Disability Loop - Fact sheet - NDIS for Aboriginal people with disability in NSW (1 of 5)

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Fact sheet - NDIS for Aboriginal people with disability in NSW (1 of 5)

The New South Wales (NSW) Government has produced a series of 5 fact sheets for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disabilities from NSW.

This is fact sheet 1: NDIS for Aboriginal people with disability in NSW

Download this fact sheet as a PDF or continue reading below.

What is the National Disability Insurance Scheme?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme is usually called the NDIS. It is a new way of providing support to people with disability in Australia.

The NDIS is based on the idea that everyone with disability is different and that they need different types of support. It gives people with disability more choice and flexibility over the supports they use.

Who can use the NDIS?

You can use the NDIS if you:

have a disability that affects the way you take part in everyday life
are aged between 0 and 64 years old.

When will the NDIS start in NSW?

People will be able to access the NDIS across New South Wales between 1 July 2016 and 30 June 2018. From 1 July 2018, all eligible people with disability in NSW will be able to access the NDIS. To find out when the NDIS is available in your area, you can check using your postcode on www.ndis.nsw.gov.au

When can you start using the NDIS?

When you can start using the NDIS may depend on:

where you live
whether or not you are using disability supports already
what kind of supports you use.

Important note: If you currently receive disability supports from the NSW Government, but are not eligible for the NDIS, you will not miss out. The NSW Government will make sure that you will continue to receive similar outcomes, even if you are not eligible for the NDIS.

What will happen to my current disability services and supports?

If you currently receive disability services and support from the New South Wales Government, you will maintain the same outcomes you received before.

If you are not eligible for the NDIS you will not be disadvantaged. People who already receive support will continue to receive support.

What about families and carers of people with disability?

The NDIS will consider the role of families and carers when developing plans with the person with disability. This might include the support that families and carers provide, their other responsibilities and their own life plans.

What should you do next?

If you already receive disability support or services from a service provider you can have a yarn with them about the NDIS and what it all means.

They can also explain what other types of disability support are available and who can provide the support you may be looking for.

There may be other people in your community who may want to learn about the NDIS as well.Yarn with them, share ideas and swap stories.

Check out in your community for local NDIS workshops, forums or information sessions being held. If you can’t attend, remember to call and ask for information to be sent out to you.

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) will work out if you can use the NDIS.

You can phone the NDIA and have a yarn with them on 1800 800 110 or you can get more information on the website: www.ndis.gov.au

There is also a checklist on the NDIS website to help you find out if you are able to apply for the NDIS: www.ndis.gov.au/ndis-access-checklist

You may like to check when the NDIS will be available in your area by entering your postcode on the NSW NDIS website: www.ndis.nsw.gov.au

More information

There are several fact sheets available for Aboriginal People about the NDIS in NSW. These include:

This information is sourced from http://ndis.nsw.gov.au/ndis-resources/aboriginal-people/fact-sheet-aboriginal-people-and-the-ndis/

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