Category Archives for "NDIS QandA"

How a Level 3 Support Coordinator Can Help Parents of Young Kids

Not many young children get funding for SSC, or even regular support coordination, but if your child does, and you are wondering how to make the most of their SC/SSC budget, this might help.

🌟 Here’s how a good one might help, as well as the standard work of finding you the best providers to choose from:

🛠 Help with Equipment and Reports: They can get the reports you need for reassessments and help you secure funding for any equipment your child might need.

📋 Care Plans & Flexible Spending: They’ll explain how you can use your NDIS funding in different ways (including self managing if you’re keen), help you plan for your child’s care and crises, and get you ready for any tough times ahead.

🌈 Inclusion & Disability Awareness: A good SSC will help you understand the value of inclusion and the social model of disability. They’ll also guide you as you make big decisions, like picking a school or choosing therapies.

🤝 Getting Everyone on the Same Page: They can organise meetings (case conferences) with your medical team, therapists and support team and family so everyone knows what’s going on and works together for your child.

🏛 Dealing with Systems: Your SSC can handle tricky talks with health and education systems to make sure your child gets the support they need.

📝 Support Worker Briefs: They’ll help you know what you want and write clear instructions for your support workers so you get the most out of the hours you’ve got funded.

👨‍👩‍👧 Support for Your Whole Family: They can help find parent or carer training for you and even support for siblings, so everyone in the family is included and supported.

💡 Government and Organisation Payments and Grants: A good SSC can connect you to other supports, like the Carer Adjustment Payment (for under-7s), Carer Allowance, and Carer Payment, utility rebates and priorities, or grants from places like Variety if you’re eligible.

💰 Using Your Funding Wisely: They’ll help you stick to your NDIS budget, make sure you don’t overspend or underuse your funding, and avoid spending on things that aren’t allowed.

👍 The key is to find an SSC with the skills, experience, personality and backup support who you click with, can trust, is reliable and really gets your family and can help make life smoother for you and your child. I know that’s not easy, so I wish you Good luck!

pic desc: A former (still loved) TGS Team Member who became an SSC with us, sitting on the ground outside with a young child working on creating a volcano science science experiment together. Support Coordination can look like many different things. In my time as an SC/SSC I’ve happily played with children on the floor, folded socks on a sofa while working with a family, dried a dish or two, or hung out washing together while building rapport, making it easier to talk about the hard stuff that families are often managing.

Sending stuff to the NDIS?

Art and Music Therapy in the firing line (FREE TO READ)

PLEASE SHARE

While we have no official word in public from the NDIS, we know that the NDIS have told the peak professional bodies for Art and Music Therapy that from Monday Dec 2nd, 1:1 art and music therapy will no longer be allowed to be claimed by any NDIS participant.

I have been told this is an “evidence based decision”.

I call on the NDIS to share both

a) the evidence considered, as well as

b) the process used to make this determination,

It is my understanding that the NDIS Evidence Advisory Committee (which was recommended by the NDIS Review) DOES NOT YET EXIST and will not be in operation until July 2025. https://www.dss.gov.au/…/ndis-evidence-advisory-committee

Both professional bodies have made public statements regarding their shock and dismay at both the decision, and the timeframe, with less than a week for thousands of NDIS participants to be without the service of their members’, many of whose businesses and livelihoods will effectively cease to exist after Friday.

A EasySnap read of this post, as well as Communications from the peak bodies are below our image underneath.

Please take action and contact your local MP, Minister Bill Shorten’s office and feedback at NDIA.

pic desc: a sad looking person in a wheelchair looking at a drumkit, and his drumsticks out of reach on the ground.

 Art and  Music Therapy changes

 The NDIS may stop payments for art and music therapy soon.

 This will start on Monday 2 December.

 Participants cannot claim 1:1 art or music therapy after this.

 The NDIS says this change is based on evidence.

 Questions for the NDIS

 People want the NDIS and DSS to explain:

 The evidence used for this decision

 The process to make this decision

 Evidence advisory group

 DSS does not have an evidence advisory group yet.

 This group will not start until July 2025.

 Response from professional groups

 Art and music therapy groups are upset about this decision.

 They say the change was sudden and unfair.

 Therapists may lose their jobs because of this change.

 Thousands of participants may lose therapy support next week.

 Hard words glossary

 Art therapy: A way to improve wellbeing by making art.

 Music therapy: A way to improve wellbeing by making or listening to music.

