The NDIS in Sydney’s northern beaches: How to get funding for your child
In this second fact sheet in our NDIS series, the Kids First team explains how families in Sydney’s northern beaches can get and use NDIS funding for their child.
There are 2 pathways to the NDIS.
If your child is aged under 6, your journey will begin with an NDIS early childhood partner.
If your child is aged 7 and over, your first meeting will be with a National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) planner or an NDIS local area planner.
NDIS for children aged 0-6
If you have a very young child, you do not need to have a diagnosis of a disability to access the NDIS, however to receive NDIS funding, your child does need to be identified as being at risk of having a developmental dealy or disability.
The first step is to discuss your child’s needs and goals with an NDIS early childhood planner, who will work with you to decide on support for your child and family.
An NDIS early childhood planner will talk with you about things like:
- The support you already have in your community (family, friends, preschool, school)
- The services you are already accessing (therapies, playgroups, early intervention)
- How your child manages in these environments
- How much help you think your child needs to manage daily activities
Depending on your child’s needs, your NDIS early childhood planner might:
- Refer you to local mainstream services like community health services, playgroups or support groups
- Refer you to a local provider of early intervention, such as a speech pathologist or occupational therapist
- Recommend that your child proceeds to an individualised support plan so that intensive, individual and longer-term support can be provided through the NDIS
Your NDIS early childhood planner has experience in the NDIS and will help you to develop a plan. They can even can lodge it with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) on your behalf.
If the plan is approved, your child will start to receive NDIS funding and you’ll be in a position to choose the providers you want to work with so that you can put your child’s plan into action.
If the plan is not approved, the planner will suggest mainstream services that your child may be able to access in your local community.
NDIS for children aged over 7
If your child is 7 years of age or older, you are probably already aware of his or her diagnosis and may have some clear ideas about what you need from the NDIS.
To access the NDIS, you’ll need to meet (or speak by phone) with an NDIA planner or an NDIS local area coordination planner.
You’ll talk about your child’s needs and goals, and the planner is also likely to want to know about any support that is already in place for your child.
The planner will speak with you about the assistance your child receives from:
- Family and friends
- School
- Community activities
- Service providers such as therapists or disability specific organisations
Together, you will talk about how your child copes in these environments and what services might help your son or daughter.
This might take more than one meeting and it is possible that your child will need to be assessed by a professional to determine his or her specific requirements.
When you and your child’s NDIS professional have covered everything , you will work together to develop an individualised NDIS support plan for your child.
The NDIS professional will submit the plan to the NDIA for approval and once it is approved, your child will start to receive NDIS funding.
You will then be in a position to choose the providers you want to work with and start putting the plan into action.
NDIS at Kids First
Kids First’s highly qualified team of speech pathologists, occupational therapists, psychologists and teachers has many years’ experience supporting children with disabilities.
We’ve been accredited Helping Children with Autism providers since 2009 and Better Start for Children with Disability providers since 2011.
Kids First has been helping NDIS funded children to meet their goals since 2016.
Simply give us a call on 9938 5419 to chat about how we can help your child make the most of his or her NDIS funding.
