3 Tips for Preparing Your NDIS Application

Applying for your NDIS package is a daunting task, especially if you’ve never had reason to be in contact with social care systems like the NDIS before. In this blog post, I’m going to share with you a few tips to help you put together a strong application for NDIS funding. 

RESEARCH

Its important to be thorough in explaining how your diagnosis impacts you. Its great (and neccessary) to say that you have executive dysfunction, but how does that translate to your ability to function each day? It can also be difficult to know how our conditions impact us, because it becomes our normal - and we don’t think of it as unusual unless its pointed out by someone else. 

I recommend getting on your preferred social media platform, and searching for communities of people with your condition and listening to their experiences - and see if what they have to say helps to articulate your experiences. Keep a list, save the links - it will come in handy for your current and future service providers.

Neurodivergence has a strong presence on TikTok, and can be a good place to start with researching.

ENLIST A TEAM

You’ll need to supply evidence of your disability to the NDIS as part of the application process. This means you’ll need a team of people to write reports and complete forms on your behalf that support and demonstrate your disability. You’ll these to come from practitioners like a:

• Clinical Psychologist 

• Psychiatrist

• Physiotherapist

• Occupational Therapist 

• General Practitioner

• Speech Pathologist 

• Other treating specialists you see 

Another excellent person to enrol onto your team, is a Disability Advocate. An advocate may be able to help with coordinating the evidence from your current providers, and compiling all your information into the strongest application possible. You can connect with advocates through your local community health organisation. 

DREAM BIG

Once your application has been accepted and approved, you’ll be asked to attend a pre-planning meeting with your Local Area Coordinator (LAC). This is a meeting to talk about what kinds of supports you want and need, so it’s a good idea to into this meeting having clear ideas about what you want and need from your funding. I recommend taking time to dream about what you want your life to look like,and how you want to be supported - and to think about all areas of your life such as your:

• Physical wellbeing

• Mental health 

• Romantic/dating life

• Role as a family member/parent

• Career and employment

• Education

• Home living situation

• Personal needs, including sexual functioning and care tasks like showering

• Friendships and hobbies

• Cultural observances/practices

• Faith based activities/practices

Of course, there are more things to consider than what I’ve listed here but this should give you good start. 

My philosophy when preparing an NDIS plan, is to always ask for the moon. In other words, to dream big and ask for everything - its unlikely everything will be funded, but it gives room for compromise and negotiation. It can be helpful to talk to other people with NDIS support about their experiences, and what supports have been helpful to them. 

Remember, If you don’t ask the NDIS, the answer is always no!

Helpful Links:

You can download the Access Request and Evidence of Psychosocial Disability forms here.

Interested in working with me? Send me an email here.