• social skills
• confidence out in the community

Wherever possible, the aim is for the person to build their own abilities.

Supported Independent Living (SIL)

Supported Independent Living (SIL) helps eligible people who need support to live as independently as possible at home. It can include help with, or supervision of, everyday activities such as:

• personal care
• preparing meals
• household routines
• independent living skills
• getting out into the community
• medication-related support where appropriate
• confidence with day-to-day tasks

SIL arrangements depend on each participant's approved supports, needs and living situation. Passion Flower Disability Care offers person-centred support and SIL options across Sydney, Blacktown and the Central Coast.

Help with travel and transport

Getting out and about makes a big difference to independence and social life. Depending on your plan and circumstances, support may help you get to:

• community activities
• appointments
• shopping
• social outings
• day programs
• work or volunteering
• other approved community activities

It's about more than getting from A to B. Where it fits your plan, the aim is more independence and a stronger connection with your community.

Respite and short-term support

Families and carers can benefit from short-term support too. Depending on the plan, short-term support can give the participant a break from their usual routine and a chance to build independence, try new things and spend time away from home. Whether it's suitable and funded depends on the person's circumstances and NDIS plan.

What does "reasonable and necessary" mean?

You'll often hear the phrase "reasonable and necessary" when people talk about NDIS funding. Under the current rules, a funded support generally needs to relate to the person's disability, help them work towards their goals, be value for money and be likely to be effective and beneficial, among other requirements.

The NDIA looks at the information and evidence provided about the participant when deciding what to fund. That's why two people with the same diagnosis can end up with very different plans. The NDIS looks at the person's circumstances, how their disability affects them day to day, their goals and their support needs, not just the diagnosis.

Choice and control under the NDIS

One of the main ideas behind the NDIS is giving participants more choice and control. That means having more say in:

• the goals you want to work on
• the supports you get
• how those supports are delivered
• who provides them
• when they're provided
• how you want to take part in everyday life

A good provider listens first and plans support with you, not for you.

How to choose the right NDIS provider

The provider you choose can make a big difference to your experience. When comparing providers, these questions are worth asking.

Do they listen to me? Your preferences, goals and choices should guide your support.

Can they tailor their services? Support shouldn't feel like a one-size-fits-all program.

Do they encourage independence? Good support helps you do as much as you can yourself and steps in where you need it.

Are support workers well matched? Personality, interests, communication style and support needs all affect how well a participant and worker get on.

Do they communicate well with families and support teams? With the participant's consent, good communication between the provider, family, carers, support coordinators and allied health professionals makes support more consistent.

Do they know your local area? A local provider can point you to activities, opportunities and resources nearby.

How Passion Flower Disability Care can help

Passion Flower Disability Care is an NDIS registered provider supporting people with disability across Sydney, Western Sydney, Blacktown and the Central Coast. Our motto is "Nurturing Abilities, Transforming Lives". We focus on each person's abilities, preferences and goals rather than defining them by their disability. Our services include:

• assistance with daily living
• personal care
• in-home and drop-in support
• Supported Independent Living (SIL)
• community participation
• group and centre-based activities
• life skills and capacity building
• household tasks
• help with travel and transport
• respite and short-term support
• community nursing and disability-related supports where appropriate

All of them are designed to build independence, community participation and quality of life through personalised support.

Support that starts with you

For us, person-centred support means getting to know the person behind the NDIS plan. We want to know:

• what you enjoy
• what you're good at
• what you'd like to learn
• what independence means to you
• what support works for you
• what doesn't
• where you'd like your life to go next

From there, we work with you on support that's practical and fits your goals, whether that's help at home, getting out into the community, building life skills or becoming more independent day to day.

If you're looking for an NDIS provider in Blacktown, Western Sydney or the Central Coast, we're happy to talk through your needs and explain the supports we offer. It doesn't matter whether you already have a plan, you're changing providers or you're just looking at your options.

Get in touch

If you or someone you care about is looking for NDIS support in Sydney or the Central Coast, call us on 0448 402 108 or make a referral to talk about your support needs. We'd be happy to arrange a chat.