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NDIS stands for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and is operated by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
At its core, the NDIS is a healthcare program created by the Australian Federal Government for the benefit of people who have a permanent disability, either from an injury or something the person was born with.
Its main purpose is to provide funding for the specific levels of support that an affected individual needs to be a part of society.
The Bendigo Advertiser feature has been made possible by our advertisers, giving us some great stories about their clients and the successful ways they have made the NDIS work for them. You can find out more by clicking on the links below.
That means not just participating in social activities and being able to do more things for themselves with the right assistive technology, but also to the point of helping as many as possible to enter (or re-enter) the workforce.
Having been rolled out across the nation after a number of trial areas helped phase in the scheme, the NDIA anticipates that “the NDIS will provide about 460,000 Australians under the age of 65 with a permanent and significant disability with the reasonable and necessary supports they need to live an ordinary life.”
Not every disabled person is eligible, however. To become an NDIS participant a person must fulfill all of the following criteria:
■ Have a permanent disability that significantly affects their ability to take part in everyday activities
■ Be aged less than 65 when they first enter the NDIS
■ Be an Australian citizen or hold a permanent visa or a Protected Special Category visa, and
■ Live in Australia where the NDIS is available
There are many NDIS office locations in Victoria – see https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/our-sites/VIC for your nearest office.
As a part of our feature we also showcased local stories like this one about Ebonie Saunders, a support worker at Golden City Support Services.
Titled Every moment has potential, Ebonie describes how she provides daily active support for people who live in their own homes.
“I enjoy supporting people at their homes,” Ebonie smiles. “It’s good because it is quality one-on-one time with the people we support.”
Golden City Support Services, a registered NDIS provider, believes that every moment has potential. ‘Little and often’ is one of the four essential pillars of Person-Centred Active Support practised by Golden City Support Services.
It is hard for some people with intellectual disability to be engaged in an activity for a long time. ‘Little and often’ gives people the chance to stop, take a break and then come back to an activity[1], Ebonie explains. “So, to give support ‘little and often’, can take a long time.”
Read more here.
