ndis
keep calm and carry on
The road to the NDIS can be a long
and rocky one according to New
South Wales-based Bruce Mumford.
Bruce, who uses a wheelchair and
requires a high level of care to stay
at home, is a former English History
and Drama teacher who had to
contacts. Using Facebook and other
Internet contacts was a useful way
of getting in touch with a reporter
from a national broadcaster who
was interested in the difficulties
of getting signed up for an NDIS
plan. I also found my local MP very
Bruce and his wife Louise.
retire in 1997 due to multiple concerned and helpful. navigating the NDIS, based on his Consider everything – be because this site is notorious for
aware that if you use subsidised not allowing you to connect.
sclerosis. Here he shares his tips for
experiences to date.
through the MyGov website,
community transport when you
Plan early – make sure you have transition to the NDIS you will Be prepared for the run-around – if
an agency representative or NDIS no longer be able to obtain the like me, you had been receiving
support worker available to help subsidy and will pay for private taxi a mobility allowance you might
work out your plan. I am university fares for all trips. No taxi vouchers expect to get a bill from Centrelink
educated and a former teacher and are able to be used. This should asking you to repay the amount
I still made a complete mess of be factored into your plan funding. they had paid you mistakenly
trying to follow the NDIS guidelines. Also be aware that you will no before your plan started. On
I recommend an accountant or longer receive any government ringing Centrelink you will be told
adviser experienced with the NDIS. funding for continence equipment to ring the NDIS as only they can
I have found invaluable help from and you must build the yearly cost change the date that has been
advisers at my local care agency, of this into your plan. Also be aware arranged. On ringing the NDIS you
who seemed to understand the that if you are using Enable (or will be told to pay the bill, and they
NDIS even better than the NDIS other state government) supports, will then reimburse you.
workers themselves. you will no longer receive any subsidy or support from them and Review the plan – you are entitled Don’t go solo – I myself wouldn’t
again you must factor these costs recommend running your own
to review the plan before you agree into your plan. plan unless you have considerable
to it. However, this was certainly not
accounting skills, plenty of time for
my experience as I was simply sent Travel time – also be aware that paperwork and are up-to-date with
a letter giving me the dollar amount if you are receiving services from all of the pitfalls mentioned above.
as a fact. It was actually one-third an agency, you must also factor of what I calculated I needed. If you in 20 minutes travel time for each Be ready for change – I was recently
have a disagreement with the plan service. You must include this in told that because I am now on
make sure you contact the number to your requests for plan funding the NDIS I am no longer eligible
on the NDIS letter straightaway. To (otherwise what you think might be for free public hospital services
be honest, I did this and it took me a 30 minute lunch service will end such as occupational therapy
many weeks. In the end the NDIA up being 10 minutes!). and physiotherapy. I now have to
employ a private therapist at my
offered me the same amount again.
16
Keep hard copies – make sure you get own expense – which is yet another
Work your contacts – much more hard copies of all documents once cost which must be built into your
effective are media and political you are in the NDIS and connected funding plan.
ndis
linkonline.com.au