ResourcesAll resources
In this part of the website you can find tools and ideas to help you understand the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
You can find what you are looking for by date, or by type of information. You can also use the search box on this page.
NDIS Learning Module: Supporting Effective Communication
9 November 2021
The NDIS has created a Supporting Effective Communication e-learning module that depicts the perspective of NDIS participants of what effective communication looks like, and how it supports choice and control.
Getting the Most Out of Your NDIS Plan Information Session
12 June 2020
Getting the Most Out of Your NDIS Plan
Webinar with Information pack
In May 2020, the AFDO Disability Loop team held an online information session called Getting the Most Out of Your NDIS Plan. This webinar was recorded and is now available to view.
2020-21 NDIS Price Guide
4 June 2020
The NDIS has released the results from the Annual Price Review 2020‒21 along with a Price Guide and Support Catalogue, which will come into effect on 1st July.
Psychosocial Disability and Mental Health Information Packs
4 June 2020
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has published two new COVID-19 Information Packs on:
• Psychosocial disability
• Mental health and well-being
Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) Information Pack
5 May 2020
The NDIA is developing information packs for NDIS participants, families, and carers to help during the CoronaVirus pandemic. These packs collate information that is often available in different places and pulls that information together into a single resource.
The first of these packs - Early Childhood Early Intervention for children aged 0 to 6 years old - is now available.
Disability in the Bush
14 April 2020
Disability in the Bush has been created in partnership with Ninti One, with funding from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIS) to address the significant information gap in remote Indigenous communities.
This project is connecting people in remote Aboriginal communities with the information and services they need.
The Disability in the Bush website has important NDIS information in Easy English, and delivers video stories from other community members with disability.
The Disability in the Bush app empowers Aboriginal people with disability and their families in remote communities to make their own decisions in order to participate in the community and live a good life.
You can visit the Disability in the Bush website at https://disabilityinthebush.com
NDIS Participants Welcome Pack
19 February 2020
NDIS participants have the right to feel safe and to receive quality service from NDIS providers.
The NDIS Quality and Safeguard Commission (The Commission) has released a Participants Welcome Pack.
The information provided in this pack gives participants information about their rights, the role of the NDIS Commission, choosing quality and safe supports, and how to make a complaint.
Self-Advocacy for the NDIS (Mental Health Resource Booklet
5 February 2020
The Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) has developed a Resource Toolkit to provide self-advocacy information and identify rights and strategies that support people to speak up for themselves.
NDIS Participant Booklets
1 September 2019
In 2018 the NDIS created 3 new booklets for participants, covering pre-planning, planning, and using your plan. Each has three versions – a PDF, Word document, or Easy English PDF.
Employment outcomes for NDIS participants
31 July 2019
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has released the first round of NDIS Data which compiles close to 60,000 responses from participants, families and carers.Understanding the NDIS Workshop Video Series & Resources
18 July 2019
The "Understanding the NDIS" workshop was run multiple times throughout Victoria in 2018-19 for people with disability, families and carers. However, we wanted to help those who could not attend the workshop in person and therefore missed out on the information at the time. So we filmed the workshop, and it has been divided into 9 videos which have been placed on our YouTube channel.
The workshop explains things in plain, easy to understand language, and helps to increase your understanding of the NDIS and will build your confidence in dealing with the NDIA.
All videos have Auslan interpreting, captioning and audio description. A transcript for each video is also available.
The workshop handbook and fact sheets are available in PDF and Word and are written by people with disability, and are in plain language.
Website - IDEAS
18 June 2019
IDEAS stands for Information on Disability, Education and Awareness Services.
They work to support all people with disability, their families, carers and other supporters to self-advocate and to make informed decisions.
Your rights when you buy something
20 May 2019
When you pay for a product or service yourself, as an NDIS participant, or through your state or territory's disability support system - you have consumer rights.
These resources from Australia's consumer protection agencies are designed to help you understand and use your rights.
- Your consumer rights
- Resources for consumers with disability
- Where to go for help
- More information
GP Resources
8 April 2019
The NSW Council for Intellectual Disability have released an NDIS resource for Doctors to use for their patients. This resource includes information on:
- 0-6 Early Childhood Intervention
- Access Request Forms and the NDIS
- Guidelines and forms for reviews, appeals and changes
- Psychosocial
- Intellectual Disability
- Non-English Speaking Background
NDIS Pre-planning Toolkit for people with disability entering Higher Education or Vocational Education and Training
3 April 2019
Getting the Right Support at the Right Time from the Right People. The NDIS Pre-planning Toolkit is for people with disability entering Higher Education or Vocational Education and Training is designed to be used before you start a tertiary course at university or with a vocational education and training provider.
Your disability may mean you require extra support to complete your chosen course to ensure your participation is on the same basis as other students. These booklets will help you identify what supports you may need, who is responsible for providing them and how you can access them.
Mental Health and the NDIS
31 March 2019
Mental health and the NDIS
Reimagine.today is co-designed with people living with mental health conditions including psychosocial disability.
Many of the people involved in reimagine.today have lived experience of the NDIS, and have used their experience to help you better understand the NDIS and the opportunities for people living with psychosocial disability.
reimagine.today will help you understand what the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is and how it can support people living with a mental health condition. If you live with a mental health condition, you may be able to get NDIS funded support if your mental health condition causes you to experience very high levels of ‘psychosocial disability’. Before understanding the NDIS it is important to understand what psychosocial disability is.
NDIS access requirements
3 March 2019
Are you eligible for the NDIS? Watch this video to learn more about eligibility for the NDIS.
