NDIS Services 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."
What is NDIS?
“Inclusive”, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, means including everyone and accommodating people who have historically been excluded. In history, people who have special needs are often left out to die or discriminated against. People do not want to be associated with individuals who behave differently. Some cultures even label disabled people as “cursed” just because their condition is different from normal.
Today, perhaps, the most inclusive program that the Australian government made is the NDIS or the National Disability Insurance Scheme along with the NDIA or the National Disability Insurance Agency. This program gave hope for persons with disabilities to live normally by giving support either through medication or monetary support. Thanks to the advancement in technology, doctors can now understand and give solutions to families with specially-abled members.
The Need for NDIS in Australia
Australian citizens and residents, specifically those situated in Geelong, may not be fully aware of the rising cases of disability. Everyone must be aware that there is a high chance of them living with a disabled person in their neighbourhood.
According to a Web report conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 1 in 6 people in Australia has some sort of disability. This means that for every neighbourhood with 100 families, there are at least 17 families with a disabled person living with them. It was also found out that 32% of disabled adults experience a high level of psychological distress. Comparing them with the 8% of normal people that experience a high level of psychological distress, disabled people are four times likely to experience mental health issues.
This is very alarming because mental health is as much as important as the physical health of the people. Thus, the Australian government decided to use the NDIS program to help these people.
What is included in the Program?
What will a patient get from taking the program? Is it worth the long queue lines and tedious process? The patient must know what to expect right after being eligible for the NDIS. This will also assure the patient that the services that they get are what the government really wants them to have.
Depending on the severity of the patient’s condition, the NDIS assistance will also vary. It usually falls into three categories: Core, Capital, and Capacity Building.
Core. This is an NDIS support that will help the patient learn and practise doing daily tasks and normal living activities. Activities such as walking, jumping, speaking are included in this type of support. Any core skill a normal person should possess is included. Of course, individuals without limbs are not expected to be trained to walk, unless they are given prosthetic arms and legs.
Capital. The support is in form of money. This includes investments, monetary support, and donations to persons with disabilities. The goal is to help the patient to buy new equipment or maintain their current equipment.
Capacity Building. The support includes training the patient to return to being independent. Like Core, but this time the patient already knows how to do the task. They only need to train again to return to normal.
A patient can be included in two or more categories depending on their condition. Here is a list of more specified assistance from NDIS:
Basic Transportation Training
Medicine Supply or Equipment Maintenance
Basic Socialising Skills Training
Installation of Assistive Technology in their houses/vehicle
Planned Living Arrangements
Job Application Training
As convenient as it seems, the NDIS cannot offer everything. There is a limitation to what the program may offer to protect itself from fraud and abuse. The program does not include funding non-disability-related sickness. The NDIA may also decline to offer the program if they see that other agencies can offer better solutions.
How to Apply for NDIS in Geelong
How can the patient know that they are eligible for the NDIS program? Is the patient’s condition enough for them to get the program? Is the evidence valid? Here are the four main processes of applying for NDIS in Geelong or any state in Australia:
Do a Self-assessment
To not waste time and effort, a patient may conduct a self-assessment by using these questions. There are few instances that a person is disabled but is not qualified to apply for NDIS because of age, citizenship, or consent restrictions. Here are few questions a patient may use to evaluate their qualification:
Am I between 7 and 65? Am I taking care of someone below the age of 7?
Do I live in Australia? Am I an Australian Citizen?
Do I ask for support from my relatives because of my disability?
Am I using a piece of special equipment that I need support in maintaining?
Do I need support today to mitigate my future needs?
Make an access request
The next step is to request access to the questions. A patient has the option to contact them through the hotline 1800 800 110 or via email.
Answer the Access Request questions
The next step is to wait for the NDIA’s response. Usually, the NDIA will ask the patient to answer questions which will include describing the identity of the patient (or the patient’s representative), the patient’s eligibility, and the patient’s consent to enter the NDIS program. They may also ask basic questions regarding the patient’s disability.
Provide more information about the disability
The patient must then provide evidence of his/her disability by giving test results, assessment scores, and testimonies or consent if the patient himself/herself cannot explain the condition. Here are the 11 types of disability evidence accepted by the NDIA:
Primary Disability – Acquired Brain Injury
Primary Disability – Autism
Primary Disability – Cerebral palsy
Primary Disability – Hearing impairment
Primary Disability – Intellectual disability, Developmental delay, Global developmental delay, Down Syndrome
Primary Disability – Multiple Sclerosis
Primary Disability – Psychosocial disability
Primary Disability – Spinal cord injury
Primary Disability – Stroke
Primary Disability – Vision impairment
Primary Disability – Other
If the patient residing in Geelong needs more information or assistance regarding the NDIS services providers, they can contact Positive Moods by visiting https://www.positivemoods.com.au/contactus. They may also send an email to ndis@positivemoods.com.au.