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Outlining clear goals (short and long-term) during your planning meeting or plan review meeting is the foundation for creating an NDIS plan to suit your needs. Your goals help to determine what supports you can purchase during your planning period. Using this how to guide, you’ll be able to set NDIS goals like a pro. Consider what’s important to you When making your NDIS goals, you should reflect on what is important to you in your life. This will be different to everyone. And it may take some time to fully consider everything that’s important to you. A great way to keep track of these ideas is to note them down. That way you’ll be able to access them easily and make adjustments or additions as needed. You can use the list below to help inspire your goals: Finding and keeping a job Improving relationships with friends, family and your community Improving communication with friends, family and your community Living more independently Getting involved in social and recreational activities Improving your health and wellbeing Building confidence around public transport or learning to drive Developing new skills Once you know what it important to you, you can turn those ideas into actionable goals. Create actionable goals Turning your list of what’s important to you into actionable goals you can share with your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or NDIA planner can be easier than you may think. For example: If you want to live more independently, your goal might be “to find employment to earn independent income”. Your goals should be based on the list of what is important to you, but they should also relate to your disability in some way. Try to have 2-3 short term goals and 3-5 long term goals ready for your planning meeting or plan review meeting. Ask questions Whether you’re applying for the NDIS for the first time or are having your scheduled plan review, ensuring you have clearly outlined your goals (and updated them if you’ve achieved goals throughout your planning period) can be a big help when it comes to developing your plan and determining how much plan funding may be allocated. This is why it’s important to ask questions if you have them. There are plenty of people who can offer assistance, whether that’s your family or friends, an LAC or NDIA planner, your Support Providers, your Support Coordinator or your Plan Manager – we are here to help. 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 National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) focuses on providing choice and control to all NDIS participants. Typically, NDIS participants have the capacity to make decisions themselves. However, in rare cases, someone may be appointed as a nominee of a participant to help make decisions on their behalf. But what does this mean and what is the role of a nominee? What is a nominee and what do they do? A nominee is someone nominated by you to help you understand how to make better use of your NDIS plan and handle the NDIS (and other organisations like Centrelink) on your behalf. There are two types of nominee offered within the NDIS – a plan nominee and a correspondence nominee. A plan nominee can action any decisions a participant might make regarding their plan, including preparation for and decisions around plan reviews. Essentially, they are an extension of the participant. However, a plan nominee may be limited to the management of the plan and are not able to determine things like the goals of a participant. A participant can also limit their plan nominee to only act when they are not able to do so themselves (i.e., if they are in hospital, travelling etc.). A plan nominee must always put the best interests of the participant first while ensuring they maintain choice and control. A correspondence nominee can only request, receive or provide information to a participant. For example, they can receive copies of NDIS and support related letters or documents and reply on your behalf or request more information if needed. This type of nominee is better suited for someone who wants to make their own decisions but may need assistance understanding letters or documents. Having a nominee appointed is only considered by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) in exceptional circumstances. For participants who need extra support but don’t require a nominee, Local Area Coordinators (LACs), Support Coordinators and Plan Managers (like us) are available to help. What’s the difference between a nominee and a guardian? It’s important to understand that a nominee and a guardian have different roles. A guardian has the authority to manage a participant’s affairs such as power of attorney. While a nominee is someone nominated by the participant to support them with the management of their NDIS plan. Who can be your nominee and how long for? A nominee can be (almost) anyone you wish. The only conditions the NDIA have around the appointment are that the person you nominate will need to be over the age of 18 years, and they cannot be part of the NDIA, or anyone associated with the NDIA. Outside of that, you should be confident that the person you would like as your nominee will always act in your best interests. You can have an ongoing nominee, someone who continues as your nominee throughout each planning period, or you can have a nominee for a set period of time or for certain events. When requesting a nominee, discuss your needs with your LAC. How do I get a nominee? There are two options for appointing a nominee. The most common is for a participant to request a nominee which they can do by contacting the NDIS via 1800 800 1100 or emailing enquiries@ndis.gov.au. They can also discuss this with an LAC or Support Coordinator. The other less common way a nominee can be appointed is by the CEO of the NDIA specifically requesting a nominee for a participant. During your plan, you can change your nominee or, if needed, add another nominee at any time throughout your plan. Having more than one nominee is possible with each nominee only acting on your behalf in certain areas of your plan. 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.

