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Knowing the roles and responsibilities of your support team is important. It helps to ensure that you know what to expect, who to talk to if you have questions or issues. When it comes to the roles and responsibilities of a service provider, whether they are registered or unregistered with the NDIS, the core roles and responsibilities are much the same. What is a Service Provider? A service provider is an individual, business or organisation that delivers NDIS funded supports to participants. Providers can be large companies, charities, small not-for-profits, sole traders, or any other type of business. There are many providers to choose from each with different skills, experience, and expertise in their respective fields. It’s important when choosing a provider to be part of your support team, that you choose a provider who suits your needs and can help you to work towards your goals. Participants who are agency or NDIA managed can only access providers who are registered with the NDIS, whereas participants who are self or plan managed can access both NDIS registered and unregistered providers. Registered vs Unregistered The main difference between registered and unregistered providers is simple – a registered provider has gone through the NDIS registration process and have been verified by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Registered providers must also adhere to the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and follow a strict set of rules and regulations when providing support services to a participant. Unregistered providers can set their own prices, although they are still heavily regulated and must also adhere to the NDIS Code of Conduct. Why some providers choose not to be registered Although the NDIA encourages service providers to register, this process can take a lot of time, money, and effort for a service provider. For this reason, there are many service providers who choose not to register with the NDIA. Often small businesses and sole traders opt not to register, and sometimes even larger businesses choose not to either. This effectively labels them as ‘unregistered service providers.’ It’s important to note that just because a service provider chooses to remain unregistered with the NDIS doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t engage their services. Many unregistered service providers offer participants essential and highly skilled services, that can assist in them reaching their goals. Their services are still covered by the NDIS however funding for these services must fit within the price guide otherwise you will be required to fund any gap. Roles & Responsibilities Whether a provider is registered or unregistered, they need to follow the NDIS Code of Conduct. Some responsibilities under the Code of Conduct include: Providing goods and services funded under the NDIS guidelines of Reasonable and Necessary Provide ATO compliant tax invoices for goods and services provided to a NDIS participant Maintain records and evidence that the goods and services have been provided Maintain current Working with Children checks if supporting children Keep plan managers up to date with any administrative changes Although it is not mandatory for unregistered providers to create a service agreement as it is with registered providers, it is highly recommended to ensure that the services being provided are clearly outlined along with other key information. Service Agreements Creating and implementing a service agreement is between you and your service provider. The service agreement can be tailored to your personal needs, and there are no rules as to what you can include. However, to prevent any miscommunication, there are some key details you should consider when creating a service agreement. What to include in your service agreement: Your name and contact details Your provider’s name and contact details The start and end date of your service needs, within your current NDIS Plan What supports and services the provider agrees to provide How, when and where you would like your supports and services to be provided The cost of the supports and services How you and your provider will handle any problems or issues that may arise The provider’s cancellation policy How you or your provider may change or end the service agreement When your service agreement will be reviewed It’s possible that your provider may have their own standard service agreement already in place. If this is the case, take the time to read it carefully and if there are any of the above check list items missing or further adjustments you feel are important, you can discuss this with your prospective service provider. When you have drafted, and reviewed your service agreement, both you and your service provider can sign the document to make it binding. 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.

Australia is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. With almost 30% of Australians born overseas, many from non-English speaking countries, providing cultural and linguistic services across the disability sector, especially within the NDIS is vital. What is CALD? CALD means "culturally and linguistically diverse”. The NDIS define CALD participants as “those who were either not born in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States of America, Canada, or South Africa, and/or where the primary language is spoken at home is not English.” It’s important that the CALD supports and services being provided are based on an understanding of the cultural considerations of the individual, their families and carers. Some of these considerations include the: Beliefs and attitudes towards people with disability, health, and mental health Expectations of care (i.e., family support and the roles of women) Beliefs, practices, religion, behaviours, and preferences English language proficiencies Support provided to a CALD participant should ensure that they have autonomy over their freedom, choice, and control and that their cultural background is respected. How does the NDIS support CALD participants? The latest quarterly report released by the NDIA (page 17 of the Q3 Summary Part A) on 31st March 2022 indicated that the current percentage of CALD participants sits at 9.2%, which well is below the original estimated 20%. Initiatives put forward by the NDIS in relation to CALD participants: Working towards establishing and strengthening relationships within CALD communities, hosting community meetings, delivering presentations, and participating in expos and conferences Committing $20 million to the National Community Connector Program, which is a community outreach program The development of an Assisting Communities Practice Guide for Local Area Coordinators (LAC) and NDIA planners to understand specific considerations when meeting with CALD participants Providing resources and translation services for CALD participants The NDIS have also recently announced they intend to refresh the Cultural and Linguistic Diversity (CALD) Strategy with a three phased approach to be completed in October 2022. The three-phase approach includes: A “Discover” stage where the NDIA will identify the focus of future co-design workshops through extensive community engagement and focus groups with CALD participants and stakeholders In the “Develop” stage, the NDIA will co-design workshops with CALD participants and stakeholder to explore, test and build areas of CALD strategy and possible actions In the “Deliver and Evaluate” stage, the NDIA will share a draft copy of the CALD strategy 2022-26 with key stakeholders who attended the workshops for final feedback. Final feedback will be used to refine the strategy and action plan before official launch in October 2022 What are Community Connectors? Community Connectors provide support to people from culturally and linguistically diverse and non-English speaking backgrounds to access the NDIS. Essentially, they act as a liaison between a CALD person and the NDIS. Their role can include: Assisting in applying for the NDIS Providing connections to local NDIS contacts Providing support to better understand and use NDIS services If you need help understanding the content of this page, please call the Telephone Interpreter Service (TIS) on 131 450. 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.

