The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a policy designed to provide affordable and quality disability care. The NDIS is an Australian Government initiative aimed at meeting the needs of people with disabilities or with special needs and is implemented through a national healthcare system.
At its most basic level, the NDIS aims to deliver better access to care, improved outcomes and increased community participation in the rehabilitation and work of people with disabilities.
What services is the NDIS provider responsible for?
The Australian Government introduced the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in 2013. Since then, the scheme has seen many changes but remains active and ongoing.
The scheme is designed to provide comprehensive and individualised support to Australians with various disabilities or who need further support to live day to day. The scheme has the objective of supporting all Australians in their social, economic and cultural participation, regardless of their abilities, age or financial status. Learn some of the most important disability services available to your Ipswich family here.
Most importantly, the NDSIS provides people with disabilities the opportunity to achieve their desired outcomes and make decisions about the services they access, how they are provided and who they receive support from. It gives them the freedom to live independently, where available and appropriate, and allows them a better quality of life.
What services are NOT covered by the NDIS?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was created to address the challenges of people with disabilities who cannot work or live in normal circumstances. While the NDIS has been a success, it is not without its challenges.
With more than four million Aussies, the NDIS is becoming more critical than ever before, but this scheme does not cover everything. For example, the initiative does not cover temporary conditions i.e., fracturing a limb or experiencing an acute injury. It also doesn’t fund medication, specialist services, hospital care, general medical and dental or rehabilitation.
So what does it cover?
- Support to help manage everyday tasks, like getting dressed and doing the washing.
- Access to the right equipment and support systems needed.
- Carers to help with daily tasks in-home.
- Connections to services and communities like sporting clubs, libraries, schools, support groups, etc.
- Daily personal activities.
How do you choose an NDIS service provider?
As time goes on, more and more providers are being added to the list, but all have varied services available and specific locations they service. For this reason, it’s important to speak to a disability support specialist who can help you access the level of care you need and from the right provider.
To ensure quality, these providers are selected through a competitive tender process to ensure that they meet the requirements set by the NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency). All of this is considered area to price, quality of care, and customer satisfaction ratings.
However, you will also need to sit down and think about what you need the provider to do for you, your family and loved ones, including:
- Are you willing to travel for help, if required?
- Do you want in-home care or an assisted living facility?
- Are you in need of high-level care or general support for day-to-day living?
Choosing an NDIS provider often means you’ll need to shop around for services that meet your level of care requirements and are covered by the initiative overall. Seeking professional advice and guidance always goes a long way, especially when you’re new to the space.