As an NDIS or eligible NDIS participant, you’ll know it’s important to provide as much evidence as possible in support of your initial NDIS application, and down the track at your scheduled plan renewal meetings. This is so the NDIA can have a clear picture of what types of supports and funding you might need included in your next NDIS plan. One document that can be very useful to include is an Impact Statement (also known as a Carer Statement). This can be helpful in supporting your application, because your carer will know you and your individual needs far better than your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) representative. If you have a primary carer, you might want to consider asking them to write an Impact/Carer Statement. Understanding the role of a carer There is an important distinction between a carer and a support worker. Although both can provide vital care to a person with a disability, occasionally these terms can be mixed up. A carer is considered an informal, unpaid support, like a parent or guardian. Whereas a support worker is a formal, paid support. Carers play an important role in the lives of NDIS and eligible NDIS participants. They provide necessary, unpaid care and support, and are a constant presence in the life of the person (or persons) they care for. Carers help with daily tasks, learning and activities, and often provide emotional, social and financial support as well. A carer or the person they care for may wish to engage a support worker(s) for extra assistance. What is an Impact/Carer Statement? An Impact/Carer Statement is written by someone who provides care or is involved in caring for a family member or friend living with a disability. It’s designed to inform the LAC or NDIA representative of the nature of care that is given. Many primary carers will attend scheduled planning meetings as a support, and are asked to detail their role either verbally or in written format. Although it is not compulsory to include this in your NDIS application or to provide it at your planning meeting, a written (or verbal) statement can be a great benefit to a participants NDIS plan. The NDIA can use a written statement to help verify how much care and support is needed, which could affect the level of funding received. What are the benefits of including this? The most important benefit of providing an Impact Statement is to give a more rounded and concise view of a participants’ disability and the care that is needed to assist with this. Often informal supports, like carers, can provide much needed insight into the reasoning certain paid supports or therapies are required, as well as the support they provide to the participant on a day-to-day basis. It is vital the NDIS understands what this caring role entails so that the NDIS plan allocated to the participant cared for will meet their needs, as well as support an ongoing caring role. Having an Impact Statement can also be of use for carers who: Want to ensure all the information provided is well-detailed and thorough; Find it difficult to verbalise the details of support the participant being cared for needs; Speak English* as a second language; and Feel they may be too emotional when discussing the details of their care and the impact of the participants’ disability has had on the participants’ life and theirs. *If English is a second language, and as a carer you find it challenging to communicate effectively, contact the LAC or NDIA representative prior to the meeting. What can be included in an Impact/Carer Statement? When writing an Impact Statement, it’s important to address each of the eight categories detailed within the NDIS with an explanation of the supports provided, how often, the cost involved, any resources used (such as materials, computer, phone, transport etc.), and in some cases the emotional impact that can occur. The eight categories are: Daily Living: This covers assistance with daily living and personal activities, such as assistance getting the participant in and out of bed, showering or bathing, and other daily life tasks; Home: This covers assistance with household tasks, such as tidying the kitchen and other household spaces, and washing, drying and ironing laundry items; Health & Wellbeing: This covers ‘Improved Health and Wellbeing’ under the NDIS Capacity Supports category, such as personal care, assistance with dietary and cooking needs, cleaning, increasing or maintaining physical mobility as directed by a GP or specialist, medication (if required), and mental and other wellbeing practices; Skill Development & Learning: This covers ‘Improved Learning’ under the NDIS Capacity Supports category, and the assistance provided towards learning and education development undertaken by the participant or eligible participant; Employment: This cover ‘Finding and Keeping a Job’ under the NDIS Capacity Supports category, and the activities undertaken by a carer to encourage or assist in the participant or eligible participant finding and maintaining employment; Social & Community Participation: This covers ‘Increased Social and Community Participation’ under the NDIS Capacity Support category, such as social activities, classes and camps; Relationships: This covers ‘Improved Relationships’ under the NDIS Capacity Supports category, with carers assisting in the relationship needs of the participant or eligible participant, including what is needed to start, develop and maintain lasting and positive relationships; and Life Choices & Control: This covers ‘Improved Life Choices’ under the NDIS, by assisting with the participants’ or eligible participants’ choice and control, especially around planning and planning management (for example, engaging a Plan Manager like First2Care to assist with the financial aspects of an NDIS Plan). Consider what kind of control, as given by the participant, that you have regarding things like, accommodation, finances, activities, and social and practical engagements. You can also choose to include in your Impact Statement: How the role affects you; Your ability and willingness to keep caring for the participant in the same way in the future; The impact your caring role has on your own personal needs and goals, such as work, study, travel, social life and activities; and If you are the primary carer, you can include other informal supports, such as family or friends. How can First2Care help? At First2Care, we want to ensure your NDIS Plan Management is simple and transparent. Participants can engage our Plan Management team at no extra cost, by including “Plan Management with First2Care” in their NDIS Plan under the Core Supports category, ‘Improved Life Choices’. Engaging a Plan Manager gives participants the freedom to stay in control of their NDIS plan. While we track your NDIS funding, and process invoices and payments, you can focus on your personal goals. For carers and participants wanting to include an Impact/Carer Statement in their application, we have designed a template that can be printed or followed as a guide. You can also upload this statement to your First2Care NDIS Plan Management Platform. The First2Care NDIS Plan Management Platform has been designed to help NDIS participants and eligible participants to navigate their NDIS plan from pre-planning to plan reviews. Participants can edit and update their profile, input their goals, load important documents and invoices and see how their NDIS budget is tracking all in one easy platform. Read more about the benefits of working with a Plan Manager. Alternatively, register on our FREE NDIS Plan Management Platform, so we can start helping you best manage your plan today. Read more about First2Care’s Plan Management features. Over to you Carers play an important role in the lives of NDIS participants and eligible participants, so when applying for an NDIS plan or going to a NDIS plan review, incorporating an Impact/Carer Statement can be an excellent way for the NDIA to gain a more rounded understanding of the care provided. What is your experience as a carer or participant? Have you provided an Impact/Carer Statement? How has that benefited you? Let us know in the comments below.

