How to Best Assist Clients at Every Stage of the NDIS Journey
As an NDIS service provider, you are in the business of empowering people with disabilities. This commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of your clients can often be a driving force behind your work.
Understanding the NDIS process, how participants navigate it, and the role your services play at each stage is essential to effectively supporting current and future clients throughout their NDIS journey.
NDIS Journey Overview
The NDIS journey is comprised of several key stages where participants require extra support from their providers. Here’s a breakdown of what happens at each stage, what participants need to do, and how you as their trusted professional, can assist them:
1. Applying for NDIS
This is the initial stage where parents or carers of children with disabilities, and adults with disabilities or their supports, contact the NDIA to begin the application process.
The NDIA has lists of disability diagnoses likely to be automatically accepted for NDIS support. There are also lists of conditions likely to result in permanent impairment, qualifying individuals for the scheme. However, anyone can apply for the NDIS provided they have evidence of how their disability impacts their functional capacity.
What the applicant needs to do:
Fill out an Access Request Form or contact the NDIA by phone
How providers can help:
If you’re already working with someone planning to apply for the NDIS, your evidence about your client’s functional capacity is crucial. This evidence can be in the form of a report, assessment, or letter, and should also include completion of Section 2 of the Access Request Form.
2. Planning Meeting
Once the NDIA accepts the access request, the individual becomes an NDIS participant. The participant and their supporters will meet with their NDIA Planner or Local Area Coordinator (LAC) to discuss their current life, aspirations, and goals.
How providers can help:
If you’re already working with a participant, help them prepare for their planning meeting by providing insights on what they’re currently doing and how your supports can help achieve their goals. Consider how you could expand your support in various areas such as:
· Home, community, social, and recreational activities
· Work or study, including future employment or educational goals
· Use of assistive equipment, technology, or devices
· Building or maintaining independence
3. Implementation Meeting – For New Participants
While implementation meetings aren’t compulsory, they are highly recommended for new participants. Held within the first 28 days after a plan is finalised, these meetings allow for participants to ask questions, raise concerns, and receive advice on using their funds, finding providers, and setting up service agreements.
How providers can help:
This stage is an opportunity for participants to learn about your services as a provider. If you’re a registered NDIS provider, you can be found on the NDIS Provider Finder.
4. Assessment of the Plan
Although not mandatory, regular reviews (every three months) of the participant’s plan are recommended to ensure progress. Participants may do this on their own, with their LAC, an advocate, or by consulting with their providers.
How providers can help:
Quarterly reviews are a great way to check in with participants, assess the effectiveness of your supports, and introduce new activities if needed. These reviews also allow you to discuss the plan’s progress and prepare any necessary reports for the plan reassessments.