Q&A Info Session // Ask your NDIS questions here! // Mon 10 - Fri 14 July

[NikNik]

Introducing the new ‘Q&A Info Session'!

From Monday, 10 July – Friday, 14 July we are opening the floor to you to ask whatever you want about NDIS  

Starting the second Monday of each month, we will have a special guest answer your questions and provide information about a particular topic.

For the first few months we will focus on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). This session will be run in collaboration with Mental Illness Fellowship Queensland (MIFQ), the Local Area Coordination (LAC) and the NDIA, ensuring the information that is provided to you is helpful and accurate.

Carers Queensland is partnering with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to deliver the Local Area Coordinator Partners in the Community Program in the Toowoomba area, working to ensure more people live fulfilling and connected lives. Carers Queensland is assisting us this week to help answer your NDIS questions. There are LACs all around the country, in all regional areas (for more info click here).

They will get to know your loved one, what’s important to them and help connect them with services to support then to have the life you want. A different LAC will assist us each week we do the NDIS forums. That way we can all help them better understand the needs and concerns of carers.

A quick and important FYI!! 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 /a loved one to live daily life and achieve goals, including greater social and economic participation.

NDIS is not income support. NDIA requires consent to access Centrelink records to confirm age and residential information. A loved one does 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. LAC, NDIA, NDIS, IFP…….

What do all these acronyms mean!!!!??? Here is a link to an easy English and full glossary of terms! https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/easy-read-word-list.html

Responses will take around 24 hours, so be sure to keep checking in!

Two things you can do now

1. Hit the 'Like' button below to get an email reminder one the first day of the session

2. Read up on the basics of the NDIS:

https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/what-ndis.html

Accessing the NDIS

About the NDIS 

Reasonable and Necessary Supports 

Legislation and the NDIS Act

What is and what does an LAC do? 

[Former-Member]

Hi Eveyone, 

My name is JazzHands, and I'm here as a moderator to assist the NDIS communicate with members of the forums. 

If you have a question please ask! I can assist with information, linking and understanding the NDIS. Specific questions can then be forwarded to the NDIS and they will respond in about 24 hours.

I have experience caring for my mother who has lived with Bipolar disorder for many years. I understand how difficult it is navigating existing support pathways - and as such am very excited about the NDIS! 

Looking forward to hearing from you, 

[NikNik]

Hi @coffeegirl and @Determined

Just letting you know that the Forum is now open for question until this Friday - so feel free to ask away!

Nik

[Former-Member]

Hi wonderful carers, 

I thought the NDIS would be a hot topic!!

If you have any questions please dont hesitate to ask.

We are halfway through our Q and A week, so get in touch if you would like any information!

Cheers, 

[Former-Member]

Hello @Former-Member

thank you for the opportunity to ask questions.

I note that this involves Queensland division only.

would the answers vary dependent on which state we live in?

[patientpatient]

Hi @Former-Member, thanks for the opportunity to ask questions. I've seen the general information about NDIS but don't understand how it actually works in practice. Could you please provide some specific examples how NDIS would be of benefit for a person who has a mental illness like Schizophrenia.

Would someone with Schizophrenia qualify for NDIS? How does NDIS benefit that person? How does it actually help the person's carer?  

[Former-Member]

Yes @Former-Member @patientpatient

The questions asked are relevant to my situation and my son also. That is if he ever comes to terms with his diagnosis.  

Another question is if the caree does not seek help as in denial of diagnosis, are there any services, resources available for a carer classified as such by carers Australia?

thank you.

[Former-Member]

Hi @Former-Member

These are all relevant for all states. MIFQ just helps facilitate/moderate SANE forums. 

The NDIS is a national service. It is rolling out across different areas across each state, with all of Australia going live by 2020.

Hope this helps!

[Former-Member]

Hi @patientpatient

Thanks for your question. The NDIS says that they are 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

So the main thing is that you can apply for supports:

• CORE – A support that enables a participant to complete activities of daily living and enables them to work towards their goals and meet their objectives.
• CAPITAL – An investment, such as assistive technologies, equipment and home or vehicle modifications, funding for capital costs (e.g. to pay for Specialist Disability Accommodation).
• CAPACITY BUILDING - A support that enables a participant to build their independence and skills

There are two great videos that show how this is working for people living with mental illness on the NDIS TV channel on You Tube - here are the links. They offer a good example of people accessing the NDIS in a tailored way according to their individual needs. Every person eligible gets a tailored plan. 

 https://youtu.be/9X-ea-O50Vg

https://youtu.be/Zrsa0H_Xv5U

Have a look around there are many videos from NDIS TV.

@patientpatient @Former-Member

The NDIS does not directly fund carer supports, but their ideal is that by people living with disability and mental illness getting the right, consistent and reliable supports in their life - by default this relieves some of the enormous amount of supports/coordination that carers do.  I have seem peoples plans that identify a goal as having their mum be their mum, not just their carer (for example).  It not about taking away the relationship but supporting a healthy positive one.

There is definitely still support available to carers from

Carers Australia: www.carersaustralia.com.au/

CRCC: www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers/programmes-services/for-carers/commonwealth-respite-and-carelink-centres

Mental Health Carers: www.mentalhealthcarersaustralia.org.au/

Hope that makes sense,