Access the ndis

Hi my name is Deb and I have been participanting in the ndis in the Ipswich area for the last 12 months. Many people are finding the ndis difficult to contact, hard to access and pathways challenging.

Whether you live in Toowoomba, Ipswich, Brisbane, Gold Coast or the Sunshine Cost the ndis want you to know they are open for business and just like all government departments like Medicare and Centrelink you can just walk into the local area office and ask for assistance. 

THE NDIS IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS

•Access the ndis

•Australian Resident; Between 0 and 64; with a lifetime disability, and needing assistance with daily living tasks.

•Entry Point 1 contact the ndis to check eligibilty.

•You can call; email or walk into an ndis office.

•You can request access to the ndis in a way that is best for you and your family.

•You can make contact for an adult or child and organise the documentation on their behalf.

•There is a GP access form to complete. However your GP may not be the best person to complete this, it may be an OT; specialist; or psychologist.

•Once eligibility and records are recieved you will enter the ndis scheme and be given a participant ID, this is linked to your my gov. account.

•You will then move to the pathway on the right and receive a call to set up a planning meeting.

•Entry Point 2 - transition from state disability support system.

•You should recieve a phone call from the ndia requesting to access your records at Centrelink and Disability Services

•You will be asked basic questions to assess your eligibility. If you are eligible your records will be transferred to the ndis

•You will recieve a participant confirmation letter in the mail with your participants number.

•You may be asked for more medical documentation from your GP. Complete this and return it to the ndis

•You will be contacted again by the ndia to book your planning meeting. You can request a face to face meeting.

However the 1800 number or the ndis website might not be the best place for you to start. We all access information differently and we are not all able to access the internet, access apps or talk on the phone.  The ndis must by law provide you access to the service and that includes providing information and pathways access for all. Disability advocates; service providers and ndis participant community capacity advisers want you to spread the message there are a number of ways to access the ndis if you have been unsuccessful with the 1800 number.

• You can walk off the street and ask for information and forms in a printed format or request it be read to you.
• If you are with a support provider they are obligated to provide basic information and contact information.  They can also help you to contact the ndia.
• Your GP can assist to make that initial contact.
• If you are not great at the internet or on the phone ask for a face to face meeting where you can access print outs of information and any paper work needed.  
• Keep asking for your access needs to access the ndis, as currently the ndis has failed many. 

WHAT IS THE NDIS AND WHO IS IT FOR?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme is the new funding system for the support needs for people with disabilities and family members. As the roll out continues across Australia people who are not enrolled in the ndis may no longer be able to access their support needs. This may include:-

• Direct and family supports
• Support provider services
• Respite services
• Equipment and medical supplies
• Mobility Allowance

The ndis provides additional supports such as:

• Home and care modifications
• Early intervention programs
• Therapy to improve daily living

The ndis is a tiered system that provides support(s) to all Australians living with disabilities.  It is a federal government body that gives Australian residents access to support services regardless of where they live and once funding is given it can not be taken away.  It is designed to give people with disabilities and their families choice and security. 

The ndis plan is an individual approach to providing support based on the goals of individuals and how they wish to achieve their goals, rather than being based on diagnoses or disability.  The ndis is about living the life you want to live. 

ndis is about planning for a bright future

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE?

Everyone aged between 0 and 65 who has a lifetime disability and needs assistance with daily living tasks is eligible to access some level of the scheme provided they are an Australia resident.

ENTRY POINTS

Registering with the ndia for assessment

or

Transition from state funded disability support

Entry point one:

Contact the ndis via:-

• 1800 800 110
• email
• ndis website
• Phoning area office directly
• Walking into an area office

Ask for access to the ndis to be made accessible for your disability and access needs and that may not be

by phone or internet.

Ask a family member or friend to support you to navigate the ndis pathways. 

You will need ID and proof of residency

Documentation of your or your childs disability

There is a GP form to complete, your GP may not be the best person to fill this in,  It may be a Pediatrician, Psychologist, OT or Physio.  The GP just needs to sign it off as being correct.

Entry Point two:

Transition from state government disability support

This is the way I transitioned to the ndis

If you are currently receiving support through a state scheme you should receive a phone call to check you eligibility and ask your permission to access your file and your Centrelink file.  You will then be asked some simple questions about your daily function. If you are eligible then you will receive your ndis participant number in the mail.

If this hasn't happened then you need to:-

• Tell a support provider
• Contact the ndia by phone, email or visit the area office.

