The move to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can be a confusing one for many who take part. As a new participant it’s not always possible to know all of the ins and outs of such a complex and far-reaching scheme, and thus it can be difficult to truly bring your NDIS plan to life in a way that most benefits you.
So for those who are trying to get all that they possibly can from their NDIS experience, here are 5 quick tips that may help to point you in the right direction.
Work to clearly define your goals
Being clear about your goals from the beginning ensures your NDIS plan reflects the supports that are vital to achieving your objectives.
Your goals can be defined as the ideas you have about what you want to do with your life. Some might be big and long term, others might be small and short term – whatever the case, seriously thinking about what you hope to achieve in the future is the first step in forming a plan that’s actionable.
Examples of goals include:
- Finding and keeping a job.
- Developing better communication skills.
- Maintaining or improving your health.
- Developing better social skills.
- Joining community groups.
- Becoming more independent.
- Building the skills needed to learn better at school or university.
Talk to an NDIS representative
You’ll make contact with NDIS representatives at fixed stages of your NDIS journey for things like registering with the scheme and conducting scheduled reviews of your plan, but did you know that these representatives can offer general support as well? If you’ve got any questions regarding how best to bring your plan to life, you can call, chat online or arrange a meeting in person with them!
Get support from a registered plan management provider
Even better, services like Breakthru are expressly tasked with the job of supporting you through your NDIS journey, making them the go-to team to help you get the most out of the scheme.
Breakthru are able to assist you with all aspects of the NDIS, including:
- Exploring your needs, goals and expectations regarding the NDIS to help you prepare for your initial NDIA meeting.
- Supporting you before, during and after your NDIA meeting to ensure you receive a plan that meets your goals and expectations.
- Helping you to implement your plan and assisting in connecting you to the best supports available.
- Monitoring your progress towards your goals to assist you in future NDIA planning meetings.
- Assisting you in managing the financial aspects of your NDIS plan.
Understand what you’re entitled to
A large part of bringing your plan to life is ensuring that you’re gaining access to all the supports and services that you’re entitled to. If they’re being offered and will help you achieve your goals, why not utilise them?
Taking the time to read up on your entitlements is a good place to start, but can quickly become confusing. Getting assistance from those in the know, such as Breakthru, will allow you to get all the help that you can from the NDIS.
Don’t wait to review your plan
Your plan will be reviewed at regular intervals to ensure that your goals are still relevant, and that you’re on track to achieve them. The NDIS website instructs that “it is expected that your first plan review will take place after your first 12 months in the scheme. Plan reviews can then be scheduled up to two years apart dependent on personal circumstances and goals.”
But a lot can happen in two years, particularly for younger NDIS participants. So if your goals change between your scheduled reviews, you should be prepared to review your plan yourself, and advise the NDIS if you wish to change it. Constant self-assessment will ensure that you don’t waste time going down a path that isn’t relevant to your changing situation.
In short, getting the most out of your NDIS plan is about knowing where you’re at personally, and seeking the help of experts when you need it. If you manage to do both of those things you’ll be well on your way to bringing your plan to life!
Breakthru are a registered provider for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Our Support Coordination service helps you get the most out of your NDIS plan while ensuring the services you choose deliver on your needs, expectations and goals. Contact the Breakthru team now for help!