A planning meeting is an important milestone in your NDIS journey. In this meeting, you’ll be able to discuss your support needs as well as your short and long-term goals with a planner. Your NDIS plan and the funding you receive will be determined by what is discussed during this meeting. This means, it definitely pays to be well prepared. Although you and your needs will be assessed by the NDIA on an individual basis, you can expect your planning meeting to follow a similar structure to that of other eligible and current participants. There are six main steps to your planning meeting. Step 1: Getting to know you Just like with any meeting, your planning meeting starts with formalities. You’ll be introduced to your planner (and vice versa), and then they will start asking you some basic questions. These questions might be about: Your personal details Hobbies, work, volunteer commitments and other activities you might participate in Your community, including social circles of friends and family, and any mainstream supports you may have How you manage everyday activities and your routine What you need to help take care of yourself or your home, including your equipment needs Your personal goals (short and long-term) How you would like to manage your plan The support you need to use your NDIS plan Step 2: Creating a Participant Statement The NDIA need to get to know you and your individual needs to be able to assess the kind of support that should be included in your NDIS plan. During your meeting, your planner will talk you through creating a ‘Participant Statement’. This statement will give a brief overview of who you are, to make up the ‘About Me’ section of your NDIS plan. Sometimes, it can be easy to forget to mention some important aspects of who you are in the moment. Making notes before the meeting is a great way to make sure you don’t forget anything. Think about your: Health needs, including how you get around Living situation Education, employment, hobbies, and interests. Step 3: Learning about your support needs Now it’s time to focus on your assistance and support needs. Your planner will give you a questionnaire, called the World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule or WHODAS (those under 17 will take a different questionnaire called the PEDI-CAT). The questions will cover topics like: daily assistance, mobility, health and wellbeing, social circles and relationships, and motor skills. All you’ll need to do is rank your ability to perform the tasks listed out of five. The responses you give will help determine the level and type of funding you’ll receive. Step 4: Personal goals Your goals are one of the most important sections of your NDIS plan and your planning meeting. Why? It’s one of the main reasons you will receive funding for a support. Thinking about you goals before the meeting, and taking the time to write them down beforehand, is a good way to ensure you don’t leave anything out. Your planner will ask you about your short, medium and long-term goals. Generally, you’ll be able to list two short-term goals, which are goals you’d like to achieve within the next 12 months and up to five medium or long-term goals, which are those goals that might take between two to five years or more to achieve. Examples of short-term goals: This year, I would like to find and maintain a job or volunteer work that uses and expands my skills and talents. This year, I would like to be more confident taking public transport to participate in family or community activities. This year, I would like to improve my communication abilities with my friends, family and the community so that I can be more independent Examples of medium/long-term goals: I would like to move into my own home to start living more independently. I would like to learn to walk or move around unaided in order to become more independent. I would like to further my education and skill-set so I can find and maintain a job that helps grow my skills and talents within the community. Your goals should focus on an outcome, rather than a support needed to achieve the goals. So, if you need Speech Therapy, then talk about your goal to communicate. If you want to take an overseas holiday, maybe your goal is to be more confident taking public transport. Think about where you want to be in the next 6 months to five years, what your goals are and what you might need to do to get there. Step 5: Impact/Carer Statement Your planner will create your ‘Impact Statement’. This statement is designed to indicate the effect your disability has on your primary carer (if you have one) and others around you. For some this step might bring up an emotional response, but it’s important to remember that it is necessary to help your planner better understand you, and to help you get the NDIS plan you need. To help make this step easier, we have designed an