Throughout the world, countries establish several schemes and policies hoping to help their citizens in any way possible. This is only natural as governments want the best for their citizens. Australia is known to have a population pyramid that has more older people than youth. This is in line with the belief that older people are more susceptible to illnesses than the young.
However, disabilities and illnesses can be acquired in many different forms. Not all of them are genetic; some are incidental, some are targeted, some are rare. So there is no way to restrict disability prevalence to age groups. To support all age groups, Australia offers NDIS through NDIS provider agencies.
What is NDIS?
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an insurance plan that the Australian government has instituted to provide funds to cover disability-related costs. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) works with other NDIS provider agencies and ensures that the NDIS is implemented wherever it is applicable.
The NDIS has laid down specific norms that outline certain qualities that one requires to be eligible for the scheme. Although NDIS is a scheme that aims to promote self-reliance in people with disabilities by taking a lifetime approach, not everyone with disabilities can apply.
The selection criteria include:
- The applicant must be between ages 7 to 65.
- The applicant must be an Australian citizen who holds a permanent visa.
- The applicant needs manual support due to their disability or uses special devices due to their permanent illness.
- The applicant requires external help to reduce their future needs and financial requirements.
How do NDIS provider agencies help?
These agencies often work hand-in-hand with the NDIA. A large organisation like the NDIA or the Australian government, for that matter, cannot individually cater to each person’s needs. NDIS providers usually act as getaway agencies to help an individual utilise the services that NDIS offers better.
Usually, they offer introductory NDIS assessment quizzes that ask for the applicant’s personal information along with their expectations. This helps the agencies to plan out the applicant’s goals, the type of support worker they’d work well with, tailor their expectations to get the best out of the NDIS provider, etc.
These service providers also offer provisions that assist applicants to quickly reach out to their local area coordinator or support coordinator and enquire which type of funds they are eligible for. After acquiring a service agreement, these providers can offer services in the following areas:
- Life Skills Training for employment.
- NDIS Support Coordination.
- Community Participation and Innovative Events.
- Health and Wellbeing Tasks
- Transport allowances and Support Coordination.
- Recreation
- Everyday assistance with activities.
NDIS Assessment
The NDIS assessment helps identify the applicant’s goals, as in, what they would like to achieve from the benefits of the NDIS. The form asks the applicant to jot down two to three goals to succeed alongside their suited support worker.
The way a support worker is allotted to an applicant is also a very simplified process. In the application form itself, the applicant is asked to mention qualities that they’d want their support worker to have. For example, it could be patience, generosity, etc., whereas, for an older adult, it could be creative and energetic for a younger applicant.
Based on the background of the NDIS provider agency, they also offer special services outside the NDIS like food relief or shelter. Applicants need to consult with their provider to ensure they avail such services.
