National Disability Insurance Scheme NDIS Scheme overview and

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Scheme overview and implementation update Chris Skurrie & Sean Pearson Community Engagement, NSW North Coffs Harbour May 2017

NDIS and the NDIA The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) administers the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The Agency’s job is to: • Deliver the NDIS • Build community awareness of disability • Ensure financial sustainability of the NDIS • Develop and enhance the disability sector The NDIA Board governs the NDIS

A new way • Supports tailored to individual needs • Insurance approach for sustainable costs • Choice and control is central • Needs driven • Delivered in local communities • National coverage

Background to NDIS • • • • 2008: Commonwealth 2020 Summit proposes a national disability scheme 2010: Productivity Commission conducts enquiry in to long term disability care July 2011: Productivity Commission submits report to government Oct 2011: COAG agrees to need for reform – taskforce develops scheme design Dec 2012: COAG sign agreement to trial the Scheme Mar 2013: NDIS Act 2013 establishing the NDIS and NDIA passed Apr 2013: Bilateral agreements with trial sites signed 1 July 2013: Trial sites in VIC, NSW, SA and TAS start 1 July 2014: Trial sites in ACT, NT and WA start 1 July 2015: Early transition in Nepean Blue Mountains NSW begins Sept 2015: VIC and NSW bilateral agreements signed Dec 2015: SA and Tas bilateral agreements signed April 2016: Early transition in QLD begins July 2016: Roll out begins in VIC, NSW, SA, ACT and Tas

NDIS principles • People with disability have the same right as other members of the community to realise their potential • People with disability, their families and carers should have certainty they will receive the care and support they need • People with disability should be supported to exercise choice in the pursuit of their goals and the planning and delivery of their supports • The role of families and carers in the lives of people with disability is to be acknowledged and respected The NDIS principles align with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the National Disability Strategy

Three key pillars • Insurance approach • Choice and control • Community and mainstream

Insurance principles • • The risk of disability affects all Australians. Resulting financial costs may be too much for any individual or family to bear The NDIS is a way of pooling these risks Each year, all tax payers pay a premium to cover the costs of running the NDIS and providing care and support to participants We are all at risk of being affected by disability. We all share the risk and the cost of disability. We are all covered if and when we need it

How things are changing

The NDIS is here to help participants by: • Accessing services and supports provided by the health, education, housing and justice systems. These are referred to as mainstream services • Accessing community services and supports such as sporting clubs, community groups, libraries or charities • Supporting informal care arrangements - this is the care and help from family and friends • Receiving supports funded by the NDIS

What does the NDIS fund? • The NDIS pays for different supports for different people. The type of support depends on what different people want to achieve and what areas of their life they need help with • Funded supports may include: – Help with household tasks and personal activities – Vehicle and home modifications – Mobility equipment and assistive technology – Transport to be involved in community, social and employment activities – Therapies related to the disability

What doesn’t the NDIS fund? • There are rules for the NDIS that mean some supports cannot be funded in an NDIS plan • The NDIS will not fund: – Supports that are not related to a person’s disability – Supports that are funded by a different mechanism or system, such as Medicare or the Health system – Day-to-day living costs that everyone pays for such as food, electricity and water – Things that may cause harm

Scheme achievements

Estimated intake It is estimated that around 460, 000 Australians will be supported by the NDIS by 2020

Accessing the NDIS • People with disability who meet the access requirements will become participants • People with disability enter the NDIS through multiple channels • There will be a gradual intake of participants around Australia • People in areas where the NDIS is active can contact the NDIA to ask questions and request an Access Request Form

People aged 65 and over • People aged 65 and over are not eligible to access the NDIS • If you are aged 65 or over and currently accessing a disability service, you will get continuity of support consistent with your current arrangements • If you are not eligible for the NDIS, you can still engage with existing Australian and State Government disability services around your support needs • Visit myagedcare. gov. au to find out more

Disability requirements To access the NDIS a person must have permanent disability which has a significant impact on everyday life and on their ability to participate in the community and will mean they will need ongoing supports.

Early intervention requirements Early intervention is for both children and adults. To meet the early intervention requirements a person must have an impairment that is, or is likely to be, permanent. AND There is evidence that receiving supports now (early interventions) will help: • Reduce the level of support needed, now and in the future OR • Assist their family and carer to keep providing support

Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) objectives The following early intervention objectives are particularly focused on children. Investment in early intervention is a key feature of the NDIS. Access to early intervention in childhood will aim to: • Increase functional capacity • Reduce the impact of disability • Help maintain independence • Increase opportunity for social, economic and community participation • Utilise evidence based interventions

Early Childhood Early Intervention Approach • • • Children between 0 -6 years • • Builds capacity of child and family Family centred approach Supports greater inclusion in mainstream settings Early childhood partners in local community

The ECEI Existing andjourney New ECEI Participants

ECEI Providers • ECEI Transtion Providers in Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour have now been identified

Types of funded supports • Most participants will access a blend of informal, mainstream and funded supports. • Supports that are NDIS funded must be reasonable and necessary and must: o focus on the participant’s goals and aspirations o foster greater independence, social and economic participation o be evidence based o represent value for money • Choice of and control over NDIS funded supports means safeguards may be required to reduce risk of harm, abuse or neglect of the participant.