Most participants know that their NDIS plan can be self-managed, plan managed, or NDIA managed. While these are the three main options for managing your NDIS plan, another option that is not often talked about is combination management. NDIS Plan Management Options Having choice and control over your supports and how your plan is managed is one of the key elements that make up the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Some participants may want to manage their funding entirely on their own, while others might prefer that the daily administration and paperwork be taken care of by a dedicated plan manager. The four ways to manage and NDIS plan are: Self-management Plan management NDIA management Combination management Although the first three management options are the most common, you can also choose a combination that best suits your needs. What is a Combination Plan? A combination style of management allows you to use a different management option for different budget categories. Choosing combination management depends on how involved you wish to be in the day-to-day running of your plan, your capacity, and how much admin you want to do. For example, you may wish to self-manage your NDIS plan, however as it can be a lot of work, especially if you are new to the NDIS. In this case, having specific budget categories self-managed, and the rest of the budget categories managed by the NDIA, or a plan manager could be the right choice for your needs. What are the benefits? The main benefit of a combination plan is that you can manage each of your NDIS budgets in a way that works best for you. Other benefits include: Flexibility More choice and control Freedom to choose registered and unregistered providers Less administrative work than if you were to self-manage only Why choose a combination plan? There are many reasons why someone may wish to choose a combination plan, including: Having more choice and control over your plan and supports Reducing the administrative work (if you currently self-manage) You need support to manage finances, process invoices and navigate the NDIS You want to engage certain providers (like therapists) and need to pay above the NDIS Pricing Arrangements set rate To choose which budget categories you want more control and flexibility over To try different plan management styles to see what is the best fit for your needs Plan Management & Self-Management Combination Having a combination between plan management and self-management can be a great option. Plan management offers flexibility to choose from registered and unregistered providers while also providing support with administrative tasks and invoice processing, claiming, and paying. There is no out of pocket expense for plan management as this is included in your NDIS plan funding. Capped pricing mean that some supports might be cheaper under plan management than they would be under self-management. Self-management also provides greater flexibility, choice, and control, however there are more responsibilities. Typically, a separate bank account is needed to manage funding, budgets, invoice claims and payments will need to be managed by yourself. Pricing is not capped which means that you could end up paying more for supports than the amount outlined in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements. Combining the two options could be the best of both depending on your needs. If you would like to be fully self-managed but are not ready to take on the daily tasks associated with self-management yet, starting with a plan management and self-management combination can be helpful to gain a better understanding of what is involved in managing a NDIS plan. You can also discuss this goal with your plan manager and they may be able to help you to build your capacity to self-manage in the future. If you try a combination plan and decide you prefer to be solely plan managed, you can speak with our First2Care support team or your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) about making the change from combination to plan management. 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.

Plan management gives all the benefits of self-management without the stress (or the paperwork!). With a plan manager on your team, you have a dedicated professional processing and paying your invoices, choice and control to access registered and unregistered support providers, and support to make the most of your plan funding. What is a Plan Manager? A plan manager is one of the three options that you can use to manage your NDIS funding (the other two options are to self-manage or have your funding managed by the NDIA). Think of plan managers as your personal accountant for your NDIS funds. Plan managers (like us!) must be registered with the NDIS. They make claims, process invoices, and manage the administrative tasks of your NDIS plan on your behalf. Having a plan manager as part of your support team comes at no extra cost to you. To have a plan manager, plan management (referred to as Improved Life Choices in your NDIS plan or as CB Choice and Control in the NDIS myplace portal) just needs to be included in your NDIS funding – that’s it. Roles & responsibilities of your Plan Manager The primary roles of a plan manager are to process invoice payments on your behalf, manage the administrative tasks associated with your NDIS plan funding and to help you make the most of you NDIS plan funding. This means that you can enjoy your life and focus on what’s important to you knowing your plan funding is being managed by dedicated professionals. A plan manager is responsible for: Receive invoices either directly from a provider or from the participant Claim funds from the NDIS Portal Pay invoices within the agreed timeframe Ensure that providers are sending invoices with the correct information as per NDIS requirements Provide a monthly statement to the participant including a spending summary and a breakdown of remaining funding overall and in each support category Establish service agreements with providers Explore different budgeting options or scenarios Build your capacity for self-management and financial understanding Help you to collect data for your plan review Help you to use your plan as it was intended and to get the most benefit from your plan Benefits of a Plan Manager Some of the benefits for having a plan manager on your support team include: Having choice and control over the providers that you want to work with whether they are registered with the NDIS or not Having a professional manage the financial and administrative aspects of your NDIS plan funding Knowing that plan management comes at no extra cost to you (the NDIS include funding for plan management in your plan) How to access funding for Plan Management To access funding for plan management, it needs to be discussed with a local area coordinator (LAC) or NDIA planner during your planning meeting or plan review meeting. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, the NDIA typically provide funding for plan management upon request. This is then included in your NDIS plan and funded by the NDIS. 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.

