National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
The NDIS aims to provide financial support to people under the age of 65 years living with a permanent disability access to supports they require. The NDIS aims to provide financial support to people under the age of 65 years living with a permanent disability, to access the supports they require. The NDIS empowers individuals to have more choice and control over the services they receive.
Your journey with Samarinda
STEP 1: ELIGIBILITY
The main criteria for NDIS is that you are under 65 years of age, you are an Australian resident and you have a long and enduring disability or psychosocial disability.
To see if you are eligible click the Am I Eligible button below. This will take you to the NDIS website.
Am I Eligible
STEP 2: PLANNING PREPARATION
To get access to funding, you will have a planning preparation meeting with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) or the Local Area Coordinator (LAC), (for us it is Latrobe Health) who will assist you to develop a plan. The plan is then submitted to the NDIA for approval and if approved, is put in place for 12 months or longer. We can help you prepare for your first planning meeting if you want by:
- Arranging any assessments you might need
- Gathering information that may be needed for your plan, for example;
- What support you currently receive and what support you think you need
- How you manage everyday activities
- What you need to stay safe
- Identifying life goals
STEP 3: PLANNING MEETING
The next step is to meet with the NDIA or the LAC and present the information collected during Step 2. Bring along a carer or a friend to this meeting for support and of course we would be more than happy to come with you too if you want. The meeting can be at your house or the NDIA/LAC office.
STEP 4: STARTING YOUR PLAN
After you have had your plan approved by the NDIA, you will need to start and manage your plan. This can be done in one of three ways:
- You or your nominee (approved by NDIA);
- A registered plan management provider; or
- The NDIA
If you decide you want a plan management provider Samarinda can help you. Our Finance team can assist with the management of your funds, pay invoices and deal with all the other financial elements of your package.
Our NDIS Support Coordinator can help organise your supports. We will work with you to establish what type of supports you will need, what providers can deliver them, the cost of delivery, where they are and develop service agreements in partnership with you.
STEP 5: SERVICE DELIVERY
Once you and your Support Coordinator have established what supports you need, who you are going to employ to deliver them, when, where, and how much they are, your service delivery starts.
Samarinda may be able to provide you with support workers to provide the support you need in your plan. We will work with you to establish exactly what you need and build a team to help you achieve your goals. We will provide you and the NDIS with progress reports on specific goals and outcomes as we go along.
You won’t need to worry about any of the financials for the supports you receive, because our plan management team can handle all of that for you, however you will be informed because we will provide you with monthly statements.
STEP 6: PLAN REVIEW
At the end of your Plan there will be a review. The review is a chance for you to think about which supports have helped you achieve your goals, and a time to think about anything new that interests you or opportunities you would like to participate in. When it comes time to have a review meeting with the NDIA or the LAC, Samarinda can be there with you. You have the right to request a review earlier if anything major changes in your life.
Disability Support Groups
A-CREW
The A-Crew is a group of young adults living with disabilities, who get together weekly on Tuesday evenings to prepare and share a meal together. The group gathers at 5pm to plan the menu and write a shopping list; they travel together to a local supermarket where the ingredients are purchased; they return to the Community Centre kitchen where tasks are assigned and the meal is prepared; and of course the table is set and the meal is enjoyed.
The group also gather fortnightly on Saturdays to get out and enjoy community events, festivals, movies, and lunch.
ASHWOOD SCHOOL SOCIAL CLUB
This group runs in partnership with Ashwood School, providing a fun social program on the afternoons of each school day and for 2-weeks during each school term break.
Contact Information
Phone: 03 9058 6095