What Is the NDIS? 

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

• The NDIS is designed to provide all Australians under the age of 65, who have a permanent and significant disability, with the reasonable and necessary supports they need to enjoy an ordinary life.

• The NDIS is designed to help people with a 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 early to improve their outcomes later in life.

• The NDIS also provides people with disability, 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.

 

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How does my funding work?

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NDIS participant budgets can be allocated to three separate types of support purposes

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1. Core

2. Capital

3. Capacity Building

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Core: Supports that enable participants to complete activities of daily living. Participant budgets often have a lot of flexibility to choose specific supports with their core support budgets, but cannot reallocate this funding for other support purposes (i.e. capital or capacity building supports).

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Capital: An investment, such as assistive technologies – equipment, home or vehicle modifications, or for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA). Participant budgets for this support purpose are restricted to specific items identified in the participant’s plan. The NDIS publishes separate price guides for Assistive Technology and Specialist Disability Accommodation.

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Capacity building: A support that enables a participant to build their independence and skills. Participant budgets are allocated at a support category level and must be used to achieve the goals set out in the participant’s plan.

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