About the NDIS

Q: Who manages the NDIS?

The NDIS is managed by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). The NDIA has Planners who you will meet with to assist you to develop a plan for a person with Autism and access the funding.

Q: Who is a Planner?

A Planner is a person who works as a representative of the NDIS. The Planner works with participants to create their individual support plan.

Q: What is a Participant?

A Participant is an individual whose access request has been determined ‘eligible’, has an individual support plan and their supports paid for by the NDIS.

If you have an NDIS plan, you are considered a Participant of the scheme.

Q: What is an NDIS Plan?

An “Individual Support Plan” is a document that lists your  goals, the services and supports they already receive and what funded supports they can receive through the NDIS.

Your NDIS Plan will be uploaded to the NDIS myplace portal online as soon as your plan is approved. This ensures that you can access services straight away. Alternatively, your Planner will email or post you a copy of the plan, which may arrive a few weeks after your planning meeting.

If you haven’t already, It’s a good idea to start setting up a MyGov account in preparation for your access to the myplace portal

The services that you choose to access will usually request a copy of this plan, to help give you advice on what you can access, how and when.

Q: Will the NDIS cost me anything?

Not directly. Just like Medicare, the NDIS is a universal insurance scheme paid through tax contributions.

The NDIS is not means tested and does not affect Disability Support Pension payments. The Scheme is designed to work alongside existing mainstream services like health, education and housing.

Q: When can I apply to the NDIS?

The NDIS rolls out on a geographic basis, and will be fully rolled out across Western Australia by 2020. 

The NDIS website provides the most up to date information about when NDIS is available in your Local Government Area.

If you live in one of the areas listed we recommend that you contact the NDIA straight away to start the application process. 

Q: I don’t live in one of these areas, will I be eligible for NDIS?

If you don’t live in the local government areas listed, you will not be eligible to participate in the NDIS yet but you will continue to be eligible for existing funding and services offered by the State Government and the Australian Government.

If you are unsure of what you might be eligible for, contact the Autism Association on 9489 8900 and ask to speak to one of one of our staff who can assist you. You can visit the NDIS website any time for updated information on the roll out of NDIS across Australia.

Q: How long does it take to apply?

Upon receiving a valid access request, with all relevant information and evidence about your disability or impairment, the NDIA must respond within 21 days.

In some cases, the NDIA may need more documents, assessments or evidence, which means it might take longer for your request to be assessed. 

Once NDIA contact you, you then need to wait for your Planning appointment, which may take some time.

While you wait, there are free or low cost services you can access from the Autism Association of WA. Check out our training page or contact us to find out more.

Q: Who can help me prepare for NDIS?

Experienced staff at the Autism Association of WA are available to provide information and support to families. If you would like support in the ‘pre-planning’ stages of creating your NDIS support plan please contact us.

Q:What is a goal?

Many people are being asked for two short term and one long term goal to be included in their NDIS plan.

It’s a good idea to think ahead of your meeting about the goals you would like to include; what you’d like to achieve in the next year or two.

This can be something simple e.g. ‘making new friends’ or ‘be able to communicate better’.

A longer term goal could be ‘learning to live more independently’ ‘getting a job’ or ‘going to school’.

Experienced staff at the Autism Association of WA are available to help you set goals. If you would like support in the ‘pre-planning’ stages of creating your NDIS support plan please contact us.

Q: Who can attend the planning meeting with me?

You can take along anyone you choose, whether it be a friend or family.

If you already receive services from the Autism Association of Western Australia, you can also have an your support team attend with you, if you wish (please notify them once you receive a plan date so they can ensure they are available to attend with you).

Q: Where will my planning meeting be held?

You will likely be contacted by phone initially to arrange your meeting time but the planning meeting itself should be face-to-face with a Planner.

If you need to have someone participate in the planning discussion with you and they can only do so by phone, this can be accommodated. You just need to let the Planner know when they contact you to arrange your meeting time.

Q: Will I be able to review my plan before it is finalised?

It’s unlikely. Mostly people receive copies of their plans after they have been finalised following the planning meeting. You can, however, contact your Planner after you receive your plan if you’re not happy with it.

Make sure you take down your Planner’s name and number when you speak with them, so you can contact them directly in future if you need to.

There is also a formal review process in place if you are still unsatisfied with the outcome (see below ‘What happens if I’m not happy with my plan or the decisions made?’).

Q: I have an NDIS plan now what?

Great! Now you can start looking and different services that you can access with the funding in your NDIS plan.

You can visit our Services page to find out more about what services you can access through the Autism Association. To speak to someone about options, call us on 9489 8900.

Q: What happens if I’m not happy with my plan or the decisions made?