Having support coordination included in your NDIS plan can be a great way to get to know your plan and how it can work for you, to build your capacity, and to ensure you are getting the support you need to work towards your goals. Support Coordinators have a lot of different roles and responsibilities. Understanding what they can do for you can help you to maximise your NDIS plan by using your plan to best support your needs and goals. What is a Support Coordinator? A support coordinator can help you to understand your NDIS plan and make the best use of your supports. There are three levels of support coordination that can be included in your plan: Support connection – can help to build your ability to connect with informal, community, and funded supports enabling you to make the most of your plan and pursue your goals Support coordination – assists you to build the skills you need to understand and use your plan as it was intended. A support coordinator work with you to ensure a mix of supports are used to increase your capacity to maintain relationships, manage service delivery tasks, live more independently, and be included in your community. Specialist support coordination – is for people whose situations are more complex and who need specialist support. A specialist Support Coordinator can assist you to manage challenges in your support environment and ensuring consistent delivery of service. You can use your support coordination funding to work with a support coordinator who has the skills, knowledge, and experience to meet your specific needs. Roles & Responsibilities of your Support Coordinator The roles and responsibilities of your individual support coordinator may vary depending on your needs. However, the roles and responsibilities that you can expect from a support coordinator are: 1. To help you better understand your NDIS plan This includes explaining: Your support budgets What you can use your funding for How your funding is managed What requirements need to be met to access supports (i.e., quotes, what can or cannot be claimed, how much can be claimed and when service booking are needed) 2. Assistance in planning and coordinating your supports This includes: Helping you find providers, services, and supports that can help you to work towards your goals Discussing community, government, and funded supports that can be used to pursue your goals Discussing how you would like your supports and service delivered Arranging a schedule of services which reflect your goals, needs, and how you want to use your plan, and how they fit into your plan budget Find providers who can meet your needs 3. Connecting you with supports and services This includes: Finding NDIS, community, and other government services you can access Working with you to choose the right supports and services for your needs Connecting you to providers and services that can help you work towards your goals (including advocacy services if needed) Helping you understand your provider options i.e., registered, and unregistered providers Ensuring that your providers have not been banned by the NDIS Commission Discussing any quotes, assessments or other processes that need to be followed when accessing supports 4. Establishing and maintaining your supports This includes: Setting up service agreements and service booking that reflect your needs Understanding what providers can and cannot charge – including travel and cancellation policies Finding and fixing any problems that might prevent or delay you from using your NDIS plan as intended Touching base on how your current supports are working for you Creating a contingency plan for if something goes wrong (i.e., a provider cancelling) Finding new providers if current providers are not providing the support that you need 5. Reporting to the NDIA This includes: An initial plan implementation report outlining what you and your support coordinator have done after the commencement of your plan Mid-term implementation report about how you are going with your plan so far and what the next steps are Plan review report showcasing how your plan was implemented and recommendations for your next plan 6. Capacity Building for Independence This includes: Working with you, your family, and carers to explore different ways you can exercise your choice and control Helping you communicate how you prefer your supports to be delivered Finding providers who can meet your needs Creating opportunities for you to do these activities more independently Building your confidence and capacity to use NDIS systems and processes, setting up supports and negotiating with providers, and getting the most out of your NDIS plan Helping you to evaluate your current supports Reflecting on what works and what doesn’t work in your NDIS plan, and if there are any changes that could be made to your next plan 7. Preparing for unexpected events This includes: Planning for changes around how much your family can assist at home, moving house, need to go to hospital, the amount of support your service provider can give Discussing what may prevent you from using your plan & what to do if this occurs 8. Acting in your best interests This includes: Recommending and providing supports that best suit your needs Declaring and avoiding any conflict of interest Complying with the NDIS Code of Conduct If you have concerns about quality and safety of your support coordination or other services or you feel unsafe because the same provider delivers both your support coordination and other services, you can contact the NDIS Commission for further investigations. Specialist Support Coordination In addition to what your support coordinator would do, a specialist support coordinator can help you to: Address complex barriers that affect your ability to access the right supports Design a service plan for your specific support needs Work with you, your family, and carers to understand what might impact your ability to access and maintain services and supports and find ways to overcome these challenges Work with you, your family, and carers to develop a plan for how everyone can work together to help you pursue your goals Assist with communication How to access a funding for Support Coordination Your funding is based on what is ‘reasonable and necessary’ to pursue your goals. If the NDIA consider support coordination reasonable and necessary, then funding can be included in your Capacity Building budget. Funding for support coordination is a fixed amount. If your plan describes the level of support coordination funded, you can only purchase this level of support coordination. If your plan does not describe the level of support coordination funded, you can choose the level of support coordination that best suits your needs. 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.