 Evidence: Proof or information used to make decisions.

 Process: The steps taken to do something.

Communications from the peak bodies:

Dear ANZACATA Member,

ANZACATA has been hearing rumours about the future of Art Therapy on the NDIS. We have tried to get confirmation in writing from the NDIA. But at this stage we have only verbal advice that new operational guidelines for therapy supports will be in place by Monday December 2nd 2024.

Art Therapy will NOT be continued as a Therapy Support in future.

We feel it is vital that members who work with NDIS participants know about the upcoming changes now as this seriously affects your professional work. This is what the NDIA has told us:

1. If Art Therapy is a stated support in a current plan, it will remain funded until the plan is reviewed. Art Therapy will NOT be funded after the plan ends.

2. If you provide Art Therapy to participants but not as a stated support, funding for this will cease effective in one week’s time.

3. Invoices for work carried out to Dec 2nd will be honoured, but no invoices processed after that date will be honoured.

4. Members must invoice immediately for any therapy supports completed by this week in order to be paid.

5. This will be true for Art Therapy (0128) and also for those who invoice under Other Therapy.

“Stated support” means funding has been allocated for a specific support or service, and you can’t use this funding for something else. You cannot swap ‘stated supports’ for any other supports.

ANZACATA is shocked and dismayed at the lack of transparency, poor process and lack of fairness in this change and the lack of communication in a timely manner. We were not consulted; we do not know the reasons for the decision; we found out by requesting (again and again) clarification about what we have been hearing; we have nothing in writing to explain why after more than a decade, Art Therapy is to be excluded from the NDIS.

We plan to put into effect a campaign regarding this decision of the NDIA.

But for now the advice is that in one week’s time, Art Therapy will not be funded (unless it is a stated support in a current plan). We have been told that we may be able to offer support under “social and community participation” in future where hourly rates are lower and providers do not have your skills and qualifications.

We know this will be devastating news for affected members and we urge you to reach out for support as you absorb the enormity of the decision taken by the NDIA. You can find support at mhaustralia.org.

We will contact all members working with NDIS participants in the next few days to seek examples of participants and families who will suffer as a result of this appalling decision and who are prepared to speak to the media.

You may want to express your deep concern for the impact on your clients to your local member of Parliament, the CEO of the NDIS or the Chair of the Board of the NDIA.

Kind regards,

Helen Killmier

ANZACATA Board Chairperson

What is a conflict of interest with NDIS supports and services?

Have you got a support worker brief?

NEW: Good tool from the NDIS Commission (FREE TO READ)

PLEASE SHARE.

The NDIS commission has made information about providers who have been in trouble for bad work easier to find.

This can help you make safer and better choices.

https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/enforcement-action-search

How to check providers or workers

You can check the history of providers or workers.

This helps you make a good decision.

You can see if the Commission has decided that they have broken any rules.

The search shows their past and current actions.

What the search includes

• It looks for a person, sole trader or business or trading name.

• You can part of a name to find spelling differences.

• For workers, search by first name or last name.

• If you find no results, and have the name right, then they have no actions listed.

Important to know

If a provider is not listed, it does not mean they are good. It might just mean they are not caught yet.

You should also check other things.

Check their business insurance and ask for referees.

For allied health workers, check their registration with their professional body

Pic desc: a screenshot of the search tool showing that The Growing Space has no actions listed.

STA FAQ’s published today with BIG changes (FREE TO READ)

(Scroll down the page for an easier to read version).

Is Short Term Accommodation (STA) an NDIS support? (New)

Yes, short term accommodation (STA) is included in the ‘supports that are NDIS supports’ list.

How does STA work? (New)

STA is designed to help informal supports continue their caring role. It is one option that provides participants and their informal supports time apart.

STA allows participants to stay away from their homes and informal supports for a short time. It can be funded for up to 14 days at a time to a maximum of 28 days per calendar year.

STA funding can be used for assistance with self-care or community access and short-term accommodation. It cannot be used to pay for day-to-day living costs such as food and groceries, lifestyle costs or travel.

STA cannot be used to pay for items on the list of non-NDIS supports.

Providers offering STA in a centre or group residence may include meals and activities within the daily rate charged – in line with the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits – however these cannot be included if the participant choses to use STA in an individual setting.

We know there are still some questions about what can be claimed under STA, particularly if you want to use a hotel or other accommodation options. A new operational guideline about STA will be available in December 2024 with more information.