If you think a decision made by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) about you is wrong, you can submit an application for internal review of a decision. Any person directly affected by a decision of the NDIA can request such a review.

When you are told about an NDIA decision, you will be told how to request an internal review. A request for internal review of a decision must be made within three months of receiving notice of the decision from the NDIA. The staff member who works on the internal review will not have been involved in the earlier decision.

They may want to talk to you directly as part of this process. Please visit the NDIS website for further information.

Q: I’ve just been diagnosed with Autism, am I eligible for the NDIS?

A diagnosis of Autism may mean you are eligible for NDIS, and we always recommend that you contact the NDIA to apply.

In order to apply for the NDIS you will need formal reports from the people who diagnosed you.

You may meet the disability requirements if:

• you have an impairment or condition that is likely to be permanent (i.e. it is likely to be life long) and
• your impairment substantially reduces your ability to participate effectively in activities, or perform tasks or actions unless you have assistance from other people or
• you can’t participate effectively even with assistance or aides and equipment and
• your impairment affects your capacity for social and economic participation and
• you are likely to require support under the NDIS for your lifetime.

You can check if you’re eligible for the NDIS here.

Or Contact the NDIS on 1800 800 110 and ask for an ‘Access Request Form’.

Q: My child is on a waitlist to be assessed for Autism, can I apply?

A child under the age of 6 may be eligible for the NDIS without a formal diagnosis of Autism under the  Early Intervention requirements.

In order to be eligible for Early Intervention under the NDIS your child under the age of 6 must:

• Have substantially reduced functional capacity in one or more of the areas of self-care, receptive and expressive language, cognitive development or motor development and
• results in the need for a combination and sequence of special interdisciplinary or generic care, treatment or other services which are of extended duration, and are individually planned and coordinated; and
• those supports are most appropriately funded through the NDIS, and not through another service system.

In order to apply for the NDIS you will need formal reports about your child a qualified medical or allied health professional, such as a Paediatrician. 

Q: How will I know when it’s my turn to transition to NDIS?

If your child is already registered with disability services, they will know whether you are eligible to participate in the scheme or not based on your current address. NDIS will call you when it is your turn to transition.

It is important that you make sure your contact details are up to date with your current service providers, and with the Department of Communities Disability Services.

Q: Will I be worse off under the NDIS?

The NDIS has committed to the principle of ‘no disadvantage’ for people with a disability under the new scheme. That means if you were receiving supports before the NDIS you should be able to achieve at least the same outcomes under the NDIS, and will not be disadvantaged. Many people with a disability may be able to access services they never have before.

Under the NDIS you  will be funded for ‘reasonable and necessary ‘supports to achieve at least the same outcomes under that is being provided now by your current services.

Q: I don’t want to change. Can I opt out of the NDIS?

It is important to know that the NDIS will replace other sources of disability funding when your local area transitions to the NDIS. You can remain with your current provider/s if you wish to when you change to the NDIS.

Existing national and state-based services and supports will continue until all eligible people phase into the NDIS.

Q: What happens if I’m not happy with my plan or the decisions made?

If you think a decision made by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) about you is wrong, you can submit an application for internal review of a decision. Any person directly affected by a decision of the NDIA can request such a review.

When you are told about an NDIA decision, you will be told how to request an internal review. A request for internal review of a decision must be made within three months of receiving notice of the decision from the NDIA. The staff member who works on the internal review will not have been involved in the earlier decision.

They may want to talk to you directly as part of this process. Please visit the NDIS website here for further information or refer to our blog “What to do if you’re unhappy with your NDIS plan”.

Q: How can the Autism Association help me prepare for the NDIS?

We are committed to helping people with Autism to ensure they are heard, supported and have the information they need about moving to the NDIS.

There are a number of ways we can help:

• We are able to offer one-on-one pre-planning meetings to assist you in preparing for your first meeting with your NDIA planner. 
• If you are currently receiving services from us, you can ask your current support team to meet with you to help you prepare for the transition.  We are also able to support you during your NDIA planning meeting, if you’d like us to.
• We hold regular NDIS Information Sessions called ‘Getting to Know the NDIS‘ for people with a disability and those who support them – check our Training page to see when sessions are being held near you.
• Read our Fact Sheet – What’s Involved in Joining the NDIS?
• Sign up for our e-newsletter to get all the latest NDIS news and updates.
• Check out our Facebook page too, where we post the latest NDIS updates.

Q: Who can I contact for more information?

For more information on the NDIS, you can contact the National Disability Insurance Agency on 1800 800 110 between 8am and 8pm (EST) weekdays or visit www.ndis.gov.au.

You can also visit the NDIS office in Perth Hills which is located at 78–80 Railway Parade (corner Marion Street), Midland.