An assistance animal can make huge difference in the life of someone with disability. Not only can assistance animals provide necessary support with daily tasks and getting around, but they can offer greater independence, self-confidence, and companionship. What is an assistance animal & who uses them? Assistance animals, sometimes referred to as service dogs, are working animals (technically not pets) and they are trained to assist people with disability in their daily life. Although these animals are not considered pets, the relationship between an assistance animal and their handler (their human) is a special bond. Dogs are the most common type of assistance animal, and they are trained to perform specific tasks related to their human’s disability. The training and task allocation that a dog may undergo will depend on their personality and they type of tasks that their future handler may need. Some tasks that assistance dogs can be taught include: Pulling a wheelchair Helping people to balance if they have walking difficulties Turning on light switches Moving the arms or legs of people who are paralysed Opening and closing doors, drawers, and fridges Assisting with making beds Retrieving or picking up items like mobile phones or keys Pushing pedestrian crossing buttons Picking up clothing and helping take washing from a machine Paying cashiers Barking to alert their owners to danger Alerting people to seizures (sometimes before they occur) or other medical issues, such as low blood sugar in a diabetic child Finding and leading another person to the owner or affected child Main types of assistance dogs: Assistance/service dogs: trained to assist people who have various disabilities to manage personal and other tasks. Guide dogs or seeing eye dogs: trained to assist people who are blind or visually impaired to get around safely and independently. Hearing dogs: trained to assist people who are deaf or have hearing problems to alert them to sounds. Medical alert dogs: trained to detect potential medical episodes such as impending seizures for people who have epilepsy or blood sugar changes for people who have diabetes. Psychiatric assistance dogs: trained to interrupt anxiety, alert to triggering situations and wake people having nightmares for people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or other mental or medical health related disabilities Assistance animals can help people who have: Physical disabilities Specific medical conditions Autism PTSD or other mental health conditions Dementia It is very important to note that there is a distinct difference between assistance animals and emotional support animals. Assistance Animals vs. Emotional Support Animals… what’s the difference? In short, assistance animals are specifically trained and legally considered medical aids, whereas emotional support animals are technically considered pets. Although both these animal supports can provide necessary love, support and improved quality of life, there are some key differences between them that are important to consider. While emotional support animals can assist their handler through mental and other medical illness, they are not taught any specific skills to assist with any conditions their handler may have. They also don’t have the same public access rights that an assistance animal has, like being allowed in public spaces like restaurants or supermarkets and they are not protected by disability anti-discrimination laws if they and their owner are refused entry to a venue. Essentially, they are not recognised by law and there are no set standards or accreditation processed to qualify as an emotional support dog. Assistance animals go through a rigorous training process in preparation for helping their handler. Their training caters to specific needs and can allow their human to engage in activities that are difficult or challenging to complete without support. They have full public access rights, which means that wherever their handler goes (except for sterile areas like operating theatres), they can go too. It’s important to note, that public access rights must be completed yearly. Why are Public Access Rights only for Assistance Animals? Having public access rights comes down to one thing – training. Assistance animals receive very specific training with incredibly high standards. They are trained not only to support their humans’ specific needs, but also must meet a high standard of behaviour and hygiene. For example, on public transport assistance dogs are trained to remain quiet and position themselves in such a way that they go almost unnoticed. Each state and territory have their own legislation relating to assistance animals and different types of certifications the assistance animal may need to have public access rights. The Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person with disability who has an assistance animal. Find out more about the legal understanding of assistance animals here. Training and accreditation There are two main options for acquiring an assistance animal: 1. Finding an organisation that trains assistance animals (typically as a puppy) 2. Obtaining accreditation for an animal you already own Assistance animals who are trained by an organisation before becoming an assistance animal to a specific person, are typically trained for about two years. Puppies (usually Labradors or golden retrievers) are chosen based on their temperament. They usually spend the first 18 month of their life with a volunteer puppy educator before undergoing about six months of advanced training with an organisation or a certified trainer. If you are wanting to take the accreditation path, there are a few things you can do to assist in making this process easier. However, you should also know that not all potential assistance animals will pass the accreditation process. If you have a puppy: When your puppy is around the one-year mark, enrol in a puppy school program that helps them to develop key skills and continue their socialisation. It’s important to familiarise your puppy with different environments and people frequently. Although public access rights are not extended until your puppy becomes accredited, there are some locations that you can take animals to assist in their experience of different environments. One of those places is Bunnings, which can be a great place to expose them to new smells and people. Having a strong bond with your potential assistance animal can be helpful in making their assistance dog training more effective. If you have an older dog: Like working with a puppy, you will need to socialise your dog and familiarise them with different environments and people. It is important that the person who needs the assistance dog does all the work with them to deepen their bond and communication. Assessment and accreditation: All dogs who aspire to become an assistance dog must pass the Public Access Test (PAT). An assistance dog is trained to assist their handler, either physically or psychologically, and must be there for them 24 hours a day. Once qualified, you must carry the dog’s ID with you whenever you are out so that they can be granted access to public areas. When selecting a training organisation, it’s important to determine the training method used by the organisation. Opting for positive-reinforcement training rather than negative-reinforcement training can be better for both your dog and you. More information and a detailed list of approved training/assessing organisations, click here. 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.