How is STA funded? (New)

STA is funded in a participant’s core budget if it relates to their disability support needs, and where it is reasonable and necessary.

It does not need to be stated in a participant’s plan.

Participants can access STA as part of the ‘assistance with daily life tasks in a group or shared living arrangement’ category on the NDIS supports list.

The NDIS funds standard rates for STA, which are available in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits.

Generally funding for STA is for a group price, unless there is evidence that a participant needs individual support.

STA cannot be used to pay for items on the list of non-NDIS supports.

Does STA cover the cost of transport? (New)

Participants cannot use STA funding to pay for transport to the accommodation funded through STA.

If a participant wants to access STA supports far away from their usual home, the cost of the travel is a day-to-day living cost they are expected to pay for separately. Participants should consider this when choosing an STA option that is right for them. Some participants may have funding for transport to an activity or other support already in their plan. If a participant usually needs transport support because of their disability, their provider may include the cost of transport from the accommodation to activities they provide.

Can STA be used for holidays? (New)

No. STA is not for holidays or tourist travel. It is designed to provide participants and their informal supports time apart.

STA cannot be used to pay for items on the list of non-NDIS supports.

NDIS funding can’t be used to pay for:

cruises, holiday packages, holiday accommodation and airfares, passports, visas, or travel and vehicle insurance, accommodation or travel expenses for family members or support workers, theme parks, music, theatre, cinema, sporting events, and conferences, day-to-day living costs such as food or meals. In some cases, your provider may include meals as part of your STA in a centre or group setting. The NDIS funds standard rates for STA, so you may need to negotiate these costs with your provider. Once you have used your STA funding, you can’t ask us for more. You can find the rates in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits.

If a participant requires support while on holiday, they can continue to use their usual non-STA supports from their NDIS plan.

Participants should speak with their support coordinator, local area coordinator, early childhood partner or planner if they are going on a holiday and need their NDIS supports delivered in another location.

Is STA available for participants in Supported Independent Living or living alone? (New)

No. This is because if a participant is living alone or in a supported independent living arrangement, they already have time apart from family and informal supports.

Easier to read version:

 What is Short Term Accommodation (STA)?

• STA is a type of NDIS support.

• STA lets participants stay away from home for a short time.

• STA helps informal carers have a break.

 How does STA work?

• STA funding is for up to 14 days at a time.

• Participants can use STA for a maximum of 28 days per year.

• STA can help with:

o  Self-care

o  Community access

o  Short-term accommodation

 What STA cannot pay for

STA funding cannot pay for:

•  Food and groceries

•  Transport or travel

•  Holidays or holiday activities

•  Non-NDIS items (see the list of non-NDIS supports)

 What does STA include?

• If STA is in a group setting, the price may also include:

o  Meals

o  Activities

• If STA is in a private setting, these extras cannot be included.

 How is STA funded?

• STA funding comes from the “core budget” part of your plan.

• It must meet your disability support needs.

• STA funding does not have to be written in your NDIS plan.

• STA is usually for group rates, unless you need individual support.

 Can STA pay for transport?

• STA funding does not pay for travel to STA accommodation.

• Travel costs are day-to-day living costs.

• You can claim transport from STA to activities if is usually needed because of your disability.

 Can STA be used for holidays?

• STA is not for holidays or trips.

• You cannot use STA for:

o  Cruises

o  Holiday accommodation

o  Airfares

o  Theme parks or events

• If you need support on a holiday, you can use your regular supports, not STA.

 Can STA be used if you live alone?

• STA is not for participants in supported independent living (SIL).

• STA is not for participants who live alone.

 Summary

• STA is an NDIS support for short stays.

• STA gives participants and carers a break.

• STA does not pay for holidays, food, or transport.

 Hard words glossary

•  short term accommodation (STA): A short stay away from your home.

•  self-care: Help with daily tasks like showering or dressing.

•  community access: Support to do activities outside your home.

•  supported independent living (SIL): Housing support for people with disabilities.

•  non-NDIS supports: Items or services the NDIS does not pay for.

pic desc: a coloured cartoon image of a person wearing glasses and hawaiian tourist gear sipping a cocktail looking out over the sunset with a cruiseship in the ocean background

What is a Service-for-One?

Invoices, Receipts, and EFTPOS Dockets: What You Need When You’re Self-Managing!

Misuse and Fraud are very different things.