NDIS

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a new way of providing community linking and individualised support for people with permanent and significant disability, and people with severe and persistent mental illness in limited circumstances. The NDIS will deliver a lifelong approach to support people with disability through individualized planning processes to identify the reasonable and necessary supports you need to enable you to achieve your goals.

For participants 6 years and under

Funding and support for individuals aged 6 comes under the NDIS' Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) access. In the ACT this is accessed through EACH Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI), contact EACH ECEI on 1300 00 EACH (1300 00 3224). 

A child under 6 years of age does not necessarily need to have a diagnosis of ASD. As long as there is a 'developmental delay' they can access the NDIS ECEI funding.

The get access into the NDIS, an Access Request form needs to be submitted. This can be requested from the NDIS by calling 1800 800 110, a local NDIS office (Braddon or Tuggeranong) or by contacting EACH ECEI.

The role for EACH to help you in getting access into the NDIS is as follows:

1. Individual will contact EACH advising they would like information regarding access to the NDIS. 
2. An EACH Local Area Coordinator (LAC) will meet with individual/family and provide general information regarding basic eligibility requirements of the NDIS and what is included in the pathway to NDIS. 
   • The EACH LAC will record the name (of the person with a disability), contact number, home address and if there are any translation requirements. They will also conduct an interview to determine if funding may be available. 
   • An Access Request form can then be completed. EACH can assist the individual with completing the Access Request Form if required.  However, the LAC is unable to assist the individual with gathering information to provide to NDIA regarding Evidence of Disability as required for the Access Request. 
3. The Access Request form, along with any other forms of evidence, is then sent to the NDIA Access Request team. EACH does not determine NDIS eligibility, this delegation remains with NDIS National Access Team. 
4. The EACH LAC can assist with connection to mainstream and community services while they await the outcome of their NDIS eligibility access. 
   
5. EACH will contact you once access has either been approved or denied, and will arrange planning meeting to gather information to develop the NDIS plan.

For participants 7 years and over

Funding and support for individuals aged 7 and above is done through Feros Care, contact them at lacinfo@feroscare.com.au or 1300 986 970.

If the individual has a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (Level 2 or 3)  then they are automatically eligible for NDIS funding (Level 1 may require more evidence to be provided). 

At 7 years of age, an NDIS participant can only remain in the NDIS if they have been diagnosed with a 'lifelong condition' such as ASD. 

An Access Request form can be collected from a local NDIS office, either in Braddon or Tuggeranong or by calling 1800 800 110. The Access Request form must then be submitted to the NDIA (step 6.)

The role for Feros Care to help you in getting access into the NDIS is as follows:

1. Individual will contact Feros Care advising they would like information regarding access to the NDIS.
   
2. A Feros Care Local Area Coordinator (LAC) will meet with individual/family and provide general information regarding basic eligibility requirements of the NDIS and what is included in the pathway to NDIS. The Feros Care LAC will record the name (of the person with a disability), contact number, home address and if there are any translation requirements and send this information via email to the National Access Team within NDIA. 
3. NDIA National Access Team will then contact the individual and issue the Access Request Form.
   
4. Feros Care can assist the individual with completing the Access Request Form if required, however the LAC is unable to assist the individual with gathering information to provide to NDIA regarding Evidence of Disability as required for the Access Request.
   
5. The Individual seeking NDIS access can choose to either provide the completed Access Request Form plus Evidence of Disability directly to the NDIA or they can provide this to a Feros Care LAC. If this paperwork is provided to an LAC we will provide this directly to the NDIA. In addition, Feros Care does not determine NDIS eligibility, this delegation remains with NDIS National Access Team. 
6. The Feros Care LAC can assist the individual with connection to mainstream and community services whilst they await the outcome of their NDIS eligibility access.