Some people due to the nature of their disability may not remember phone calls or understand the process. These are the people the ndis need to contact.  If you have mental health issues or memory problems you need to request special access so you are given more support.  If you want to access the ndis ask someone to make contact for you and to support you through the ndis pathways. 

ndis teams are also on the ground at shopping centres; shows and public events. If you think you may be eligible for the scheme seek out this information.  There are no deadlines you can apply at any time.  The ndia knows it has missed many people so make contact as soon as you can.

If you enter the ndis ask someone to support you to develop your pathways and keep asking for information in a format that is accessible to you and your family.

It is never too early or too late to plan for the ndis!

ndis & Engaging Support Workers

Me with my studio support worker

ndis gives participants the choice of who they want to support they; how they want to be supported; when they want to be supported and how they will engage their workers.  Under the ndis participants are empowered to select who the want in their home to support or provide care for themselves or a family member.  Many people forget that participants are inviting them into their homes a place where others seek refuge.

When it comes to management of your ndis plan there are three basic choices.

• Ask the ndis to do this on your behalf.
• Engage a funds host of manager.
• Self-manager your plan.

My name is Deb and I self-manage my ndis plan through a plan manager so I can focus on my other ndis goals.  My main goal in my first plan was to extend my visual art practice. As an artist and freelance arts worker I already manage a small business, doing the accounts and reporting for ndis didn't appeal to me.  I honestly feel engaging staff through an establish support service provide me with protect and that's how I began my self-manage journey.

My Melting Pot solo art exhibition is one of the ways I extended my art practise, the other is becoming a member of Aspire Gallery in Paddtington, Brisbane. One change I was determined to achieve under the ndis was to build my supports around my art practise and commitments as an artist, rather than continue to be dedicated to by service providers.

I guess this is a goal I being into my second ndis plan. Currently I engage a team of five to provide my in-home and community access. I engage my team through a number of channels.  "Hire-Up" an online platform to match support workers directly to participants and "Better Caring"  is another platform worth considering.

I engage my studio support person through a private contract agreement. We have a formal written contract to refer to in the event of a dispute.  When you engage a worker through a private contract you can pay them what you chose.  This person must have an ABN to make payment through the ndis portal.  I  chose to pay my studio assistance the amount it would cost me to engage a work through a support service for a day-time rate. This workers rate is the same no matter when she works. All of her hours still cost less than using a traditional support service.

What I pay my support staff is not about making my money go further. For me what is important is 'valuing my support team'. So different team members are paid differently depending on their role.  My studio support person has just finished her visual arts degree, so engaging her on a contract allowed me to pay her more. 

When looking for support workers I thought through what I wanted in a support worker.  It was important that members of my team enjoy art and could support me to extend my art practise beyond Ipswich.  So two of my team live in Brisbane, this makes delivering artwork easier. 

In the main my support team are engage through a service that assists participants to self-direct their own supports.  The service I choose have a number of different packages; depending on how much management of your support team you want to do yourself.  As I already have a business I did not want to tackle pay roll. However their is soft-ware to help you do this. If you engage staff through a contract the you don't need to worry about tax and leave loading.

I have 'hired' a team leader who assists me to coordinated rosters, admin self-directing a team, and support team and development.  Under the team leader sit two in-home support.  These three workers are paid under the award and officially employed by the company who supports me to self-direct.  This provides my support workers with all employee rights under fair work and provides an umpire if a dispute arises. 

When engaging support workers you should consider insurance and work cover.  If your workers are injured while supporting you, you may need to cover these costs.  If you directly employ your staff you have the insurance obligations of any other employer. If you engage staff through a contract, they are responsible for taking out their own public-liability insurance.  You should talk to your support team before entering an agreement.

Their is also the option to use domestic clearing and household services.  If you are self-managing your plan you can engage any service or individual who has an ABN.  I engage a family who provided in home services, as a family they provided domestic heavy services like cleaning widows, gardening assistance, and mending.  This family was recommend to me by a friend.

Note: There is a difference between self-management and self-directing.  You can do either or both.  There are many different ways you can arrange this under the ndis.  During my first plan I have engaged workers through major support providers; online platforms and contract.  As an artists I found traditional support providers cannot offer the flexibility I need and often proved unreliable. 

Whether you engage workers through traditional services or employ or engage your own staff you never know who will work through your door.  Engaging my own staff means I can train staff my way.  I choice not to employ workers who are qualified or have training.

So where do you find these workers?

• Word of month and recommendations.  Let people know your looking for staff;
• Social media if your address is not public; do not give out your address until it is necessary.
• Support workers who have friends looking for work.
• Online platforms.
• Community notice boards.
• As I doing this pretty much on my own I engaged a recruitment service.