Impact/Carer Statement Template that can be downloaded before the meeting. Step 6: NDIS Management Supports You will be asked how you would like to manage your NDIS plan funding – Agency, Self, or Plan Management. Agency Management is where the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) will manage your bookkeeping and records, and will pay your support providers for you. You will only have access to NDIS registered support providers. Self-Management is where participants manage everything themselves, from bookkeeping to paying providers. You will have access to both registered and unregistered service providers. Plan Management is where a registered Plan Manager manages your NDIS funding. You will have the same freedom, choice and control of self-management, without the stress. Your Plan Manager will keep track of your records and funding through to processing and paying invoices. You will be able to access both registered and unregistered service providers. If you would like to be Plan Managed by First2Care, speak with one of our team on 1300 322 273 or email support@first2care.com.au. You can also use our First2Care Referral Form in your planning meeting if you would like First2Care as your Plan Managers. You may also need someone to help you find and connect with service providers. If this is the case, the NDIA might include Support Coordination in your plan. While everyone can opt for a Plan Manager to manage their funding, not everyone is eligible for Support Coordination. One reason you might be eligible for Support Coordination is if you don’t have an informal support network who are able to provide a similar style of support. This is assessed on a case-by-case basis. At the end of your meeting, you’ll be asked if there is anything else you might like to add that hasn’t been discussed. This is also a good time to review everything your planner has written down and ask some clarifying key questions to ensure there is nothing lost in translation or misinterpreted. 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.

We all have goals we want to achieve, but sometimes everyday life or limited finances can get in the way. Luckily, with an NDIS plan, you could start working towards the goals that you’ve been dreaming of in no time. Goals and the NDIS There is a strong emphasis on setting personal goals when applying for the NDIS. In fact, your NDIS plan is partially built around the short and medium to long-term goals you set during your planning meeting with your Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) Coordinator, Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) planner. Why are goals so important? By considering the things you want to achieve with support from the NDIS and other supports and services, your NDIS plan funding could help move you towards the future you envision for yourself. Setting goals gives you the opportunity to have more choice and control over your life. How do I set my goals? During your planning meeting, your ECEI Coordinator, LAC or NDIA planner (depending on who you meet with) will ask you what your goals are and if you have any unmet needs in your current life that could be addressed. Although you can set your goals during your meeting, a little preparation beforehand could help you get the funding you need. Usually your NDIS plan will have two short-term goals and up to five medium to long-term goals. Your short-term goals are goals you would like to achieve in the next 6-12 months and your medium to long-term goals are goals you would like to achieve over the next two – five years. The NDIS want you to be outcome orientated, rather than focusing on a specific service. While that might seem a little odd, it will give you more choice and control over your NDIS plan funding. This is because every dollar in your NDIS plan needs to be used in a way that links to your NDIS goals. Your goals need to be inclusive enough that you can use the different types of services that could help you to achieve the goal. Example If you were to write the goal ‘my goal is to engage a Speech Pathologist’, then your funding can only be used for that goal. However, if your goal is ‘to improve my communication at home and within the community to become as independent as possible’ you can use your funding to engage a Speech Pathologist (as planned), but you can also use that funding to engage any other supports and services you might need to achieve this goal. Get support from a Plan Manager Throughout your NDIS journey, your First2Care Plan Manager can help you to maximise your funding, help you to better understand what your entitled to spend your funding on, and make sure you’re not over or underspending on your budget. If you’re unsure whether you can engage a support, your Plan Manager will be able to let you know. 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.

