The NDIS can help participants access necessary supports and services so they can live their lives to the fullest. NDIS nominees play a crucial role in this process. It’s important to understand the role of nominees and the process of requesting or changing one, as well as ensuring privacy and consent. In this article, we explore these topics in detail to help participants navigating the NDIS to better understand the responsibilities of nominees and how they can best access the support they need.
What is a nominee?
A nominee is a person appointed by an NDIS participant to help them with their NDIS plan. The nominee can be a family member, friend, or anyone who the participant trusts to manage their plan on their behalf. The role can include managing the participant's funding, choosing service providers, attending NDIS meetings, and communicating with the NDIS agency on behalf of the participant. Nominees are expected to act in the best interest of the participant and follow their wishes, preferences, and goals outlined in their NDIS plan.
Your nominee must also keep you informed and involved in decisions as much as possible. It’s important to note that a nominee does not have the authority to make decisions about medical treatment or end-of-life care. These decisions must be made by you or your legal guardian.
Having a nominee allows participants to have a trusted representative who can help them make decisions about their plan and ensure their needs are being met.
Plan nominee vs correspondence nominee
There are two types of nominees that you can elect to assist you with your plan – a plan nominee or a correspondence nominee
A plan nominee helps to make decisions about parts of the preparation and management of your NDIS plan, as well as any changes to your plan.
A correspondence nominee can make some decisions about your business with the NDIS (not including those for the plan nominee).
If you do opt to have a nominee, depending on what your wants and needs are will determine if a plan nominee or a correspondence nominee is the right option for you.
How to elect a nominee
Electing a nominee is a simple process. You or your legal guardian can contact the NDIS and request a nominee form. Your nominee will need to provide details, including their name, address, and contact information and you will need to provide consent for your nominee to act in this role.
Once the form is completed and submitted to the NDIS, the nominee will be added to your plan. Once your nominee is confirmed, they will receive access to information about your plan, including the amount of funding allocated. They will also be responsible for making decisions on your behalf if you are unable to make a decision.
If a nominee is no longer able to perform this role, you or your legal guardian can request a change of nominee. A new nominee form must be completed and submitted to the NDIS, and the previous nominee will be removed from the plan.
How First2Care manages consent and information sharing with nominees
If you have a nominee as part of your NDIS plan, you’ll need to notify our team so we can ensure they will receive notices relating to your plan and provider invoices. However, it is important to note that we take your privacy and consent very seriously. We won’t share your identifying information, plan details, or provide access to any other aspects of your plan or personal information without your consent.
Our service agreement contains a section where you can note your nominee’s details. You also have the option to provide consent to share your information with a third party like a support coordinator.
If you would like us to stop sharing information at any time, please reach out to our team.
Read more about the benefits of working with an independent, professional Plan Manager. Alternatively, contact our friendly team on 1300 322 273 or support@first2care.com.au.