NDIS FAQs

The majority of our consumers are in the South East Victorian region which includes the Cities of Greater Dandenong and Casey and the Shires of Cardinia and Baw Baw.

From the information released so far it seems that it could take eligible consumers up to 12 months to enter the NDIS program because of the phased roll out. Baw Baw Shire is scheduled for 1 October 2017 and Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia are 1 September 2018. But the areas around our service region will transition earlier and we will be able to offer NDIS funded services to consumers living in those areas as the plan rolls out.  

For those consumers who currently participate in State or Federal programs, it’s important to understand that those programs will continue until you start your NDIS plan.

For the most current information on the NDIS please visit www.ndis.gov.au

No. We’ll be ready long before our programs officially transition to the NDIS. Actually, for a number of years now, Windermere has already been providing individually funded services to consumers funded under existing Individual Support Package or DSS funded programs. So we already have well developed systems to support consumers who choose to purchase support using their individualised funding. Obviously we continue to review and improve these services and systems to ensure we can effectively support the increasing numbers of consumers who will receive individual funding.

We also have consumers who had already transitioned into NDIS (as arranged by NDIA) before moving into our area.  Windermere are already an approved NDIA provider and are registered to provide services under the NDIS.

For the most current information on the NDIS please visit www.ndis.gov.au

We are in regular contact with the NDIA and peak bodies such as National Disability Services and Early Childhood Intervention Australia. As more information becomes available we will definitely share this with our consumers via this newsletter, on our website and through information sessions when appropriate.

We have also formed a project team to ensure our readiness including being able to provide advice and assistance for anyone who has concerns about how a move to the NDIS might affect them. As I mentioned previously, we already have experience providing some fee for service options for consumers with access to individualised funding through ISP or DSS programs so we’re sure that will assist us to ensure a smooth transition.

Finally, we have two Consumer Consultative Committee’s - co-ordinated by the Disability team at Narre Warren and the team at Warragul, that work with consumer groups to ensure our services and systems meet the needs of you, our consumer.

For the most current information on the NDIS please visit www.ndis.gov.au

More information is due to be released by the NDIS before the end the year. If you have questions about the roll-out timeline or scheme design, just ask your worker (or visit the NDIS website (www.ndis.gov.au).  We will include additional  information as it becomes available through our newsletter and on our website.

We are in regular contact with the NDIA and peak bodies such as National Disability Services and Early Childhood Intervention Australia. As more information becomes available we will definitely share this with our consumers via this newsletter, on our website and through information sessions when appropriate.

We have also formed a project team to ensure our readiness including being able to provide advice and assistance for anyone who has concerns about how a move to the NDIS might affect them. As I mentioned previously, we already have experience providing some fee for service options for consumers with access to individualised funding through ISP or DSS programs so we’re sure that will assist us to ensure a smooth transition.

Finally, we have two Consumer Consultative Committee’s - co-ordinated by the Disability team at Narre Warren and the team at Warragul, that work with consumer groups to ensure our services and systems meet the needs of you, our consumer.

For the most current information on the NDIS please visit www.ndis.gov.au

Existing service providers (like us!) can keep you up to date about the progress in your area and also advise you about information you should gather in preparation for NDIA planning.

The NDIS website also has some excellent resources for people with a disability and their families to assist with preparation – look for My NDIS Pathway. 

If you are already using existing Commonwealth or State funding services, the NDIA or Local Area Coordinator will contact you about NDIS access and planning.

For those who may be eligible but are not using services when the NDIS becomes available, you will be able to contact the NDIA and complete an Access Request Form – you will also need to provide evidence of your developmental delay or diagnosed disability.

A LAC or Local Area Coordinator is an organisation who will be providing some outsourced NDIA tasks including:

• Community development to ensure local community supports better meet the needs of people with a disability
• Support linking people with a disability to community
• Planning.

There will be one designated LAC provider in each area. Across many areas, these are still unknown - check back regularly to find out the LAC in your area.

The NDIS recognises specific needs of families who have children under 6 who are experiencing developmental delay, but whom do not yet have a formal disability diagnosis.

Requirements include that the child has developmental delay which results in substantially reduced functional capacity in one or more of the areas of self-care, receptive & expressive language, cognitive development or motor development, and that specialised services or treatments which are individually planned and coordinated are required over an extended period of time.

Full details of early intervention access requirements are available on the NDIS website.

Commonwealth and state-based services and supports will continue until eligible people start their NDIS plans.

Once an eligible person starts their plan they can then choose to purchase their supports from a variety of providers, including their existing service provider if they are happy to do so.