Whether you’re new to the NDIS or have been on a plan for a little while, it’s likely that ‘reasonable and necessary’ have come up in conversation. But what exactly does that mean? And how can it affect you and your future plan? What is ‘Reasonable and necessary’? Reasonable and necessary is a term used to determine what kind of funded supports you might need. Simply put - reasonable is something that is considered fair, and necessary is something that you need because of your disability. For the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to fund a support in your plan, they will assess if it fits the criteria outlined in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Act 2013. Get the low-down on 'reasonable and necessary' criteria Understanding what is considered to be ‘reasonable and necessary’ can help you know how to ask for what you might need in your plan. For a support to be reasonable and necessary, it should: Relate to your disability Help you pursue your goals and aspirations Increase your independence Increase your community, social and workplace involvement Be considered value for money (this is especially true if the support is priced above the NDIS Price Guide) Be effective and work for your needs Take into account your current formal and informal supports There are some things that may not be considered as ‘reasonable and necessary’, like: Day-to-day living costs that are not related to your disability support needs Supports that can reasonably be given by a family member, carer, or the broader community Supports already funded by other areas of government Make the most of your NDIS funding Armed with the knowledge of what is considered to be a ‘reasonable and necessary’ support, you’ll be able to better ask for the supports you need included in your plan. When discussing your NDIS plan with your planner, consider the types of supports that can be funded within the NDIS, your personal support needs, and how those needs can tie back to your goals to be considered ‘reasonable and necessary’ supports. Types of supports that can be funded within the NDIS: Help with personal care activities Transport that helps you to participate in community, social, economic and daily life activities Help to find or maintain employment Therapeutic supports, such as occupational therapy, speech pathology or behaviour support Assistance with household tasks so you can maintain your home Aids or equipment to help you be more independent Home modification design and construction Mobility equipment Vehicle modifications Who can help The NDIS can feel a little overwhelming sometimes. So, having some guidance throughout your journey can reduce stress associated with navigating the ins and outs of the NDIS. A Plan Manager can be an excellent addition to your team. Plan Managers are included in your NDIS plan upon request at no extra cost to you. At First2Care, you are our number one focus. Which is why we won’t just manage the financial side of your plan but we can also help you understand what supports could be considered as ‘reasonable and necessary’. All you need to do is contact a First2Care Plan Manager to find out more. 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.

We can all use a little bit of help sometimes. But finding the right person (or people) can feel like a big task. By knowing what you are looking for and how to ask for what you need, you can build a great support team to help you have more choice and control over your life. How can a Support Worker help you? A support worker is someone you pay to help you with your disability related needs. Having a support worker (or team of support workers) is an excellent tool to help you achieve your goals and support needs. A support worker can: Provide assistance and supports with your daily tasks and activities Help you to achieve your NDIS goals Offer physical and emotional support Work with your family and other key support workers Provide assistance and transport for medical appointments, or social and community events or activities Help you to live as independently as possible Some support workers work for disability service providers, while others may work on their own. If you’re wanting to engage a support worker who is independent, they may not be a NDIS registered provider. If you choose to have your NDIS plan looked after by a Plan Manager (or to Self-Manage) you can access both registered and unregistered providers, giving you more choice and control over who you can engage. Build your Support Team Under the NDIS, you now have more choice and control than ever to build the right support team for you. Before engaging any support workers, think about: What supports you need What supports you want What supports have been funded in your NDIS plan When you need your supports to commence How many hours of support per week you require Once you’ve worked out what you’re looking for, you can start considering support workers that tick your boxes. It’s a good idea to make a shortlist of potential support workers so that you can be sure you’re selecting the right one for you. It’s likely you’ll be spending a lot of time with your support worker, so it’s important that you have a good relationship with them. Speak with potential support workers on the phone or in person to get a better sense of who they are. When you’ve found the right support worker(s) for you, it might be a good idea to talk with them about creating a Service Agreement to ensure that the terms and conditions you have agreed upon are upheld, written down and signed by both of you. At First2Care, we advocate the importance of entering into a Service Agreement with each support worker you engage. As your Plan Manager, we can store a copy of all your Service Agreements for safe keeping in the event you need to refer to it for clarification or disputes. Questions you can ask when hiring a Support Worker If you have questions – just ask! When hiring a support worker, you want to make sure they are the right choice for you and your needs. One of the best ways to determine this is to ask questions. What kind of experience do you have with people with disability? What are your qualifications or current studies? Do you have experience with my disability needs? Do you have any limitations that might make this job challenging? What made you decide to work with people with disability? Do you have a driving licence and clean driving record and access to reliable insured transport? What would you do if……… happened? Are you comfortable around pets? My beliefs and cultural background is……… Do you share these beliefs or are comfortable supporting them? What are your interests outside of work/study? What are your availability and notice requirements? What is your preferred communication method – email, call or text? Are you prepared to enter into a written and signed Service Agreement to reflect the terms agreed? Manage your Support Team Once you have your support team locked in, it’s time to think about how you’d like to manage them. Be sure to set your expectations, keep open communication, and if you have more than one support worker, keep your whole team in the loop so they can help to ensure there are no gaps in the support you’re receiving. You can also advise your support worker that you’re Plan Managed by First2Care and we will pay your invoice accurately within 48 hours of receipt once their details have been verified. 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.

Do you feel in the dark about how you can use your NDIS plan funding to pursue your goals? We’ve got you. Discover how to navigate your NDIS plan like a pro by getting to know your Capacity Building Supports and how they can help you on your NDIS journey. Shining a light on Capacity Building Supports Capacity Building Supports are designed to help build skills and independence in your daily life, and to help you pursue your goals. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) will assess your needs, and your short and long-term goals during a planning meeting to help identify which Capacity Building Supports might need to be funded. It’s important to know, that you will not necessarily be funded for all the Capacity Building Supports categories. Capacity Building Support Categories There are nine Capacity Building Supports categories: Support Coordination is a fixed amount of funding that can be used to engage a Support Coordinator who can help you to connect with, and implement your plan. Improved Living Arrangements (or ‘CB Home Living’) helps you to find and maintain appropriate accommodation for your needs. Increased Social and Community Participation (or ‘CB Social Community and Civic Participation’) helps you with the development and training of life skills to encourage your participation in your community, and with social and recreational activities. Finding and Keeping a Job (or ‘CB Employment’) helps you to find and maintain employment. This funding can be used for employment related support, training and assessments. Improved Relationships (or ‘CB Relationships’) helps you to develop positive behavioural strategies to better your interactions with people in your life and community. Improved Health and Wellbeing (or ‘CB Health and Wellbeing’) helps you to manage the impact of your disability through exercise and diet advice. It’s important to know, that gym memberships are not included in your funding. Improved Learning (or ‘CB Lifelong Learning’) provides training and advice to help you move from school into higher education, like university or TAFE. Improved Choices (or CB Choice and Control) helps you to manage your plan funding with the help of a Plan Manager, like First2Care. Improved Daily Living (or CB Daily Activity) helps to build your capacity to engage within your community or to be more independent at home by providing assessment, training or therapy to help increase your skills. Flexible, or not? Unlike with Core Supports, Capacity Building Supports are not flexible. For example, if you have funding for ‘Improved Learning’, you cannot use your allocated funding from that specific category towards funding another category, like ‘Improved Daily Living’. Improved Choices and Plan Management ‘Improved Choices’ is all about giving you more choice and control over how your NDIS plan is managed. In your planning meeting, you can easily request to have a Plan Manager included in your NDIS funding, which comes at no out-of-pocket expense to you. Our sole focus at First2Care, as dedicated Plan Managers, is to ensure you maintain choice and control over your NDIS plan, without having to deal with the financial and administrative tasks of managing a plan yourself. As your Plan Managers, we will: Manage your spending, claims and paperwork; Process and pay your invoices (on time, every time); Help you understand your funding and supports; Give you full choice and control over your NDIS plan and the supports you engage; Answer any questions you have about your plan; and Deliver monthly budget reports. If you or someone in your network is looking for a truly independent and professional Plan Manager, you can speak with our First2Care 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.

Thinking about your upcoming planning meeting? Want to make sure you’re prepared? We’ve got you covered. Start pre-planning today by asking yourself these five key questions. 1. What’s important to you? Your NDIS plan is about you. It should reflect who you are, what you value, and the life you want to achieve. Sharing your experiences and interests will help you and your planner create a plan that’s right for you. Think about some of the great things about you, and what you need to feel your best. What are some things that you like and are good at? What are some things that you need to stay safe and well for? Are there any things that make you unhappy, anxious or stressed? 2. What are your support needs? In your planning meeting, you’ll be asked to describe how you manage your everyday activities. This helps your planner understand what your abilities are and what equipment, accommodation or help you need to take care of yourself or your home. Think about what your week usually looks like, and the activities that you do each day. It can be helpful to create a timetable showing what you do and when you do it. You can also take photos of your activities and equipment and bring them to the planning meeting. Do you need any equipment, aids or consumables (e.g. bed protectors, incontinence pads)? Do you need assistance with transport or vehicle modifications? Are there any home modifications that you need? Are there any areas in your life where you feel unsafe or where you might need extra help? 3. Who are your current supports? You’ll also be asked about the support you currently receive. This includes paid support like health services and help for work and social activities, as well as unpaid support from friends and family. If possible, bring quotes from your service providers to your planning meeting to help guide your budget. Think about who the important people are in your life and how much support they provide. Do you get help from a support person to participate in your daily activities? Who are your current service providers (e.g. speech therapists, occupational therapists, doctors, teachers)? Are there any changes you’d like to make to the type or amount of support you currently receive? 