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Fact sheet - Accessing the NDIS (5 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 5: Accessing the NDIS

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

Screenshot of page 1 of the Accessing the NDIS Fact sheet 5

Who can access the NDIS in NSW?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme is also called the NDIS.

The NDIS is a new way to help people with disability get the care and supports they need to live a better life.

The NDIS is for anyone with disability. This includes people who currently receive support, and those who don’t.

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is responsible for working out if you can use the NDIS.

The NDIA is the Australian Government agency that manages the NDIS.

You can use the NDIS if you:

  • are aged between 0 and 64 years old
  • an Australian citizen or resident, or have a permanent visa
  • meet the disability requirements.

If you are 65 years old, or older, you will not be able to use the NDIS. Instead, you will receive support through the Commonwealth aged care system.

If you are already receiving support

If you or the person you care for already receive disability support, then that support will continue.

This includes people who receive specialist disability supports like:

  • supported accommodation – a mix of housing, support and care services, such as group homes
  • day programs – care for people during the day
  • case management services – support for people across different areas of their life

It also includes people who receive supports from time-to-time, or for a short amount of time each week. For example:

  • community care programs – support so people can stay in their community and own home
  • respite care – giving the person with disability or their carer a break.

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

If you don’t already receive support

You can apply for the NDIS when it starts in your area if you:

  • don’t currently receive disability support from the NSW Government
  • are in immediate need of support
  • meet the disability requirements.

People who are new to the NDIS will be able to choose the supports they receive, and who provides them.

You can use the checklist on the NDIS website to see if you meet the requirements to apply.

When will you be able to start using the NDIS?

You will be able to start using the NDIS depending on where you live.

You will be able to receive help from the NDIS from 1 July 2016 if you live in any of these areas:

  • Central Coast
  • Hunter New England
  • Nepean Blue Mountains
  • Northern Sydney
  • South Western Sydney
  • Southern NSW
  • Western Sydney.

You will be able to receive help from the NDIS from 1 July 2017 if you live in any of these areas:

  • Illawarra Shoalhaven
  • Mid North Coast
  • Murrumbidgee
  • Northern NSW
  • South Eastern Sydney
  • Sydney
  • Western NSW
  • Far West.

The NDIS will be available everywhere in NSW by July 2018.

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-accessing-the-ndis/

© – Copyright – Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Department of Family and Community Services NSW for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales.