Understanding the NDIS Feros Cares role as NDIS

Understanding the NDIS & Feros Care’s role as NDIS Local Area Coordinator for the ACT

Feros Care NDIS LAC Services Snapshot 169 LOCAL AREA COORDINATORS 1, 813 COMBINED YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN DISABILITY (LIVED & WORKING) 104, 415 CALLS WITH PARTICIPANTS 22, 974 PLAN REVIEWS 19, 499 PARTICIPANTS SUPPORTED 164, 199 HOURS OF SUPPORT 12 ILC PROJECTS 3, 561 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES an increase of 19% from last financial year 4, 093, 940 KILOMETRES TRAVELLED OUR FOOTPRINT From our beginning more than 29 years ago in Byron Bay, we’ve grown to care for people in our communities from Townsville to Hobart, and Adelaide to the ACT.

Introduction This presentation will cover: An introduction to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Feros Care’s role as the NDIS Local Area Coordination (LAC) partner in the community to answer questions, provide information and help link people to a broader system of support. NDIS eligibility criteria How to request access and what information to provide Supports and services funded by the NDIS Where to go for more information and Where to connect with Feros LACs for information, support and links to mainstream and community services

What is the NDIS? N – National The NDIS is being introduced across all Australian states and territories. D – Disability The NDIS provides support to eligible people with intellectual, physical, sensory, cognitive and psychosocial disability. I – Insurance The NDIS gives all Australians peace of mind that if they, their child or loved one is born with or acquires a permanent and significant disability, they will get the support they need. S – Scheme The NDIS is not a welfare system.

Who is helping to implement the NDIS? National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) NDIA is the independent government organisation that runs the NDIS. Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) Partners ECEI Partners help families and their children under 6 years old with a developmental delay or disability. Local Area Coordination (LAC) Partners LAC Partners help people understand access the NDIS. They also work with NDIS participants to develop and use their NDIS plan. How do I find out a local ECEI or LAC Partner? Visit ndis. gov. au or call 1800 110 to find your local ECEI or LAC Partner.

Early intervention (short-term support) • Early intervention supports can be provided for eligible people with disability or children with developmental delay. • Providing support through early intervention reduces the impact of their disability/developmental delay as soon as possible. • If a child is receiving early intervention support, then an ECEI coordinator can help the child access the NDIS.

Local Area Coordination Partners (LAC) If you are aged 7 and above, Feros Care is the NDIS Partner in the Community in the ACT with a team of over 30 LACs who can help you to: • Understand access the NDIS • Create a plan • Implement your plan • Review your plan We can also link you to information and support in the community by helping you to: - • Learn about support available in your local community; • Understand how the NDIS works with other government services; • Sustain informal supports around you

Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) As a Partner of NDIS in the community, part of Feros Care’s role in the community is to provide information, linkages and capacity building (ILC) ILC is all about inclusion – it’s about creating connections between people with disability and the communities they live in Families receiving ECEI can connect with a Feros Care LAC for information or a 1: 1 conversation at any time by either calling us, dropping into one of our Community Drop In Hubs at the Child and Family Centres, or drop into a Feros Friday. A diagnosis is not needed to have a 1: 1 conversation with our LAC team

FEROS FRIDAYS Need help with the NDIS? Need help to link with community supports? Visit Feros Care on Fridays. WHEN: WHERE: EVERY FRIDAY* No appointment necessary, between 9. 00 am and 4. 00 pm 6 Shea Street, Phillip ACT A diagnosis is not needed in order to meet with a friendly Local Area Coordinator who can help you: o Link to mainstream and community services o Find out about how you can access the NDIS o Work with Local Area Coordinators to develop your plan o Understand how to use the myplace Participant Portal o Understand Service Agreements and Service Providers

Other places to access one of our friendly LACs are Community Drop In Hubs One. Link ACT Information and Connections Nature Conservation House, (Corner of Emu Bank & Benjamin Way) Belconnen TUESDAYs 9 am – 12 pm Uniting Care Kippax Luke & Hardwick Crescent, Holt THURSDAYS 9 am – 11. 30 am West Belconnen Child & Family Centre 6 Luke Street, Holt TUESDAYS 1 pm – 4 pm Tuggeranong Child and Family Centre 159 Anketell Street, Greenway WEDNESDAYS 1 pm – 4 pm OR CALL FEROS ON 1300 986 970

Mainstream & Community Supports https: //health. act. gov. au/stes/default/files/ 201902/ACT%20 Community%20 Assistance%20 a nd%20 Support%20 Program%20 Flyer. pdf For more details about CASP Visit: health. act. gov. au/CASP phone line: 6205 9822

ACCESSING THE NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME (NDIS)

Checking your eligibility to access the NDIS To be eligible for the NDIS, you must: • have a permanent disability that significantly affects your daily life or have a developmental delay • be less than 65 years old when you first access the NDIS • be an Australian citizen, hold a permanent visa or a Protected Special Category visa, and • live in a part of Australia where the NDIS is available.

Accessing the NDIS Scenario : I am aged between 7 and 64 years and need disability support Contact Feros Care or the NDIA. Visit www. ndis. gov. au or call 1800 110. Feros Care LAC can connect you to services, supports and activities in your community and other government services. If you have additional disability support needs, you may be eligible for the NDIS. Feros Care LAC or the NDIA can support you to make an access request.

Providing information for an access request Please provide: • Your personal details • Evidence about your primary disability • Medical reports from any medical specialists or allied health professionals If more information is required, the NDIA will send you a letter requesting additional information. You can have a family member, representative or carer support you in requesting access to the NDIS.

What happens after access • The NDIA will make an ‘access decision’ about whether you are eligible for the NDIS. • If you are eligible, you will be contacted to arrange a planning meeting to discuss your support and funding needs. • If you are not eligible, you can still get support from an LAC or ECEI Partner to access supports and services in your community.

What supports and services can the NDIS fund? The NDIS funds a range of supports and services which may include education, employment, social participation, independence, living arrangements and health and wellbeing. For a support or service to be funded, it must: • be related to a participant’s disability • not include day-to-day living costs not related to your disability support needs (e. g. groceries) • represent value for compared to other options (e. g. upfront cost vs time).

There are some kinds of supports that will not be funded or provided by the NDIS The NDIS Act and the rules made under the NDIS Act also tell us which supports will not be funded by the NDIS. The NDIS cannot fund a support that is: • the responsibility of another government system or community service not related to a person’s disability • relates to day-to-day living costs that are not related to a participant's support needs, or • is likely to cause harm to the participant or pose a risk to others.

. What other government services are responsible for CATEGORY: NDIS WILL FUND: EDUCATION SYSTEM WILL FUND: Education - Self care and specialist transport Personal communication devices - Teachers and learning assistants Adjustments to buildings Transport for excursions and activities Health - Home modifications, personal care and equipment Allied health therapies related to the disability - Diagnosis and assessments Medication, medical and dental services Employment - Personal care Transition to work supports - Workplace specific supports such as building modifications Family support - Disability specific training programs for parents and carers - Child protection issues Family and parenting payments

Community supports and services • Carers ACT – support for carers, peer groups, counselling • ACT Community Info Hub is Canberra’s one stop shop for community information needs that • helps you find services, community organisations and support groups in the Canberra region. • has a knowledgeable and friendly team to help people find the services and programs they need. • produces the ACT Community Directory - lists thousands of community services, hobby and interest groups, and sporting and social clubs. Ph: 02 6248 7988 Community Info Hub is located at: Room G 02, Ground Floor New Griffin Centre, Genge St, Canberra City

Frequently Asked Questions Does the NDIS support families and carers? The NDIS funded supports and services may have a direct or indirect benefit for families and carers. Is the NDIS linked to the Disability Support Pension (DSP)? No, the DSP is separate to the NDIS. Does the NDIS replace other government and community services? No. Other government and community services continue to be responsible for providing assistance to all Australians.

t More information Online: www. ndis. gov. au Telephone: 1800 110 (8 am – 8 pm local time) Email: enquiries@ndis. gov. au Feros. Care Telephone: 1300 986 970 Website: www. feroscare. com. au/ndis FEROS FRIDAYS: 6 Shea Street, Phillip