4. What are your goals? The next step is to think about the goals you want to set for your NDIS plan. Goals are things you want to achieve with the support from the NDIS and other supports and services. You should focus on what you need right now, as well as what you might need in the future. Your goals might involve: Learning and education, Finding and keeping a job, Becoming more active in your community, Improving your housing options and living arrangements, Improving your health and wellbeing, Improving relationships and making friends, Becoming more independent, and/or Increasing control and choice in your life. Think about what you enjoy about your life right now, and if there is anything you would change. What are your interests or the things you love doing? What currently works well and what doesn’t? Are there new things that you would like to try? What are your dreams and is there anything preventing you from having the life you want? 5. How will you manage your plan? During your planning meeting, you’ll need to specify how your NDIS funds and supports will be managed. You can choose: Self-Management: You or your nominee (such as a parent or family member) will manage your NDIS plan including processing and paying invoices, and keeping track of your funding and expenses. You can access both registered and unregistered service providers. Plan Management: A registered Plan Management provider, like First2Care, will ensure you maintain choice and control over your plan without the stress of having to take on the financial and administrative tasks of Self-Management. You can access both registered and unregistered service providers. Agency Management with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). You can only access NDIS registered service providers. 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 choice and control over your life is very important. Which is why there is huge emphasis on providing participants with more choice and control under the NDIS. What does ‘choice and control’ actually mean? Under the NDIS, ‘choice and control’ is a term used to give participants power over the pursuit of personal goals, and the planning, engagement and delivery of supports. This means, you have ‘choice and control’ over where, when and by whom the supports and services you need are provided. How does choice and control work in your NDIS plan? An NDIS plan is made up of three support budget types – Core, Capacity Building, and Capital Supports. You might receive funding in all three support budgets or in just one or two of them, depending on your support needs. Your funding will be based on what is considered ‘reasonable and necessary’ for your individual needs to help you pursue your goals. Core Supports The Core Supports budget is made up of four categories: Assistance with Daily Life Consumables Assistance with Social and Community Participation Transport You can move your Core Supports funding can be moved flexibly between the four categories. Capacity Building Supports Capacity Building Supports are designed to build your independence and skill-set to help you pursue your goals. The Capacity Building Supports budget is made up of nine categories: Support Coordination Improved Living Arrangements (or CB Home Living) Increased Social and Community Participation (or CB Social, Community, and Civic Participation) Finding and Keeping a Job (CB Employment) Improved Relationships (CB Relationships) Improved Health and Wellbeing (CB Health and Wellbeing) Improved Learning (CB Lifelong Learning) Improved Life Choices (CB Choice and Control) Improved Daily Living (CB Daily Activity) Although your Capacity Building Supports cannot be moved from one support category to another (like you can with Core Supports), within each of the nine support categories you can flexibly engage any approved individual support within that support category to help you pursue your goals. For example: If your goal is to ‘learn to move around or walk unaided in order to become more independent’, your plan might include funding for ‘Improved Daily Living’ (or CB Daily Activity). Initially, you may decide to use 75% of your funding on Occupational Therapy and 25% on Physiotherapy. As your plan progresses, maybe decide you want 40% of your funding going towards Physiotherapy instead. You have the flexibility to modify how you want your funding to be divided within each individual category. Having this kind of flexibility gives you ‘choice and control’ over how you believe your Capacity Building Supports should be used to help you achieve your goals. Capital Supports There are only two support categories in Capital Supports: Assistive Technology Home Modifications Capital Supports is the least flexible budget type. Any funding can only be used for its allocated purpose. For example, if funding is given for a hand rail in the bathroom, it must be used for a hand rail in the bathroom. How Plan Management gives you more choice and control Engaging a Plan Manager comes under the NDIS Capacity Building Support category ‘Improved Life Choices’ (or CB Choice and Control). Which means if you would like a Plan Manager to take care of your financial and administrative funding needs, it will come at no extra cost to you. Instead, a Plan Manager can simply be included in your NDIS plan. With a Plan Manager, you can have more choice and control over your plan with access to a greater service provider network of registered and unregistered service providers. Your day-to-day record keeping and financial administrative tasks will be looked after by your Plan Manager so you can focus on what’s important – pursuing your goals. At First2Care, we work alongside all our Plan Managed participants to make sure they maintain choice and control, understand the ins and outs of their plan, and help them make the most of their plan. 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.