Recruitment

I developed my own position descriptions. I thought about the qualities I value in a support workers. I also decided if I wanted to advertise for additional skills or requirements.  I require my staff to have a drivers linance; their own car; police check or willing to apply for a Yellow Card; car safety checks and reference checks. 

Don't be fooled you can do most of these things yourself and what you ask for is one way to protect yourself. (Support Providers want you to believe you can't or its too risky.)

Once I had determined the job descriptions I contacted You Select Recuritment , management futher assisted me to develop the job descriptions and wording of the ad.  

They then placed the add on my behalf and were the point of contact for information and inquirers about the job.  Applicants only received my name if they were successful.  My identity was protected up to the point of the interview and You Select screened or applicants before passing on the information on applicants.  It was at this point I took control and determined who I would interview.  Since I have a communication barrier I asked You Select to set-up the interviews. 

I then conducted the interviews and did the references checks before handing the paperwork of successful applicants to my self-directed support provider to formally employ my staff.  However you may chose to do the recruitment process yourself.  You too can place advertisements on sites such as SEEK.

My hot tips:

1. Know what your looking for in a support worker and make that clear when you advertise.
2. Use you natural networks to spreed the word and/or assist you to write the job descriptions.
3. Be clear on any job requirements.  I was upfront my key worker needed to have flexibility; yellow cards, first-aid training, driver's linsce and own car. 
4. If you need specific hours, make the clear in the ad.
5. Ask someone to help you with the interviewing process.

Now I have a key worker I am training her to assist me to recruit, induct and train my staff.  This has may hiring second time round quicker and simpler.  Like any work place you will find you will develop your own systems, tools and templates along the way.

If in doubt try phone a friend. 

ndis - What do you mean you work as an artists?

At 'work' in my home studio

So you're an artists? . . .  What does that mean?  Recently I have been interviewing for support workers to join a support team I self-direct. In my advertising I clean state I am a visual artists seeking support staff who can empower me to achieve my ndis goals. A process that has lead me to a very diamantic and diverse support team.

However, I was flawed in a few interviews. Especially one who announced her daughter was an artist, only to discover she was six years old. Many people do not comprehend the value of art development nor understand the complexities of their job description.  An artist might be a performer, musician, writer or a visual artists like myself.

Me with Julia at her Graduate Exhibition 

Julia has worked magic in bringing my practice into the spotlight with her knowledge of social media, she also understand my craft and the processes of its creation.  She is an exciting part of a support team who enable my to nail my ndis goals.  The ndis designs participants plans based on their elected goals.

My goal in my first plan was to extend my visual art practice and I was funded accordingly.  However this has not been the overall experience for artists with disabilities transitioning to the ndis. Many have found the ndis plan longer funds the attendance of a Supported Studio.

My 'day job' is the Manager of Ignite Artists, a  business that supports the professional artists living with disabilities and fosters the development of an inclusive art community in Ipswich.  Ignite forms part of a Supported Studio Network across Australia. A Supported Studio supports artists with disabilities to produce, exhibit and market the work.  Traditionally these studios support visual artists with intellectual disabilities under the state governments funding system for a disability support service.

However the ndis funding structure puts the viability of all Support Studios at risk.  In fact the ndis' fee stucture puts all small to medium service providers at risk.  The ndia has failed to recognise the specialised service our studios offer and to value that artists are self-employed professionals. Unless artists are funded as being employed that are not receiving funding for either a specialised studio art support person or to attend a Supported Studio.

This has been a concern for the Support Studio environment ever since I began to engage in the sector in 2014.  The ndis funds supports to reach education goals, employment goals, sporting and recreation goals, community living goals, thready goals, but not artist's goals.  Like the rest of Australian Society the ndia do not value the writers,  performers, dancers, musicians and visual artists. 

Residents are happy to attend galleries, visit the theatre of art festivals, or rock concert, but generally under estimate the production costs.  There are very few artists that can put food on the table.  In general artists are meet with disbelief,  Attending social functions is always interesting.

So what do you do for a living . .  "I a writer." After a bit of a scuffle. "Please don't put me in you next book or play. . ."

Or " . . . A an artists, I paint landscapes."  . . ."Umm! Arrh! So what do you for a living?"

Creative people are often greeted with mistrust and rarely paid an hourly rate for their craft.  This attitude is reflected in the ndia failure to recognize the arts employment and a refusal to work with art organizations to set a fee structure to support participants who engaged in the arts.  These attitudes filter down to Local Area Coorndiators, who understand little about the production of various different types of visual arts and thus fail to argue for much needed support.

