Lived Experience Forum

[JasJac]

@JazzHands I guess functional assessments are back on the table then.

I asked a question previously: 

Exactly what functional assessments can a credentialed mental health nurse do to form part of the access evidence? Please list ie Honos

Hi @JasJac Here is the reply from the NDIA

Exactly what functional assessments can a credentialed mental health nurse do to form part of the access evidence? 

A credentialed Mental Health Nurse can assist individuals who are attempting to gain access to the NDIS by providing a written evidence of disability/mental illness. This can be done in two ways.

The Mental Health Nurse may assist by providing a report detailing evidence of the impact that a disability/mental illness may have on their client’s everyday life. This may include history of their condition or diagnosis. This report can be attached to an access request form.

Alternatively a Mental Health Nurse may assist a professional (such as a GP, or an Occupational Therapist) to complete the evidence table in the access request form.

It seemed as though in that answer that a report would be sufficient, however in this thread functional assessments have more weight.

sorry, i don't know how to link to posts.

[JazzHands]

Hi @JasJac,

Functional assessments are really useful.  There provide really clear evidence of impariment in one document. 

However, the NDIA understand that these can be costly. So they want to ensure that there are avenues for people to submit evidence in other forms that would assist with the NDIA understanding how your condition impacts on your daily living.

Therefore, they accept a range of documents. From my understanding none is weighted more than another. 

If you already have a case manager/mental health nurse/support worker or Partners in Recovery Worker, they can all assist with helping you collect exsisting or new evidence. 

[ylianne]

I want to understand whether all my money is meant to be spent with a disability provider or if I can use some of it to access other things such as for a recreation centre membership and other educational courses

[JazzHands]

@ylianne

Hi, 

If you are eligible, funding you receive under an NDIS Plan is for three main areas

• CORE – A support that enables a participant to complete activities of daily living and enables them to work towards their goals and meet their objectives.
• CAPITAL – An investment, such as assistive technologies, equipment and home or vehicle modifications, funding for capital costs (e.g. to pay for Specialist Disability Accommodation).
• CAPACITY BUILDING - A support that enables a participant to build their independence and skills.

While it doesn't have to be used with a disability provider specifically - its really about funding supports for you to do things.

So for example, in an NDIS plan you might discuss how a recreation centre membership would be great for you to connect to the community, be more independent, but because of your disability/psychosocial disability you find it hard to stay motivated or get there on your own with out a support person.  The NDIS would likely fund a support person to help you to go, but not necessarily the membership.

The NDIS doesn't duplicate or pay for services you would expect to pay for your self, or that are paid for by existing government services like, Health, Hospital, Clinical Services, Transport or Education. 

Hope this helps, 

[ylianne]

Thanks for answering my question