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20 ParaQuad News • Issue 1 Autumn 2016
e are drawing
very close to the
end of the NSW
NDIS Trial here in
the Hunter region with only four
months remaining of the three year
trial. Whilst there are now only a
few months left of the Trial, the
NDIA are trialling and monitoring
the outcomes of a number of new
initiatives, including the introduction
of two year Plan cycles for a number
of new Participants entering into the
trial site as well as Participants who
are having plan reviews conducted.
This new process is primarily being
trialled with Participants who have
a relatively lower level of funded
supports and/or have undergone
a Plan review with evidence
demonstrating that their level of
funded supports were appropriately
funded and financially stable in their
usage. This being said, the NDIA will
conduct a review of a Participant’s
Plan at any point in their Plan cycle
if there is a significant change of
circumstance in a Participant’s
personal situation. The NDIA report
that it is not known yet whether two
year Plans will be fully implemented
within the NSW Scheme rollout but
may be offered to Participants who
are considered appropriate to offer
this to.
As mentioned in the last edition
of ParaQuad News, the big news
to report is the NDIA have released
the roadmap for the implementation
of the NDIS rollout, starting July 1
2016 throughout a large number of
regions in NSW. To find out when
the NDIS will be rolling out in your
region, go to the home page of the
NDIS NSW website or contact us for
further details on when the NDIS will
be available to you.
Most individuals with a disability
who are currently receiving NSW
State funding for supports and
services may have already received
a letter informing them of their
automatic eligibility to become
an NDIS Participant. The State
Government has done this to
provide surety of access to the NDIS
for those who are already receiving
funded supports. Another reason
this has been done is to encourage
and empower people to start
learning and understanding what the
NDIS will mean for them.
As I have previously written on a
number of occasions since the NDIS
Trial was first implemented in 2013,
it is extremely beneficial for future
Participants and families to empower
themselves with understanding
and knowledge of what the NDIS
will mean for them, which in turn
provides the best possible outcome
in their Plan of Supports. There are a
number of avenues by which people
can start this journey:
• Accessing information and
regular updates on the NDIS
NSW website
• Attending ongoing general
information and pre-planning
workshops the NDIA are
conducting across rollout regions
• Contacting the NDIA to request
information and guidance
• Talking to your current support
providers
• Attend information workshops
that a number of non government
organisations conduct, including
a roadshow that ‘Every Australian
Counts’ recently announced.
I am greatly encouraged to
witness numerous people who will
be entering the July 2016 rollout
reaching out to ParaQuad NSW,
drawing upon our considerable
experience to date and actively
seeking information and support,
with one future Participant stating:
“Many thanks for the time you
spent with me answering all my
numerous questions that I had
regarding what support I may be
able to receive as a Participant in the
NDIS. You have significantly helped
me understand what may or may not
be funded for my personal situation.
I feel for the first time that I am much
more prepared with the support and
information that you have provided
me and my family. We have been
keeping watch on what has been
happening and attending as many
information sessions that have been
conducted in our region as we can,
but your help has really provided a
valuable and more personal insight
into the NDIS”.
My message is: you don’t have to
do this alone, reach out and seek
advice and support!
NDIS Update
By Grant Roulstone, ParaQuad NDIS Program Manager, Northern
W
To find out when the NDIS will be rolling out in your region,
go to the home page of the NDIS NSW website or contact us
for further details on when the NDIS will be available to you
Contact
Grant Roulstone on
(02) 4969 6388 or