Lived Experience Forum

[JazzHands]

@QueenieThere are no dumb questions when it comes to the NDIS - such a huge new thing for the country - I'm sure everyone who comes across it wonders the same thing!

[Former-Member]

Every time I look into the NDIS I end up having a panic attack. It’s all so overwhelming—and I’m usually quite good at nutting out this type of thing. I wonder if it’s worth the stress of all the hoops I’ll have to jump through. It was hard enough applying for the DSP—having to prove I’m ‘unwell enough’.

Is it true that if someone with MI is eligible for the NDIS, that it is possible to receive funding for additional psychologist appointments after the 10 Medicare-rebated sessions (under a MHCP) have been exhausted?

[JazzHands]

Hi @JasJac Here is the reply from the NDIA

1. Exactly what functional assessments can a credentialed mental health nurse do to form part of the access evidence?

A credentialed Mental Health Nurse can assist individuals who are attempting to gain access to the NDIS by providing a written evidence of disability/mental illness. This can be done in two ways.

The Mental Health Nurse may assist by providing a report detailing evidence of the impact that a disability/mental illness may have on their client’s everyday life. This may include history of their condition or diagnosis. This report can be attached to an access request form.

Alternatively a Mental Health Nurse may assist a professional (such as a GP, or an Occupational Therapist) to complete the evidence table in the access request form.

[JazzHands]

@Former-Member @Former-Member Here is the response from the NDIA about your comment 

@lapses @lisajane Heya just responding regarding your contact details being sent to the NDIA, I believe there was legislation requesting this to happen if you were already a participant in some support services, the programs you were may have had to oblige with this.

People who have been receiving support through state government funding may have had their contact details provided to the NDIA to be assessed for access into the scheme. This process was brought about to provide a smooth transition for individuals who have previously been receiving support to ensure support can continue without any gaps in funding. 

[JazzHands]

@JasJac

Here is the response from the NDIA on your question below

Given the experiences from the Hunter why has there not been the marketed message and strategies suggested to help potential participants to be resilient and flourish during the access process? ie let people know that a difficult time is coming up, from their life experiences of getting through difficult times what can people do to keep themselves safe and ok during the access process? 

We acknowledge that the transition to the NDIS scheme can be a difficult time of change for individuals and thank you for your question. We hope we can only improve the process in the future based on participant feedback. The NDIS website has some great resources for people to prepare themselves for the NDIS pathway. https://www.ndis.gov.au/people-disability.html People can also help themselves keep safe during this process by utilising their current supports, such as family, friends, community organisations and advocacy groups to help them prepare for the conversations and changes taking place. Local Area coordinators are also available in many regions to support participants through the process of accessing the NDIS. If people are feeling under extreme stress or duress seek support from their General practitioner and other health care providers who are still available to provide support through the healthcare system.

[JazzHands]

@Sakurapuss Here is the NDIA's answer to your question

How does mental illness fit in with the NDIS? Currently all therapy and support I receive is either through a mental health care plan (Medicare) or purely out of my own pocket. Is this likely to change under NDIS?

Thanks for your question. The NDIS is working to ensure people who live with mental health conditions have the appropriate supports they need from the scheme. They must first meet the access requirements of the scheme. Under the NDIS, individuals must have a permanent disability with significant lifelong impacts. Some people with mental health issues fit into this category as their mental illness may impact their ability to participate in activities without support in place.

The NDIS won’t replace community or mainstream services. For example if you have a NDIS plan you can still access therapies through the healthcare system. It won’t stop you from getting a Mental Health Care Plan through your General practitioner.

The NDIS will fund therapies and supports, related to your disability/mental illness and plan goals that are considered to be reasonable and necessary. More information on this can be found on the website.

https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/reasonable-and-necessary-supports.html

https://www.ndis.gov.au/psychosocial/products.html

[JazzHands]

@Former-Member Here is the response to your great questions from the NDIS

 Q 1 WHY WOULD NDIS BE RINGING ME?