Although the NDIS aims to give people with disability more flexibility and control, disability advocacy is just as important as ever. There may be instances in your life where you need someone to assist you in protecting and defending your rights. This is where a disability advocate can help. What is a Disability Advocate? Disability advocacy is acting, speaking, or writing to promote, protect, and defend the human rights of people with disability. A disability advocate can advocate for themselves, an individual or a group of people with disability. Through advocacy individuals or groups of people, can work through issues and challenges that are having an adverse effect on their full and equal human rights. There are six main types of disability advocacy: Self-advocacy describes someone with disability who speaks up for and represents themselves. For people who are wanting to advocate for themselves, there are support and training opportunities for self-advocacy available through community-based groups. Individual advocacy is a one-on-one approach undertaken by a professional advocate, relative, friend or volunteer. Group/family advocacy involves advocating for a group of people with disability, such as a group of people living in shared accommodation. Citizen advocacy is where community volunteers advocate for a person with disability, supported by a Citizen Advocacy organisation. Systemic advocacy involves working for long-term social change to ensure the collective rights and interests of people with disability are served through legislation, policies, and practices. Legal advocacy is where a lawyer provides legal representation in the justice system, pursues positive changes to legislation, or provides legal advice to people with disability about discrimination and human rights. Advocates may be paid or operate on a voluntary basis. Roles and Responsibilities of a Disability Advocate There are several things a disability advocate can assist with, including: Providing information to people with disability about their human rights and identifying circumstances of discrimination Assisting people with disability to uphold their rights by speaking with and writing to people and organisations to raise awareness of problems and seek solutions Helping people with disability to negotiate complaints processes or legal action to enforce their human rights Writing submissions and lobbying the government to make changes that promote and protect the rights of people with disability Campaigning for social change by speaking to the media to raise awareness and highlight situations where people with disability are treated unfairly While disability advocates can be an incredible support to have, it is important to note that disability advocates are not: Counsellors Able to make decisions for another person Mediators Case managers By understanding the roles and responsibilities of an advocate you can better understand how they can assist you. Ways to find a Disability Advocate There are many ways to find a disability advocate, including: Word of Mouth: Discuss with your friends or family to see if they have any disability advocate recommendations. Word of mouth is always a great option to explore if you Groups/Forums: In the age of social media, there are many platforms that you can explore for recommendations on disability advocates. Facebook has several advocacy groups that you can join. To find an advocacy group in your area, search ‘disability advocacy’, refine your search to ‘groups’, then enter your town or city. You can check the groups available to see if there is one that suits your needs. Online Search: When you want to know something, Google is usually the place to go. By searching ‘disability advocate’ along with your state, city or suburb, Google can provide plenty of options to choose from. Disability Advocacy Finder Tool: The Department of Social Services – National Disability Advocacy Program Advocate Finder is a great tool to help you search for a disability advocate. To find an advocate, you can search by your postcode or by your state. You will then be able to choose from the options provided. Why Disability Advocacy is important Unfortunately, throughout history people with disability have been subject to abuse, prejudice, ignorance, and a lack in human rights and adequate support. Although there has been a huge shift in recent years in ensuring full and equal rights people with disability, there are still many barriers that can occur. Disability advocacy is vital as it continues to push for and ensure that people with disability enjoy the same rights, freedom, choice, and control as everyone else. 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.

Plan reviews are an important aspect of your NDIS journey. Whether they happen every 12 months or every three years, the goal is to ensure that your plan provides you with the support you need, which is why it pays to be prepared. Here are ten tips to help you prepare for your plan review meeting. Tip #1: Plan ahead It can be helpful to keep a record of any issues, challenges, successes, or any other outcomes that have occurred throughout your current planning period (which typically ranges from six months up to three years). Having a dedicated journal or online document with your experience throughout this time means that you are more likely to remember all the important things, and you can even share this document with your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or NDIA planner to help them better understand your needs moving forward. It is important to note that if you have any major changes in your circumstances or your current plan no longer meets your needs, you don’t need to wait for your plan review to discuss this with an LAC or NDIA planner. You can request an early plan review. Tip #2: Prepare supporting evidence Having supporting evidence is important as it provides the NDIA with the documentation necessary to assess your needs and develop your new NDIS plan. Examples of supporting evidence: Progress reports Financial quotes Carer statement Participant statement The person who provides supporting evidence needs to be a qualified professional and should be the most appropriate person to provide the evidence. It is also important to note that they should have been providing supports and services to you ideally for at least six months. Tip #3: Review your goals When first becoming a NDIS participant, you would have been asked by your LAC or NDIA planner what your short, medium, and long-term goals are during your initial planning meeting. When you have a plan review meeting, your LAC or NDIA planner will ask about your current goals and whether you plan to maintain your current goals, update your goals or change your goals completely. Your plan review is a good opportunity to review your goals to ensure they are still working for you and that your needs are reflected in your NDIS plan. Tip #4: Note your challenges and successes Making note of any challenges and successes that you have experienced throughout your plan can help you to better understand your support needs and your goals. Consider: Are your support team providing you with the support you need? Are there any challenges with your support team? How have your support team helped you to work towards or achieve your current goals? Are you having any challenges with your goals and why? What successes have you had with your goals? Are there any changes that could be made to help you with your support needs and goals? Remember that acknowledging any challenges you are experiencing can help you and the NDIA to better understand what changes may need to be made to your plan, goals or supports. Tip #5: Review your current support team, providers & informal supports Your formal and informal supports can help you to work towards your goals and ensure that your NDIS funding is being used as intended. Which is why it is important to assess the quality and level of support that your support team and providers offer, as well as the current circumstances of your informal supports. Formal