What is the NDIS?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an Australian government program run by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) that provides funding to eligible people with permanent and significant disabilities to purchase support services and equipment tailored to their needs.
Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a government-funded program designed to provide support and services to Australian citizens and permanent residents with permanent and significant disability. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), a statutory authority, administers the scheme and manages participant plans and funding decisions.
The NDIS operates as an insurance model rather than a welfare program. Eligible participants receive an individualised plan that outlines the supports they need and the funding available to them. This funding can be used to purchase a range of disability support services, equipment, therapies, and community participation activities from registered providers across the disability support sector. In Perth, services and support organisations offer everything from personal care and assistance to respite care, therapy services, and employment support.
Eligibility is based on having a permanent and significant disability that substantially reduces the person's capacity for social and economic participation. Participants must also generally be under 65 years old at the time they first access the scheme. The scheme aims to give people with disability greater choice and control over the supports they receive, allowing them to direct their own care and work with providers that best meet their goals and preferences.