Midlas Disability Advocacy Reviews Complaints Midlas Mission We

Midlas Disability Advocacy, Reviews & Complaints Midlas Mission: We partner with individuals and organisations to promote independence, strength and wellbeing in our community through support, advocacy and education.

What will be discussed? • About Midlas • General overview of Midlas’ Disability Advocacy Service • Who we can support? • Types of Reviews • Review processes • Complaints

About Midlas Midland Information Debt and Legal Advocacy Service (Midlas) is a not-for-profit community organisation Offers free services for eligible clients Provides financial counselling, tenancy advocacy, disability advocacy and legal service within the north east metropolitan and hills region of Perth.

Midlas Disability Advocacy • Funded for individual advocacy • Short-term and 1: 1 advocacy support • Develop an ‘Action Plan’ • Education about rights • Advocates can: • Connect clients to appropriate agencies/supports • Coach clients in the skills of self-advocacy • Advocate on client’s behalf when they are unable

Who can we support? People with disabilities, their carers and their families. This includes people with: • Mental health/psychiatric issues; • Intellectual and/or physical disability; • Sensory, speech, neurological conditions; • Autism, ADD, Developmental Delay, specific learning issues.

Support for NDIS Reviews Federal NDIS participants and/or their families who do not agree with a NDIA decision and wish to go through the review process; Currently this includes the Local Government Areas of: City of Swan Town of Bassendean Shire of Mundaring Shire of Kalamunda City of Bayswater Shire of Toodyay Shire of Northam Town of York Shire of Chittering

Support for NDIS Reviews Midlas Disability Advocates can provide support with: • Internal Review (Review of a Reviewable Decision). This is the first level of appeal • External Merits Review. This is the second level of appeal and is reviewed by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) Midlas has NDIS Appeals funding for External Merits Reviews and is currently the only advocacy organisation in WA with this funding.

Example of Review Process Client is unhappy with NDIA decision/s – client assisted to apply for an Internal Review within 3 months Client’s plan is reviewed and client is happy with outcome No further actions required Client’s plan is reviewed and client is unhappy with outcome Client can now apply for an External Merit Review within 28 days – Midlas Disability Advocate to assist throughout process. Client’s plan is reviewed by AAT. Client is happy with outcome. Client’s plan is reviewed by AAT. Client is still not happy with outcome. Disability Advocate can assist with investigating other options.

Types of Reviews INTERNAL REVIEW • Internal review is also known as a Review of a Reviewable Decision. • Many decisions made by the NDIA are reviewable. • A request for an internal review must be made within 3 months of an NDIA decision. • A request can be made in writing, contacting NDIA or sending an email to enquiries@ndis. gov. au

Types of Reviews EXTERNAL MERITS REVIEW • An application to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) for an external review must be made within 28 days of receipt of the Internal Review decision. • It is the role of the AAT to make the decision about the things you want reviewed. • The process is designed to be accessible and as nonadversarial as possible for people with disability.

Review Process – Supports Available NDIS APPEALS (Previously known as External Merits Review – Support Component) The NDIS Appeals provides services to assist people seeking an external review of a NDIA decision through the AAT. There are two main types of assistance available via the NDIS Appeals: • access to a skilled advocate who acts as a support person; and • access to legal services - where a case raises complex or novel legal issues.

Review Process – Supports Available MIDLAS & NDIS APPEALS Midlas Disability Advocates are funded under NDIS Appeals to support you: • To lodge an application with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. • To link with legal aid funding for the case if it is thought to be complex or novel. • To ensure that your voice is heard throughout the process. • As you go through the process.

Plan Review (Change of Circumstance) Client’s circumstances change – Disability Advocate assists to apply for Plan Review is accepted. Plan now reflects client’s current needs. No further actions required Plan Review is not accepted. Client can now apply for an Internal Review of the decision not to conduct a plan review.

Making a Complaint Making a complaint about NDIA is separate to requesting a review of a NDIA decision. You can make a complaint about NDIA by: • Contacting Midland NDIA office; or • Completing an online complaint form on the NDIA website. When making your complaint you will need to: • outline exact details of what happened; • what outcomes you are seeking; and • include any supporting information.

Come and see us. . . 23 Old Great Northern Hwy MIDLAND WA 6056 Phone 9250 2123 Email admin@midlas. org. au Website www. midlas. org. au