1. NDIA may be contacting you as a first step to determine whether you are eligible for the NDIS. If you have lodged an NDIS Access Request Form, the National Access Team will contact you to confirm your name, age, residential location and impact of your disability/mental illness on your daily life. 
2. NDIA (or the partner agency, Carers Queensland) could be phoning you because you have made an Access Request  to the NDIS and have  been assessed as eligible for the 
3. You could have given prior permission to your Service provider or Dept. of Disability Services to provide your contact details to the NDIS planning to confirm access/make a time to conduct your planning conversation with the NDIS.

There is no direct link between supports that are funded by the NDIS and Centrelink.  NDIS funds reasonable and necessary disability supports to enable you to live daily life and achieve your goals, including greater social and economic participation.  NDIS is not income support.   NDIA requires your consent to access your Centrelink records to confirm age and residential information.

You do not need to be receiving a Disability Support Pension (DSP) to be eligible for the NDIS. The DSP and carer’s pension are separate from the NDIS. Assistance from the NDIS is not means tested and has no impact on income support such as the Disability Support Pension and Carers Allowance.

Q2. DO ALL DSP RECIPIENTS HAVE TO TRANSITION TO NDIS?

No.  While both the DSP and the NDIS provide support for people with disability/mental illness, they perform very different functions and have different assessment criteria.

1. 3. Are there scammers in regards to the NDIS?

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is aware of attempts by scammers to obtain financial information from NDIA staff. If you have any concerns in regards to a scammer this link will take you through the steps on how to resolve the situation.

https://www.ndis.gov.au/people-disability/consumer-resources.html  

NDIS Privacy Policy: https://www.ndis.gov.au/privacy.html  In dealing with personal information, we abide by the obligations imposed on us under federal law, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) and the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cth) (NDIS Act).   The Privacy Act authorizes our collection of personal information where this is required to facilitate access to the NDIS and perform our other functions.  We are also bound by confidentiality and secrecy provisions in the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cth) (NDIS Act). These provisions limit how we collect and use personal information and when and to whom information can be disclosed.

Also see the following link in regards to protecting your personal details: https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/Protecting-your-personal-details.html

Q4. IS NDIS JUST RINGING EVERYONE ON DSP?

No, as previously mentioned, being on a Disability Support Pension is not required for eligibility for NDIS.

Q5. How is NDIS relevant to those of us who don’t have carers?

The NDIS provides individualised supports for people who have an impairment or disability that effects daily living.  If you have a permanent condition which results in disability and require ongoing supports (even if you’re condition fluctuates), you’re under the age of 65 and you’re a permanent resident of Australia you may be able access the NDIS. The NDIS provides individualised plans with funding for reasonable and necessary support  for those who meet these criteria. The NDIS is designed to support participants’  to improve  their  independent living skills, social and community inclusion and provide assistance with daily living requirements for those with an impairment or disability.

It is not a requirement to have a formal/informal carer to be eligible to receive NDIS support packages.  The NDIS is intended to complement and sustain natural supports such as family provide to participants.

Q6. Can NDIS be helpful for MI sufferers to access mental health supports when most of us just withdraw?

Link: https://www.ndis.gov.au/medias/documents/heb/h21/8799160959006/Fact-Sheet-Psychosocial-disability-recovery-and-the-NDIS-PDF-774KB-.pdf

https://www.ndis.gov.au/psychosocial/products.html

The NDIS is the new way of providing support to people with a psychosocial disability and works to have a positive impact on your everyday life. It will provide opportunities in the community and certainty of funding for supports, and give people more choice and control over how supports are provided. The overall amount of funding available for disability supports will be nearly double that of the previous system when the NDIS is fully rolled out in 2019.

Q7. What does the Acronym NDIS stand for?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (also called the NDIS) is the new way of providing disability support.

The NDIS will provide all Australians under the age of 65 who have a permanent and significant disability/mental illness with the reasonable and necessary supports they need to enjoy an ordinary life. The NDIS will help people with disability achieve their goals. This may include greater independence, community involvement, employment and improved wellbeing. 

As an insurance scheme, the NDIS takes a lifetime approach, investing in people with disability/mental illness early to improve their outcomes later in life. The NDIS also provides people with disability/mental illness, their family and carers with information and referrals to existing support services in the community. By 2019, the NDIS will support about 460,000 Australians with disability/mental illness.

