NDIS Guides for Physicians and Paediatricians

The rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) across Australia will change the disability interface with existing sectors, including health. The RACP's NDIS Guides are a resource for physicians, paediatricians and other health professionals to access practical information that can help them navigate the scheme, and support their patients.

Introduction

The RACP has developed the NDIS Guides for Physicians and Paediatricians to support RACP Members.

What is the National Disability Insurance Scheme?

This section provides information about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

What other services does the NDIS provide in addition to individualised funding?

This section explains the purpose of the Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) framework which is an integral part of the overall structure of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

What is the National Injury Insurance Scheme (NIIS)?

The Australian Government is currently working with States and Territories to progressively implement the smaller separate but related National Injury Insurance Scheme (NIIS).

What is the role of the National Disability Insurance Agency?

This section outlines the key functions of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

What does the National Disability Insurance Scheme provide?

The NDIS will provide for reasonable and necessary supports. The definition of reasonable and necessary supports is outlined below. The NDIS is not responsible for provision of income to participants.

What are the NDIS eligibility requirements?

This section covers current eligibility rules and guidance from the NDIS, the meaning of ‘impairment’ in an NDIS context, qualifying medical conditions, and other useful information about eligibility.

What classifications are used by the NDIA to understand disability, functioning and impairment?

This section provides an overview of disability demographics and trends in Australia and outlines the key policy instrument used by the NDIA to understand functioning and impairment as it relates to a person’s disability.

What does a participant’s planning process involve?

After a person has been deemed eligible for the scheme by the NDIA they become a “participant” of the NDIS.

What processes are available for complaints and to appeal decisions made by the NDIA regarding a participant?

This section provides an overview of the complaints and appeals processes associated with decisions of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

What safeguarding arrangements has the NDIA created for the NDIS?

An NDIS National Quality and Safeguarding Framework (the Framework) has been developed and was endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments in mid-December 2016.

What are the NDIS funding responsibilities versus other mainstream service systems?

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has agreed that the NDIS will fund personalised supports related to people’s disability support needs, unless those supports form part of another service.

What key international and national legislative and policy instruments influence the disability context?

The NDIS relationship with key policy instruments, data sources and the international and national legislative framework are summarised in this section.

What are the values of the NDIS?

This section will outline the values and philosophical underpinnings of the NDIS.

How does the NDIS intend to respond to demand for services and supports?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme is the largest social reform in Australia since the introduction of Medicare in the mid-1970s.

What are the NDIA’s privacy obligations?

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) operates under specific privacy obligations to respect and protect the privacy of participants of the scheme.


These guides were developed by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, and National Disability Services (NDS). NDS is Australia's peak body for non-government disability service organisations, representing more than 1100 non-government service providers. Collectively, NDS members operate several thousand services for Australians with all types of disability.

Complete NDIS Guides for Physicians and Paediatricians (PDF)

If you have any suggestions, questions, or corrections, please contact policy@racp.edu.au

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