If the ndis is about choice then they need to valid participants, their skill and their choices even if that is too be a professional artists.  I am very blessed the the Ipswich Area Office Manager is a art love and collector who knows the art market inside out and supports local artists.

Unless art is seen as a separate goal area then artists remain in danger of being inappropriate planning under the ndis and Support Studios will be forced fund raise and be dependent on charity, smoothing art workers have been working towards changes.  'We want fair pay for fair work, disability or not!'

If you wish to support artists living with disadvanage you might like to make a donation to Access Arts Queensland; Arts Access Australia; or Arts From The Margins.  Or a studio in your state.  You can also support an artists with a disability by buying their artwork and I am sure these organations will be delighted to put you in touch with their artists. 

A Frank Disscussion on the ndis

Let's Be Frank!

I enjoy the simple things in life.

Fresh air, nature, chai lattes and friendships

oh and a good mix of art too!

Last night I listened to ABC Brisbane Focus Radio a discussion around the ndis and the success or otherwise of the planning procress.  I guess the thing I am hearing that there will be hits and misses in terms of developing ndis plans and no one can make guarantees that we will get it 100% right. However there are steps participants can take to ensure a successful plan can be develop and review processes when that does not occur.   

Serval findings in regards to the ndis roll out have just been released and the is a growth requested for reviews and appeals.  The focus program, last night looked at how these emerging issues can be addressed and highlight some success stories. I consider myself a success story despite having a few hiccups along the way. The program did highlight an at risk category participant groups in missing opportunities and these are participants with complex dual diagnoses involving mental illness and the indigenous population. 

These with mental illness are most at risk of planning problems due to their ability to participant in the planning process, that does not mean methods can not be develop to involve outcomes for these participants.  We all recognizes that the ndis must do better. We must remember the ndis is very much an evolving system.  A complete overhaul of the funding of Disability Care System has never been attempted before, so the ndis is still very much in the emerging phases.  With such an individual funding agreements process to ensure good service delivery are still being refined.     

Experience tells us that participants that are able to advocate for themselves or find a support network to advocate on their for them. The more you understand about what you want your life to look like; what daily activities you want to engaged in; the types of support you want access and your other needs, such as threapies and equipment; and how you would like that to be administrated. 

When looking at preparing for the ndis it is vita you discuss your vision for your future.  The people best able to assist you in to develop a plan are those who know you best. Your family, teachers, other participants, support workers and providers.  I know first hand how exhasting entering the ndis is, however I also know first hand the work was rewarded with a plan than has in the main worked out for me. (You can read my pre-planning tips here). In reflecting on what hasn't worked, I know moving into my second plan I have much more knowledge with how I can use my funding.  The ndis is a revoluationary system and we are all learning together.   

This means we all need to work together to ensure the best outcome for all.  This can only be achieved by participants and family members are sharing their stories and learning from each other.  While my plan may not correspond with your families needs, I can share where I made mistakes.  A plan is just how you as a participant may achieve your goals, aspiriations and dreams.  The great news is if your first plan does not work, you can try something new in your second plan.  

One thing I have learned is participants feel too much pressure to get it right.  The devil in me advisor you to stuff it up! Make mistakes! Work out what the heck doesn't work for you, until you find the magic in making the ndis work for you, your life and your family. 

Make the ndis work for you!

About the Author

Deb Chilton is a poet, author and visual artists living in Southeast Queens;and. Deb was born with cerbral palsy and has a few other challengers she encouters in accessing the community.  Deb became a partucipant of the ndis in June last year.  Deb has shared her journey from her learn about what the ndis could look like, through planning for entering the ndis and her first plan.  Deb's plan has not gone to plan and that's ok! Cause life never goes to plan.

Deb's next plan is to discover what works for her and what doesn't..  Just because services have not worked for Deb, doesn't mean the are not right for you.  Your mission is to discover what suits you, your life and your family.

Thoughts on self-managering and self-directing NDIS

The National Disability Insurance Scheme gives families and individuals a choice on how their funding is administrated and their supports are planned.  I have chosen to self-manage my package and have also begun self-directing my own support staff. The structure of the ndis allows participants more choices around how, when and who supports them.  It achieves this through the development of individual ndis plans.  When you receive your ndis plan, you will have your ndis goals on top and then a break down of you budget and how you can spend your funding.