supports (paid support from your support team & providers): Are they on time? Do they cancel with little notice? Do you have different staff every time? Are they providing the supports and services they said they would? Are they good value for money? If you have new goals, do you need new support team/providers? Are there any gaps in your support network to be filled by paid or unpaid supports? Your support team and providers are there to help you, so if you have been experiencing issues with their service, the cost, or any other issues, it may be time to consider another provider. Informal supports (unpaid support from family or friends): Are your informal supports still able to provide the support they have been providing? Have your informal support circumstances changed? Are there any gaps in your support network to be filled by paid or unpaid supports? If a family member or friend can no longer provide the support that you need, then your plan review is a good opportunity to discuss any changes that need to be made to prevent any major gaps in your support team. Tip #6: Review your monthly budget statements You should try to review and keep track of your funding throughout your planning period, to ensure that you’re not overspending or underspending on your plan funding. Consider: Did you use all your plan funding? Did you have enough funding to pay for the supports you needed? Are there any reasons you may need additional funding in your next plan? The review is an opportunity to review your support and to determine if you may require more funds. Tip #7: Review your current plan If you are following each of the tips, you will have reviewed specific aspects of your plan like goals and your support network. However, even after reviewing those specific aspects, it’s still important to review your plan. Think of it like an overview of your plan. Has your disability, circumstances or supports changed? Do you need to update your personal details? (For example, have you moved house?) Are you getting the right amount of support? Are there any aspects of your life where you would like to be more independent and what kind of support do you need to achieve this? Tip #8: Consider big changes Before your plan review, you should consider whether you want to make any big changes in your life like moving, education, or work. The NDIS may be able to assist you with these big changes. The amount and type of assistance will vary depending on the NDIS reasonable and necessary criteria. For example, if you have been thinking about entering the workforce and that is one of your NDIS goals, then the NDIA may be able to provide supports so you can build your capacity and to help you find and maintain employment. The NDIS may also be able to assist with transport or assistive equipment. Tip #9: Determine the best option for you to manage your plan funding You can choose to have your plan funding agency (NDIA) managed, self-managed, plan managed or a combination. Prior to your plan review, you should reflect on the way your current plan is managed and whether that is working for you. If you would like to change the way your plan is managed, you can discuss that with your LAC or NDIA planner. You should note that if you do make a change, for example you change from agency management to self-management, you are not locked into self-management until your next plan review. If you would like to change to another option after your plan review, you can request this be reviewed early. Tip #10: Contact your LAC or NDIA Planner The NDIA may contact you about 90 days before your plan is due to expire. However, if you have not been contacted you can contact the NDIA yourself to request a date for your plan review meeting. It is recommended to contact them eight weeks before your plan is due to expire if you have a lot of changes or you plan is complex. Alternatively, if your plan is not complex or there aren’t any major changes being requested, you could contact them six weeks before your plan expires. Bonus tip: Remember that you can take a support person with you to your plan review. 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.

AT can be a game changer for people with disability. So, when we heard about the recent NDIA update to the way they fund Assistive Technology (AT), we knew we had to do a deep dive into what AT is, what the new changes are, some examples of AT and how to buy it. What is AT? Assistive technology (AT) is the umbrella term for equipment, technology and devices that can help to improve the daily lives of people with disability. However, not all equipment, technology or devices are supported by the NDIA. Items that are considered everyday items – such as vehicles, smart phones, general household furniture etc. – are not usually funded by the NDIS. Typically, the NDIS will fund AT if it: Relates to your disability Assists you with your goals Helps your social and/or economic participation Provides value for money Proves to be effective and beneficial for you Helps to maintain your informal support What changes have the NDIS made? The NDIA made an announcement on March 1st, 2022, that the limit for automatic approvals for mid-cost AT support have changed from $5,000 to $15,000. This means that participants no longer require a quote for AT items under $15,000, making the process of accessing AT supports faster and easier. If the AT cost is between $1,500 and $15,000, written evidence from an independent AT advisor is still needed before the NDIA approve the funding in your plan. Examples of AT advisors are: General practitioner (GP) Allied health practitioner i.e., physiotherapist or occupational therapist Assistive technology mentors Nurse continence specialist Rehabilitation engineers Another qualified practitioner After the requested AT is included in your plan, you need to work with a skilled AT advisor to determine the best AT option for your needs. An advisor can help you to set up and learn how to use the AT you have purchased or rented. The three levels of AT Examples of NDIS funded AT Vehicle Modifications Although purchasing a vehicle is not typically funded by the NDIS, modifications to new or second-hand vehicles can be funded. Modifications that can help someone get in or out of the car, specialised driving controls or wheelchair access are common modifications that the NDIS may fund. Adjustable Beds and Mattresses Standard beds and mattresses are typically not funded by the NDIS, however customised options that support your disability needs may be funded. Wheelchairs and Modifications Wheelchairs and modifications to help you travel medium to long distances with more ease, to participate in sporting activities, and other reasonable and necessary modifications can be funded by the NDIS. For a more comprehensive list and case studies on AT items, click here. How to buy AT Before starting your journey, speak with an AT assessor. They will be able to provide advice on the best types of AT for your needs, provide you with a written letter, and/or provide you with an assessment or quote. For mid-cost AT, discuss your needs with your AT advisor and they can provide a written letter for you to submit to the NDIA as evidence for funding. For high-cost AT, your OT can contact the equipment provider (or providers) and obtain a quote. Once you have your quotes, you can submit them to the NDIS along with any other supporting documentation from your OT. Once funding has been allocated, your AT advisor can help you purchase or rent your equipment. What about ongoing costs? It’s likely that there will be additional costs associated with your AT. Things like regular maintenance and repairs can be funded by the NDIS. If there you experience delays while waiting for your AT to arrive, you can receive funding to hire a temporary piece of equipment. You might also be able to access additional funding if your OT would like you to hire the equipment to test it out prior to purchase. For more information about the NDIS assistive technology guidelines, click here. 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.

