What Is the NDIS?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a support program started by the Australian government to help people with significant or permanent impairment lead independent lives. This program was legislated in 2013 and went into full operation in the year 2020. It aims to make independent living possible for everyone and help its participants meet their goals. NDIS provides its participants with funds to get the necessary support that has been added to their NDIS plan. If you are new to NDIS, you might wonder what an NDIS plan is.
What Is An NDIS Plan?
Well, once you register yourself as an NDIS participant, NDIA, which is the National Disability Insurance Agency, plans a meeting with you. You need to set goals for yourself in that meeting and tell them what support you think you might need in order to reach that goal. NDIS providers are a wide range of support, including assistance with daily tasks, transport, therapy, assistive technology, etc.
You can choose from various supports and request them to add them to your plan. NDIA will then review your request, and if those supports are considered reasonable and necessary for your condition, NDIA will add them to your plan, which you can follow afterward. Remember that NDIS does not fund anything that is unrelated to your condition and does not have any part in your goal, so make sure you only request the things that will help you reach your goals and live an independent life.
There are a lot of things to understand about NDIS and the services they offer, but we are not here to discuss all of them. If you are a new NDIS participant, there is a lot for you to learn, and in this article, we are going to discuss the difference between NDIS support coordination and local area coordinators.
Local Area Coordinator
Local Area Coordinator, also known as LAC., is an NDIS partner in the community that helps you understand your NDIS plan. They assist you in choosing the service providers, planning, building, implementing, and reviewing your NDIS plan. LAC can also be your contact person.
You can talk to them if you want to ask something about your NDIS plan. LAC provides these services for free; there are no charges if you discuss your NDIS plan with your LAC provider; no NDIS funding will be spent on this support connection service. LAC providers can help you with the following things:
- They can help you access the documentation that you need for an NDIS application.
- They can get you access to support available in your community.
- They can answer your questions regarding NDIS.
- Once you get registered under NDIS, they can start the services in your plan.
- Teach you how to use the myplace portal.
Support Coordinator
NDIS support coordination is a service that you need to get approved from NDIS. If you think you have more complex needs and you might require support coordination, you will have to request the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to add this to your plan. The job of the support coordinator is to coordinate the services you are receiving from providers and suppliers. A support coordinator helps you with the following things:
- It helps you connect with the support.
- Assists you in understanding and implementing your NDIS plan.
- It allows you to make your own decision while it presents you with multiple options to choose from.
- It helps you to move towards your goal more efficiently.
- Assists you in preparing for the plan review meeting
You might have heard about the two of these coordinations but understanding the difference between them is essential. Simply put, local area coordinators are an easy choice for someone who does not have any complex needs, but if a participant needs constant support and assistance, it is better to choose NDIS support coordination.
Looking For Help?
If you are looking for an NDIS provider in Australia, reach out to Personalised Support Services.
They are registered service providers who have a good amount of experience under their belt and an experienced team to rely on; their support workers are dedicated and compassionate towards their participants and make sure that they only receive