The ndis delivers individual choice

As a visual artists my goal during my ndis first plan was to expand my visual arts practice. Some of the ways I have achieved this are:-

• My third solo art exhibition
• Becoming a active member of Aspire Art Gallery
• Visiting galleries in Sydney
• Entering Art Competitions
• Developing new skills

Under the ndis everyone will select different goals and directions according to their stage of life; their abilities and skills; interests and maybe where they live.  Playing AFL or even going to a AFL isn't on my ndis radar and having finished school and completing my degree, my goals do not relate to formal education.  

Once you have set your ndis goals you will choose how you wish you ndis package to be administrated.  This is around who will ensure you stick to your ndis budget and report back to the ndis. Choices include having the ndis do this for you; finding a host fund provider or self-managing you own package.  I chose to self-manage and was able to demonstrate to the ndia I had the ability to do so.

However, I did not want to follow-up invoices and do a lot of reporting myself so I asked the ndis to pay for a Plan Manager.  I all ready had a good working relationship with a service provider who were offering Plan Management under the ndis so this for me was a natural progression and worked well. There are other ways you might choose to self-manage and you should check out all the options before your planning meeting or next review. 

My second year ndis plan commences at the end of the month. My first goal under this plan is to develop my own support team which I will be self-directing my own support team.  I will still be self-managing my own ndis plan using my current Plan Manager.  I have elected to also engage most of my team through this same provider.

Currently my team consists of a team leader, who also assists me with both the administration of the ndis and my visual art practise. This includes: recruitment and training of new team members; rosters and submitting time sheets so staff can be paid. In my art business the team leader, assists with gallery submissions, deliveries and writing grants. I contracted another team member to assist me to work in my home art studio.  Both these team members assist me with my commitments in the Ipswich Arts Community. 

My studio support person also assists me with my social media accounts and setting up online sales points.  The third member of the team keeps my house in a orderly manner (ie cleaning, washing and cooking), assists me with my daily physio program and some elements of personal care.  Next week we are recruiting a forth member of my team to work nights. 

I have also engaged staff through Hire-Up, this providers back up when team members are ill or take leave, My team members need to be a little flexible as many of my art commitments are outside work hours. We are enjoying working and learning together as a team.

This week we enjoyed bonding during a screen printing session where they printed their own t-shirts with my latest cat design. 

These direct supports come out of my core funding.  How you use your core funding is flexible.  So I am no longer needing to balance my in home supports and my community access supports.  The ndis will pay for all reasonable and necessary supports from your core supports; including one-on-one support, group based supports, in home supports, non risk assisted technology supports and consumables.

Depending on your ndis goals and how you have asked to be supported to chose your daily activities you will have different budget areas such as Assisted Daily Living and Plan Management. It is supports I choose to access with these areas of my budget that cause the most organization and thus frustration. When you choose to self manage you can access supports through a ndis approved provider or a genetic provider (such as a cleaning service or gardener).

I find choosing to a ndis provider very frustrating.  Smaller more specialized ndis providers may not have a customer base to understand the different way participants can administer their funding and thus they want to feed all ndis purchases through the portal.  Few are willing to trust participants abilities to manage the lives especially their own funding.  Informing one provider three times how to invoice me, resulted to 2 weeks back and forth in order to complete on payment.  All this for a purchase value of $140.00 so tempting just to pay for this myself. 

This is just one of the many problems participants and service providers are encountering under the ndis.  Many participants find the transition process tedious and the choices and pathways are unclear.  Their are now significant delays for those seeking reviews. Careful planning can reduce you need to request a review. Both the planner and the participant are responsible for a well written plan and it is helpful for participants and those who support them through the process to be prepared for the planning meeting.

Understanding the ndis landscape and the choices available to you is a good start to building your ndis pathway. This includes how you wish you plan to be managed and who might be able to assist you.  Transition to the ndis is a complex process in a foregin land, which hasn't quiet develop a full set of laws and is still not fully funded.  Under these conditions knowing your own direction is best.  Regardless of who are; you knowledge of the current disability sector in your area; how well you think your ready for the ndis you should select a support person to go on your journey.

This could be a family member, friend or work mate.  While support workers, and service providers are key to putting a plan together and action it, they as bias.  If you are considering self-management and self-direction, I strongly recommend you talk to others who have or intend to take this pathway and any services your thinking of asking to support you in this role. 

This path will require some knowledge of HR law and the taxation system, so you should make sure your fully informed before stepping on to your  ndis pathways.  A firm ndis management foundation is key to a successful plan. 

Having said that there are delays in some areas due to demand and lack of resources include assessments and delivery of equipment.  25 days out the end of my first plan I still sitting in my same wheelchair and my new plan is still unconfirmed. 

We need to keep pressure on the government to fix and fully fund the ndis to ensure people with disabilities don't need to put their lives on hold.