Friends, Family & Carers Forum

[Shaz51]

Does the NDIS support if you're trying to manage 'daily activities' as best you can, but need assistance with guidance, contacts & strategies in relation to motivation & seeing the 'forest for the trees' in respect to decisions which when well are routine, but when unwell are overwhelming.

NO they Don`t @Lisa_M

we have tried

[Ben_BreakThru]

The plan is something that can 'frame' your supports when you look for providers. However, it won't contain everything, and it is designed to have a little flexibility so that you as the participant have choice and control about who provides your support and how. A good provider will partner with you to 'bring your plan to life'.

[Ben_BreakThru]

Hi @Shaz51

We've had mixed results as well! particularly early on. There is a greater understanding though of how good support coordination can support 'early intervention' to prevent someone from experiencing ill-health. Like I said though, it can depend on the planner...

[Shaz51]

Hi @Ben_BreakThru , I agree

[mindfullyhere]

the support coordinator, is that a role just for the participant? In my personal circumstance there is 4 out of 5 family members eligible to be ndis participants. each with different disabilities and needs. there doesn't seem to be a point to have four support coordinators, is there an option to have a single family support coordinator? If that was possible, would this mean having less qualified coordination of support as they'd be more a jack-of-all-trades and not a specialized?

[Ben_BreakThru]

@Shaz51 Hi Shaz, sounds like a negative experience! Have you looked at appealing the decision if you are unhappy with it?

[Ben_BreakThru]

Thanks @mindfullyhere

Yes the support coordination role is connected to a persons plan. However, we have delivered support coordination for a 'family unit' in the Hunter, so planners are certainly open to having this family unit approach. Support coordination can be funded intially as a 'specialised Support Coordination' in the plan. However, even if it is not, a participant and provider can use supports flexibly so they can use the specialised support when needed for limited periods of time. We have used specialised support coordination in times of crisis for example.

[Shaz51]

Hello @Ben_BreakThru

 Have you looked at appealing the decision if you are unhappy with it?

No, but what I have done , is updating our situations regularly , showing that our income has decrease greatly , put in  other forms , have spoken to NDIS regularly

and we are a step closer as we have low income health care cards -- but it is slow going

[Ben_BreakThru]

Sunds like you are being proactive and that is great @Shaz51!

If you were interested in appealing, we have found an informal appeal can work sometimes (in some instances when a participant has come to us with an 'undercooked' plan we were able to engage the planner directly and put a case together around increasing supports. We always emphasise that supports will be used to increase capacity). 

There is also an appeals proces on the NDIS website.

[Shaz51]

Hi @Ben_BreakThru

If you were interested in appealing -- very interested

the last person I spoke to at NDIS said it would be better if we gave up our self-employed business