What if I’m not accepted into the NDIS? People with disability who are not eligible for the NDIS, but still need help, will have access to Information, Linkages and Capacity (ILC). ILC has two main focuses: • Personal capacity building – this depends on the person’s needs. It may include information about a community service, or how another government agency can help you. ILC will be available to all people with disability regardless of NDIS eligibility. • Building community inclusion – helping mainstream services and community organisations be more inclusive for people with disability.

Information and Community Linkages (ILC) • A key component of the NDIS insurance model. • Contributes to the sustainability of the scheme by building the capacity of the community, people with disability, their families and carers, and fosters greater community inclusion. • ILC supports will be delivered through five streams of activity: • Information, linkages and referrals • Capacity building for mainstream services • Community awareness and capacity building • Individual capacity building • Local area coordination

Differences between LAC, Planner & Support Coordinator LAC Planner Support Coordinator ü Uniting and St Vincent de Paul Society NSW until 30 June 2018. ü NDIA Staff ü NDIA Registered Service Providers ü Conduct information gathering process for participants streamed as general, supported and intensive. ü Conduct information gathering for participants in large residential centres and those who are streamed as super-intensive. X Do not conduct information gathering X Do not make reasonable and necessary decisions or approve plans. ü Make reasonable and necessary decisions in accordance with the NDIS Act 2013, approve plans. X Do not come into contact with NDIS participants until they have an approved plan. ü Support participants streamed as general or supported to implement and review their plans. X Do not support participants to implement their plans. ü Support participants streamed as intensive and super-intensive to implement and review their plans.

NDIS and mainstream systems • The NDIS is not intended to replace the supports or services provided by other mainstream systems • Wherever possible we assist participants to access mainstream systems • Key principles determine whether the NDIS or another system is more appropriate to fund particular supports • A participant’s plan may include a range of supports provided by informal, mainstream and community networks. Some of these may be funded by the NDIS.

COAG Principles • All governments have agreed to a vision where people with disability are fully included within all service delivery systems • A set of principles were developed between governments – Principles to Determine the Responsibilities of the NDIS and Other Service Systems, in line with the National Disability Strategy. • These are known as the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Principles

Applied principles and tables of support Applied principles have been developed in a range of other service systems to assist governments define the funding responsibilities for the NDIS and other systems and it does not intend to place additional obligations on other systems. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Health Mental health Early childhood development Child protection and family support School education Higher education and VET Employment Housing and community infrastructure Transport Justice Aged care

The First Plan process

The role of First Plans • First plans will provide an effective approach to planning. • The first plan is a person’s entry point to the NDIS and is the start of their relationship with the NDIS • Around 30, 000 participants had received a plan at 30 June 2016 (the end of trial). • A further 430, 000 will enter the scheme during the transition period over the next three years. What is the NDIS? 30

The First Plan process • Has been developed from our experiences during trial. • Most First Plans will be developed by phonebased planning conversations. • Alternative arrangements will be available if people are not able to complete planning conversations over the phone. • Same access to the supports and services irrespective of how the planning conversation is delivered.

The First Plan discussion areas 1: Your personal details Your conversation will include questions about your name, age, where you live and your primary disability. Make sure you have all your personal details in one place. 2: Your community and mainstream supports You will be asked about what supports you currently receive from people in your life and in your local community. These can include things like health services or help at school and sports groups, as well as friends and family who help out. 3: How you manage everyday activities We’ll ask you questions about how you manage your everyday activities. This helps us to understand what your abilities are as well as what you might need are including equipment, accommodation or assistance to take care of yourself or your home.

The First Plan discussion areas 4: Your safety We’ll ask you some questions so you can let us know if there any areas in your life where you may feel unsafe and where you might need extra help. We want to support people to learn how to do new things safely. 5: Setting your goals We’ll talk about your short term goals and what you are hoping to achieve through your first plan particularly about your immediate and essential needs. We’ll also have a conversation about the longer term goals you are going to explore and develop during your first plan. 6: Starting your plan We’ll talk about how you want to manage your plan. 7: Next steps At the end of your conversation we’ll talk about the next steps including your plan approval and starting using the funding in your plan.

Plan approved – what’s next? • All Participants will need to register on My. Place Portal • My. Place Portal enables Participants to manage all interactions with NDIS. • Self Managed Participants can also receive payments for supports purchased. • Participants can be assisted to link with Providers in their local area or that provide specific services. • Local area coordinators assist in finding services in local areas for Participants. • Participants can also find and use their own Provider who is registered to provide services and products.

Questions? Visit: www. ndis. gov. au Phone: 1800 110 8 am-8 pm eastern standard time weekdays Email: enquiries@ndis. gov. au NSWnorthengagement@ndis. gov. au