NDIS Frequently Asked Questions

The National Disability Insurance Scheme is called the NDIS for short. It’s the way for people with disability under the age of 65 to get the care and supports they need.

The NDIS is for people with a permanent and significant disability that affects their ability to take part in everyday activities.

If you’re eligible, you’ll work out what reasonable and necessary supports you need to live your life and achieve your goals. You’ll then receive funding to pay for these supports.

Find more information on the NDIS website.

Before the NDIS came along, disability services in Australia were a bit of a lottery.

The funding you received depended on how, when and where you acquired your disability, as well as where you lived. Some people got enough funding, some people got none. It wasn’t exactly fair.

So, after a national inquiry, the Federal Government agreed that people with disability deserved a better system. One with more choice and more control.

The NDIS was introduced in July 2013 and rolled out across Australia over several years. The rollout was completed in mid-2020.

Read more about the NDIS rollout.

The NDIA is the National Disability Insurance Agency.

It’s the government agency responsible for implementing and managing the NDIS. The NDIA makes sure people with disability continue to get the support they need.

Loads! Aruma (formerly House with No Steps and The Tipping Foundation) was one of the first service providers to deliver NDIS supports.

We’ve been providing NDIS supports since 2013. Since then, we’ve supported thousands of people with their NDIS plans across NSW, Victoria, Queensland and the ACT.

Learn more about Aruma’s history.

Eligibility for the NDIS depends on a few different things:

Age: You need to be under 65 years when you apply.

Residency: You need to be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen who holds a Protected Special Category Visa. You also need to live in Australia.

Disability: You must have a permanent disability that significantly affects how you communicate, move around, care for yourself, socialise, learn or manage your daily life.

Early intervention: You might also be eligible if early intervention would help improve your functioning, or slow down a decline in functioning, for you or your child.

For more information, visit Am I eligible.

With the NDIS, you’ll work out what reasonable and necessary supports you need to live your life and achieve your goals. You’ll then receive funding to pay for these supports.

Reasonable and necessary supports help someone with disability to:

• pursue their goals
• increase their independence
• take part in their community
• build their skills and capacity

This could include things like support at home, therapy, employment support, getting out and about in your community, assistive technology and equipment, and more.

There are three ways to manage your NDIS plan. You can pick one, or mix and match.

NDIA-managed: The NDIA pays your providers for you. You can only use registered providers.

Plan-managed: A plan manager looks after the money side for you. They pay your invoices and track your spending. You can use registered and unregistered providers.

Self-managed: You look after your own funding. This gives you more choice, but you have more to do.

Not sure which one is right for you? Your Local Area Coordinator or NDIA planner can help you decide.

Yes, you can! If you’re not happy with your disability service provider, you can switch to someone else. It’s your plan and your choice.

We’d love to chat if you’re looking for a new provider. Get in touch with us.

Absolutely! You can invite family members to be part of your planning process and every step of the way.

You might like your family involved a lot, or just a little. The choice is yours.

If you’re not eligible for NDIS funding, you may still be able to access Aruma’s services. We do accept funding from other sources on a case-by-case basis.

Give us a call on 1300 538 746 to chat about your options.

The NDIS can help pay for changes to your home so you can live more safely and independently.

This might include things like:

• Ramps and handrails
• Making your shower bigger or removing a bath
• Wider doorways
• Changes to your kitchen
• Lifting platforms or stair climbers

The NDIS only pays for changes to the home you live in most of the time. If you rent, you’ll need written permission from your landlord.

Sometimes the NDIA will suggest equipment first, like a shower stool, if it can do the job without making big changes to your home.

Learn more about home modifications on the NDIS website.

If you’re not able to use public transport because of your disability, you may be able to get NDIS funding to cover transport costs like taxis.

If you previously received funding through a taxi subsidy scheme, the NDIA will take this into account.

The NDIS doesn’t provide funding to family members or carers to transport you to everyday commitments. But it can fund supports that help you build confidence and learn how to travel or use public transport on your own.

For example, if your goal is to get your driver’s licence, the NDIS may be able to help you achieve this.

Learn more about transport funding on the NDIS website.