NDIS

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides support to Australians with physical, mental, and psychosocial disabilities, as well as to their families and carers. Serving as a nationwide initiative, the NDIS aims to ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to the necessary assistance to effectively manage their daily lives and to actively engage in social and economic activities within their communities.

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is an independent statutory agency established to implement the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

To become an NDIS participant a person must:

• have an impairment or condition that is likely to be permanent (ie. it is likely to be lifelong)
• be aged less than 65 when they first apply to enter the NDIS;
• must live in Australia; and
• be an Australian citizen or hold a permanent visa or Protected Special Category visa.

People can also access the NDIS for early intervention, and a specific Early Childhood Early Intervention approach has been developed for children aged 0 to 9 years.

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GPs have an important role in the health care and lives of people with disability and their families/carers, and their professional relationship and partnership with patients. In relation to NDIS, GPs assist in completing specific sections of documentation required by NDIA to prove eligibility and enable a person to complete the access process.

GPs can also play a role in helping identify patients who are not currently receiving disability support but who might be eligible for the NDIS, and referring them to NDIS 1800 800 110 number or www.ndis.gov.au to check eligibility and access.

GPs are considered a treating health professional and therefore authorised to complete NDIA paperwork required to meet evidence requirements. GPs may also need to increase awareness of the NDIS, where they can find out more information or who can help them access the NDIS.

People with a disability may need to provide evidence of their disability which includes information on:

• what their disability is;
• how long it will last; and
• the functional impact on their life.

GPs may need to:

• Complete the NDIS Supporting Evidence Form, or sections of the Access Request Form
• Document that a person has or is likely to have a permanent disability
• Provide copies of reports or assessments relevant to the diagnosis that outline the functional impact of the disability.