Have you been holding off on committing to much needed assistive technology items or home modifications due to cost or inaccessibility? No more. If you’ve been approved for Capital Supports in your NDIS plan, you could access the technology and modifications you need to live your life more independently. What are Capital Supports? Capital Supports are one of the three NDIS support budgets (alongside Core Supports and Capital Building Supports) that NDIS participants may be eligible to access. The Capital Supports category includes Assistive Technology and Home Modifications, both of which can make a pretty big impact on NDIS participants’ ability to live as independently as possible. What you need to know Your Capital Supports budget for Assistive Technology (AT) or Home Modifications will also include the assessment, delivery, set-up, adjustment and maintenance costs. Assistive Technology AT are aids or equipment supports that can help you to live more independently or help your carer provide for your needs. AT includes items for mobility, personal care, communication, recreational inclusion like: Wheelchairs and accessories Standing frames, walking supports, wheeled walkers Prosthesis Pressure mattresses Specialised strollers, pram buggies and push chairs Bathing and toilet equipment Personal readers and vision equipment Transfer equipment and hoists Vehicle modifications AT can include vehicle modifications that are considered to be ‘reasonable and necessary’ by the NDIS. These modifications will include the installation of equipment in a vehicle and any changes to a vehicle to ensure your safety and that of anyone else in the vehicle. Modifications can help by: Getting you in and out of the vehicle with or without a wheelchair Carrying your wheelchair in or on the vehicle without lifting Being transported safely whilst seated in your wheelchair Assisting you to drive the vehicle with specialised controls or adaptations The NDIS will not cover the cost of additional cosmetic or personalised features that are not considered ‘reasonable and necessary’. Home Modifications Home modifications help you to live safely and independently at home. The modifications made could be to the structure, layout or fittings in your home. Home modifications might be included in your NDIS plan if: The impact of your disability means that you or your carers cannot reasonably access and use rooms and spaces in your primary residence; A qualified Occupational Therapist has performed an assessment and recommended home modifications if other alternatives (i.e. the use of equipment) are not enough; and Your primary residence and its location have significant impacts on the sustainability of your current living and care arrangements. Quotes will be requested for any home modifications needed. And, it’s important to know, that just like with any building work, there are laws and regulations that will need to be followed when undertaking home modifications. Home modifications may include: Grab rails Accessible bathroom Slip-resistant coating on flooring Installing ramps and landscaping modifications Specialist Disability Accommodation Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) also falls under home modifications. If you have an extreme functional impairment or very high support needs, you may be eligible for SDA funding support. SDA is a house, apartment or unit, or another type of building suitable to your specific needs. How to spend your Capital Support funding If you’ve been funded for aids or equipment in your NDIS plan, that funding will generally be ‘stated’ so it can only be used for the items you’ve been funded for, meaning Capital Support funding is not flexible. Example If you’ve been funded for a wheelchair under Capital Supports, you can’t then decide to use that funding on installing grab railings in your bathroom. If there are multiple AT or home modifications you may need funding for, make sure you discuss them with your LAC or NDIA planner and if you have any quotes it’s good idea to bring any recommendations or reports and the quotes them to your planning meeting. 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.

You’ve checked your NDIS eligibility, made an Access Request, provided information about your disability, AND been approved. Congratulations! The next step in your NDIS journey is to prepare for your first planning meeting. NDIS planning meetings explained Your planning meeting will be run by a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or an NDIA planner to determine how your NDIS plan will look. You should expect questions about your current support services, daily living activities and your short and long-term goals. The meeting can sometimes be long, so a support person can help you remember details and ask questions. You’re welcome to bring anyone you like to the planning meeting*, including a family member, friend, advocate or a service provider. *At the moment, your planning meeting is likely to be conducted over the phone due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). If a phone call isn’t the best way for you to discuss your plan and needs, you can ask for a face-to-face meeting if this is available. It’s important that the meeting makes you feel as comfortable as possible. What can make a planning meeting successful? The key to a successful planning meeting is to pre-plan. Although pre-planning (planning to plan) might sound a little strange, it can help you get the best possible outcome from the NDIS. Doing this can help you feel ready for your planning meeting and keep any feelings of pressure or stress at bay. What should I do before my meeting? Before your meeting, you’ll need to organise any formal supporting documentation you have (like medical reports) to help you to back-up your support needs. In fact, it’s a good idea to run through a pre-planning checklist to ensure you don’t forget anything. Before your planning meeting, you should ask yourself: What is important to me? What are my support needs? Who are my current supports? What are my goals? Who do I want to manage my plan? It could be helpful to write notes, make recordings, take pictures or draw mind maps based on your goals and support needs to take with you to your planning meeting. What happens during your planning meeting? During your planning meeting, you’ll be able to set your support goals and talk about how NDIS funding can help to pursue them. The NDIS is largely focused on helping participants to pursue their short and long-term goals. So, it’s important to think about what goals you might like to achieve in the next 6-12 months (short-term), and goals you’d like to achieve in the next 2-5 years (long-term). With the right preparation, your NDIS plan can give you greater choice and control to achieve your goals and live the life you want. 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.