Goals form an integral part of the foundation of your NDIS plan. In fact, goals are what make your NDIS plan unique to you. Although it may seem like a daunting or overwhelming task, with the right tools and support setting NDIS goals can be easy. What are NDIS goals? Goals are things that you may want to achieve in your life with the support of the NDIS. They can be shorter term goals that you want to work towards over the next six to twelve months and longer-term goals that you want to work on over the next three to five years. The goals you discuss during your initial planning meeting or plan review meeting with your Local Area Coordinator (LAC), or NDIA planner are included in your NDIS plan and help inform the type and amount of funding you may receive. For a support to be paid using your NDIS funding, it needs to relate back to your goals. This is why it is so important to think about what your NDIS goals are before your planning meeting or plan review meeting so you can ensure you are getting the funding and support that you need. Prepping & Setting NDIS goals The first step in your goal setting journey should be to brainstorm. Take a piece of paper, your computer, or another way of noting down your goal ideas, consider what your goals in life are and just note anything that comes to mind. You can refine this later so don’t worry too much about having a perfectly worded goal. Once you have some notes, have a look at the following categories to see if they inspire any further ideas: Choice and control Lifelong learning Daily living Relationships Health and wellbeing Work Social and community participation Home It’s important to note that you do not need to have a goal that fits into every category. They are just there as a guide. When you have a list of all the goals you can think of, break it down into short, medium, and long-term goals. From there it’s time to develop your list of goals. You should aim for three to five short term goals and two to four medium or long-term goals. What makes a ‘good’ NDIS goal? There really is no such thing as a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ goal. However, writing your goals with the NDIA and how it works in mind, can help you to craft a goal that balances having a flexible goal with specific outcomes. For example: Goal Option #1 I want to take swimming lessons Outcome: You may receive funding under your Capacity Building Supports for Health & Wellbeing, but the funding can only be used for its intended purpose as it relates to your goal – swimming lessons. Goal Option #2: I want to increase my health, fitness, and wellbeing. Outcome: You may receive funding under your Capacity Building Supports for Health & Wellbeing. This funding could be used for several purposes like: Swimming lessons or other sporting activities Physiotherapy to increase movement and flexibility Learning to cook healthy meals Access to adaptive sports or cooking equipment Writing a draft goal like “I want to take swimming lessons”, can be a helpful starting point to develop a more flexible, broader goal that is still outcome specific like “I want to increase my health, fitness, and wellbeing”. Remember to take your time when developing your goals and focus on what is important to you. If you need further assistance brainstorming or writing your goals, you can discuss this with your Support Coordinator (if relevant), your LAC, a disability advocate, or a private company that assists people with their NDIS application and goals. Top tip: If this is not your first time developing goals in preparation for an NDIS meeting, you can use this helpful resource as a tool to make your goal setting easier. 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.