The NDIS Access Checklist will to help you work out if you may be able access the NDIS.
New Self-Management Guide
30 October 2018
The NDIA has released a Self-Management Guide to assist participants looking to manage their own NDIS plan.
Participant booklets
29 October 2018
Three participant booklets are available to support people with disability and participants throughout their NDIS journey. The booklets are a practical tool to help people with disability, participants, their families, carers and the wider community to learn more about the NDIS, prepare for a planning meeting and to implement their plan.
Who to get help from for an NDIS Appeal
20 July 2017
An NDIS Appeal is the second step you can take if you are unhappy with a decision the NDIS has made, and have already tried step 1. Step 1 is to seek an 'internal review of a reviewable decision' from the NDIA.
If that didn't work, you can do an NDIS Appeal. 'NDIS Appeals' used to be called 'External Merit Reviews'. Here's a list of disability advocacy organisations from across Australia that can help you with an NDIS Appeal.
Videos - key NDIS concepts in Auslan
10 April 2017
A handful of the most common and important NDIS terms have now been translated into Auslan. This will make life easier when spelling out long terms like "information, linkages and capacity building (ILC)", which can now be described in a fast, elegant and logical new Auslan sign.
Other new translations are for these common NDIS terms; 'ordinary life', 'choice and control', 'reasonable and necessary', 'permanent and significant disability', 'informal supports', 'Early Intervention' and 'Local Area Coordinator'.
NDIS review and appeals flow chart
19 April 2016
If you are unhappy with your NDIS Plan, or a decision by the NDIS, this flow chart by Disability Advocacy Resource Unit (DARU) will help you understand what you can do. It is presented using a simplified step by step process, and has links to other resources if you'd like more details. Some of the information is specifically for Victorians, but most of the information will be helpful for people from all over Australia.
Webpage - NDIS in Queensland
23 March 2016
This page from the NDIS website gives you detailed information about how the NDIS will roll out across Queensland. There is a video (with captions), regional and metropolitan maps, and information packs for people with disabilities and for service providers.
Fact sheet - NDIS for Aboriginal people with disability in NSW (1 of 5)
2 March 2016
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
Fact sheet - Yarnin’ about disability (2 of 5)
2 March 2016
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 2: Yarnin’ about disability
Fact sheet - Getting ready for the NDIS (4 of 5)
2 March 2016
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 4: Getting ready for the NDIS
Fact sheet - Accessing the NDIS (5 of 5)
2 March 2016
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
Video - Auslan - The rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme in NSW
2 March 2016
Information about the roll out of the NDIS in New South Wales is available in this 7:27 minute long Auslan video (with hard-coded subtitles).
Fact sheet - What is the NDIS? (3 of 5)
2 March 2016
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 3: What is the NDIS?
Checklist: Mental Health Carers NDIS Checklist
18 November 2015
Mental Health Australia and Carers Australia have developed a Checklist for Mental Health Carers on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), to prepare for NDIS assessment and planning meetings.
Guide: Mental Health Carers NDIS Guide
18 November 2015
Mental Health Australia and Carers Australia have developed a Guide for Mental Health Carers on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), to prepare for NDIS assessment and planning meetings.
Webpage - NDIS in NSW
22 September 2015
This page from the NDIS website gives you detailed information about how the NDIS will roll out across New South Wales. There is a video (with captions), rural and metropolitan interactive maps, and information packs for people with disabilities and for service providers, as well as a link to the bilateral agreement documents.
Webpage - NDIS in Victoria
22 September 2015
This page from the NDIS website vgives you detailed information about how the NDIS will roll out across Victoria. There is a video (with captions), rural and metropolitan interactive maps, and information packs for people with disabilities and for service providers, as well as a link to the bilateral agreement documents.
Booklet - NDIS: Your questions answered
7 September 2015
Every Australian Counts has made an information pack about the NDIS. It answers questions about how the NDIS will work, what supports will be available, and how to access it.
Website - Reasonable and Necessary
7 September 2015
Reasonable and Necessary is an art project that people with disability can participate in. It is meant to help you with the first stage of planning in the NDIS, where you have to think about your needs and goals.
Contact list for making complaints
7 September 2015
This is a list of contacts for people around Australia that want to make a complaint about a service used through the NDIS.
Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) Policy Framework
14 August 2015
An important part of the support the NDIS provides has to do with help from the community, families and carers. They want to make sure that people have access to the information they need, and they want to create better connections and networks between people with disability and the community. They would also like to help people gain the skills and types of knowledge that are needed to help support people with disability. They call this level of support Information, Linkages and Capacity Building, or ILC. In the past people called this "Tier 2".
Fact sheet - The NDIS for Women with Disabilities
22 July 2015
Women with Disabilities Victoria have produced a comprehensive 8-page fact sheet on the NDIS for women with disabilities.
It also includes a handy checklist to help you figure out what to do.
Fact sheet - The NSW Ombudsman and the NDIS
19 July 2015
The Ombudsman is the independent and impartial watchdog for community and disability services in NSW. This fact sheet talks about:
- What does the Ombudsman have to do with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)?
- What can I complain about?
- What can I do if I have a complaint about the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA)?
- Who can make a complaint?
Fact sheet - What if I am not happy with the NDIS? Plain English
15 July 2015
What if I am not happy with the NDIS? is an eight-page fact sheet that is in Plain English. That means it uses language that isn't hard to understand.
It tells you about what you can do if you are not happy with something about the NDIS.