NDIS Geelong

"We currently have no in-person capacity in this area, however if you fill in our enquiry form you'll be added to our telehealth waiting list."

Created to provide support to Australians citizens and residents with a permanent and significant disability, the National Disability Insurance Scheme has started operating in the state of Victoria since July 2016. NDIS Geelong has been fully introduced in Victoria starting July 2019, providing much-needed access to support and services for Geelong residents living with disabilities.

By applying for funding and assistance under the NDIS, Geelong residents can receive benefits from the government which will help them achieve their goals and improve their overall daily living. The NDIS is continuing to roll out services in other Australian states and territories, and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) aims to have every qualified Australian citizen and resident sign up for an NDIS Plan to get support.

Geelong residents who may be struggling with a permanent and significant disability can see if they meet the criteria under the NDIS to fund an individual Plan. Once their application and NDIS Plan is approved, they can start to receive benefits from the NDIS which will help them address the challenges of their disabilities.

As of June 30th, 2020, 108,630 people in Victoria are receiving benefits from the NDIS. 37,878 people in the state are receiving support for their disability for the first time. As the NDIS continues to roll out in various Australian territories, the government wants to encourage all qualified individuals to sign up for the NDIS and start their journey to an improved daily life.

NDIS Geelong: What is the National Disability Insurance Scheme?

Simply called the NDIS, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (also known as the NDIS) is a government initiative designed to provide different services and support to Australians with permanent and significant disabilities.

Through the NDIS, eligible NDIS Geelong Participants will be connected to qualified agencies that can provide assistance in their communities and address disability-related needs. The NDIS is not a welfare system, but a means to help its participants develop their skills and independence over time, depending on the kind of NDIS Plan they have.

Implemented by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), many persons with disabilities are receiving benefits for the first time. The government aims to have the NDIS fully implemented in the entire country by the end of 2020.

Am I Qualified to be an NDIS Geelong Participant?

Today, over 4.3 million Australians are living with a disability. This makes the NDIS an important means to give them support and services, and in the long run, improve their quality of living. Upon approval of an application, an NDIS Geelong Participant can start to receive help under their plans.

To be eligible under the NDIS, an applicant must have a permanent and significant disability. Permanent and significant disabilities are those which pose challenges to daily living, requiring additional support.

These are the two first criteria that applicants must meet before they can become an NDIS Geelong Participant:

Must be between the ages of 7 and 64 years old; and
Must be an Australian citizen, Permanent Visa Holder, or a Special Category Visa Holder living in Australia.

Additionally, NDIS Geelong applicants must have any of the three following criteria apply to them:

Must need support from another person because of a permanent and significant disability;
Must use special equipment because of a permanent and significant disability; or
Must need current support to reduce needs in the future.

If they meet the criteria under this checklist, they can qualify as an NDIS Geelong Participant and contact the NDIA to make a plan that can help with your day-to-day needs. However, if they have a disability but do not qualify for the NDIS, they can still receive government assistance for support through other agencies.

How Does the NDIS Provide Support?

The NDIS provides support to a diverse group of individuals, intending to help each one attain their unique goals and meet their needs. When an NDIS Geelong Participant’s Plan is approved, they will collaborate with their local NDIA office and collaborate with registered NDIS Geelong Providers.

NDIS Providers are all approved under the NDIS before they are connected to participants. Every provider has the professional requirements and training that allows them to best address a participant’s plan, whether the provider is an organisation, group, or individual. Thanks to their background and qualification, a Participant will have all the resources they need to develop a holistic plan for a better, more fulfilling life.

Needs-Based Budgeting: Types of NDIS Geelong Support Budgets

Every NDIS Geelong Participant will have a Plan that best tackles the challenges they face every day. By choosing which kinds of services are funded, the NDIS ensures that its Participants get the most funding for vital categories and needs. These are the different budgets that a Participant can avail of from the NDIS.

Core Support Budget

This budget offers the greatest flexibility to Participants, as it allows them to move their NDIS Plan’s total funding across any of the different categories. The four support categories which can be funded by the Core Support Budget are the following.

Daily Activities. This includes help with self-care activities throughout the day.
Consumables. These are everyday use items.
Assistance with Social & Community Participation. This includes support for joining community activities.
Transport. This will help those who have difficulties using public transport.

Capacity Building Support Budget

Other NDIS Geelong Participants design plans which are more focused on developing skills that help them become independent and more active in their community. These plans are best funded by a Capacity Building Support Budget.

Under this budget, NDIS Participants cannot move funding across categories. However, they will have the freedom to decide which services under each category will be funded by the amounts they receive. The categories funded by a Capacity Building Support Budget are:

Choice and Control, such as plan management
Daily Activity, e.g. therapy
Employment, such as employment preparation and counselling
Health and Wellbeing, e.g. fitness planning
Home Living, such as support for finding or maintaining accommodations
Lifelong Learning, such as help with finding educational institutions
Relationships, e.g. developing strategies to strengthen positive behaviour
Social and Community Participation, such as training for individual life skills and socialising

Capital Support Budget

Some NDIS Plans are best tackled by funding one-time purchases that have high costs and significant impact in a Participant’s daily activities. The Capital Support Budget is ideal for these plans, as they are designed to provide assistive equipment and other home modifications for those with disabilities.

The two categories of items that can be funded under a Capital Support Budget are:

Assistive Technology, e.g. wheelchairs and other equipment for mobility.
Home Modifications, such as home railings or wheelchair ramps.

The NDIA maintains a database of registered NDIS Providers in all states and territories of Australia where the NDIS has been rolled out. By contacting the NDIA and applying for the NDIS, Geelong’s NDIS Participants will easily find the right NDIS Providers in their area.

If you live in Geelong and qualify for NDIS assistance, you should apply to become an NDIS Participant. Just call the NDIA Office by phone at 1800 800 110 for a Verbal Access Request. You can also email enquiries@ndis.gov.au, webchat, or call your nearest NDIS office to set a visit and discuss your NDIS Plan.