The NDIS can provide supports and services for people with disability, including people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In fact, ASD is actually the biggest disability category funded by the NDIS. But what kind of support can the NDIS provide and how can people with ASD access that support? NDIS eligibility & ASD The first step in your NDIS journey is to determine if you are eligible to be part of the Scheme. This is especially important when it comes to ASD as there are different levels and the NDIS will need to consider your support needs to determine if you are eligible for a NDIS plan. If you have level 1 ASD, the NDIS require evidence on the impacts that autism has on different aspects of your life including communication, mobility, social interaction, learning, self-care, and self-management. An occupational therapist, psychologist, or other medical professional may be able to provide written or documented evidence that you can share with the NDIA. If you have level 2 or level 3 ASD, you are automatically considered eligible. However, it is always a good idea to have supporting evidence available to share with your Local Area Coordinator or the NDIA if needed. Other eligibility requirements to be part of the NDIS: Aged between 7* and 65 (when first accessing the scheme) Australian citizen, live in Australia, and/or hold a permanent visa Permanent disability If you fit the NDIS criteria, you can complete an Access Request Form. *People under the age of seven can still access supports through Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI). What can the NDIS fund? Every NDIS plan is unique to the person receiving it. The NDIS will consider your support needs and goals, along with their reasonable and necessary criteria to help determine the types of funded supports that may be included in your plan. Although each plan is different, there are some more common supports related to ASD that you may receive funding for. They are: Speech therapy Physiotherapy or occupational therapy to improve fine motor skills and concentration Behavioural supports for relationship building skill development and behavioural management Support work Sensory items/therapeutic aids Activities to support social development and interpersonal skills Just remember that when it comes to the NDIS, evidence is everything. Make sure to be prepared for any planning meetings or plan review meetings with any supporting evidence that you can access, to help ensure your NDIS plan funding reflects your needs. Children with autism & ECEI Children with autism under the age of seven can access funding through the ECEI which just like the NDIS, ECEI works to provide the necessary support for people with ASD. ECEI can: Provide early intervention for a child with developmental delay or disability Increase ability to do activities they need or want to do Increase inclusion and participation in mainstream and community settings like childcare or recreation Increase parent or guardian confidence and capacity to manage and respond to the child’s support needs Connect families to support services and parent support groups To find out more about ECEI, you can contact your nearest ECEI partner. Who can help? If you’re struggling to prepare for your NDIS meeting, you can discuss this with you family, friends or even a disability advocate. They can also accompany you to any meetings to assist in explaining what supports you need and how your ASD impacts you in your daily life. You can also contact your LAC or ECEI Partner to better understand the process. It’s always a good idea to take notes, compile evidence, write down any challenges you have, your goals and aspirations, and what supports would be beneficial for you to live your life as independently as possible. 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.

International purchases are possible through the NDIS. However, it’s important to understand what can be purchased and any regulations around international purchases before you start spending. Understanding international purchases International purchases are exactly what you would expect - purchases made outside Australia. These kinds of purchases typically include: Assistive technology purchased through a company overseas Accessible clothing purchased through an online company registered overseas Online therapy sessions by a professional located overseas As with everything when it comes to the NDIS, any international purchases must align with the NDIS criteria around reasonable and necessary. For the NDIS to consider the purchase reasonable and necessary, it needs to fit the criteria including being good value for money. For example: If you want to purchase a tipper kettle from a company located in the USA for $100 AU but that same kettle or a similar one can be purchased in Australia for $90 then the international purchase would not be considered good value for money and the NDIS would not reimburse the purchase. It’s also important to note that international travel where you may need supports or services is different to international purchases. If you would like to know more about international travel and the NDIS, click here. Can you access international purchases if you are plan, self or agency managed? The answer is… it depends. There are several factors that come into play when the NDIS consider funding for international purchases. One key factor is that if you are plan managed or self-managed, you can access registered and unregistered providers, which means international purchases are possible if you adhere to the NDIS criteria. This is not the case for agency managed participants. If you are plan managed: For your Plan Manager to process reimbursements the NDIS states “where a participant has a plan manager assisting them, providers need to send invoices directly to the participant's plan manager. Invoices must include a valid ABN unless the provider is exempt from quoting an ABN.” An ABN (Australian Business Number) is a unique number that identifies a business for the purpose of ordering and invoicing. Of course, if you are making an international purchase then that individual or business won’t have an ABN. In this case, purchases can only be made if the individual or business complete a Statement by a Supplier form. If you are self-managed: Just like participants who are plan managed, those who are self-managed can access international supports from an individual or business from overseas if the individual or business complete a Statement by a Supplier form. If you are agency managed: Participants who are agency managed must use NDIS registered providers and to become a NDIS registered provider you must have an ABN. This means that agency managed participants cannot make international purchases. International providers don’t have an ABN… what can you do? As mentioned above, if an individual or business does not have an ABN, international purchases can still be made if the individual or business complete a Statement by Supplier form. It’s important that you reach out to the individual or business you plan to purchase from before making any purchases as the Statement by a Supplier form must be completed in advance otherwise the NDIS will not reimburse the expense. In good news, if an individual or business complete a Statement by Supplier, that form is valid for five years. Remember to share any Statement by Supplier forms with your plan manager before the purchase so the reimbursement can be made, and a copy can be kept on file. Who can complete a statement by supplier form? According to the NDIS, an individual or a business that supplies goods or services can only complete a Statement by Supplier form if one or more of the following applies: They are not carrying on an enterprise in Australia They are an individual under 18 years and the payment does not exceed $350 per week The payment does not exceed $75, excluding any goods and services tax (GST) The supply that the payment relates to is only input taxed They are an individual, and a written statement is provided to the payer to the effect that the supply is either made in the course or furtherance of an activity done as a private recreational pursuit or hobby, or exclusively of a private or domestic nature They are an individual or a partnership without a reasonable expectation of profit or gain They are not entitled to an ABN because they are not carrying on an enterprise in Australia The whole of the payment is exempt income For more information about this, click here. 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.