To become an NDIS participant a person must: Have a permanent disability/mental illness that significantly affects their ability to take part in everyday activities; Be aged less than 65 when they first enter the NDIS; Be an Australian citizen or hold a permanent visa or a Protected Special Category visa; and Live in Australia where the NDIS is available.

[JazzHands]

@Queenie Here are the NDIA's responses to your questions

 What does the Acronym NDIS stand for?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (also called the NDIS) is the new way of providing disability support.

The NDIS will provide all Australians under the age of 65 who have a permanent and significant disability/mental illness with the reasonable and necessary supports they need to enjoy an ordinary life. The NDIS will help people with disability achieve their goals. This may include greater independence, community involvement, employment and improved wellbeing. 

As an insurance scheme, the NDIS takes a lifetime approach, investing in people with disability/mental illness early to improve their outcomes later in life. The NDIS also provides people with disability/mental illness, their family and carers with information and referrals to existing support services in the community. By 2019, the NDIS will support about 460,000 Australians with disability/mental illness.

To become an NDIS participant a person must: Have a permanent disability/mental illness that significantly affects their ability to take part in everyday activities; Be aged less than 65 when they first enter the NDIS; Be an Australian citizen or hold a permanent visa or a Protected Special Category visa; and Live in Australia where the NDIS is available.

How does the NDIS affect me as I am on the DSP and don’t work?

Please see previous answers.  The first thing to find out is if you are eligible.  You can lodge an Access Request Form, or phone 1800 800 110 to discuss your eligibility further.  Once you have access to NDIS granted, the NDIS can assist you to access reasonable and necessary supports to achieve your goals and aspirations. 

What can I expect from it by way of services and will it be of benefit or hindrance to me (honestly)?

Link: https://www.ndis.gov.au/people-disability/what-help-can-i-get.html

The National Disability Insurance Scheme  understands that everyone's needs, preferences and aspirations are different. The NDIS  provides information and referrals, support to access community services and activities, personal plans and supports over a lifetime. It’s important to note that participants who access the NDIS have greater choice and control in purchasing supports from service providers and are encouraged to have good conversation with services about their goals and how they may be able to support them to achieve them.

The NDIS provides personalized:

• Information and referral
• Support to access community services and activities
• Individualized plans and supports
• Early intervention
• Where necessary, funded supports that may be one-off support or a funded support package. Examples of funded supports include Assistive Technology, Auslan and Housing

[JazzHands]

@Former-Member Here are the NDIA's responses to your questions and a case study too

Who is eligible for NDIS?

Please see above answers and the following link on Accessing the NDIS: https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/accessing-the-ndis.html

What services does it offer?

Please see above answers and the link About the NDIS: https://www.ndis.gov.au/html/sites/default/files/documents/About-us/About-theNDIS.pdf

How can it help those of us who are unemployed/on centrelink or who are employed?

Please see above answers and the link About the NDIS: https://www.ndis.gov.au/html/sites/default/files/documents/About-us/About-theNDIS.pdf

And the Link on what help NDIS can provide: https://www.ndis.gov.au/people-disability/what-help-can-i-get.html

Participant story

https://www.ndis.gov.au/people-disability/videos-and-stories/cameos.html

Caleb, psychosis

Caleb is 38 years old and experiences delusions and hallucinations due to psychosis. This has led to the breakdown of his marriage, loss of job and inability to work. Caleb requires intermittent access to acute clinical care, in addition to his ongoing treatment, and has been hospitalised many times for his condition. Caleb lives alone and has trouble caring for his own health.

Caleb’s goals are to care for his health, re-build his social connections, obtain employment and explore education opportunities. Caleb’s NDIS plan includes funding for psychosocial supports that build Caleb’s capacity to engage with the community, including training focused on his communication skills, and decision making. It also includes a simple electronic diary to help him plan his day. Caleb and the NDIS talk to Caleb’s mental health services, to ensure that there are timely adjustments to his psychosocial supports during and after any acute episodes of care from the clinical sector.

A Local Area Coordinator assists Caleb to connect to local TAFE courses about parenting so that he feels is able to be a stronger dad.

[Mazarita]

I found this page helpful...

https://www.ndis.gov.au/ndis-access-checklist.html