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Western Queensland PHN - NDIS Update

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has rolled out in many areas of Western Queensland PHN region. The NDIS is the new way of providing support for Australians with disability, their families and carers, and we have put together some key information for GPs and health professionals.

The NDIS started progressively rolling out across Queensland from 1 July 2016, with full implementation expected by 30 June 2019. View the full rollout schedule here.

Eligibility

To become an NDIS participant a person must:

have a permanent disability that significantly affects their ability to take part in everyday activities, or have a developmental delay;
be aged less than 65 when they first apply to enter the NDIS;
be an Australian citizen or hold a permanent visa or Protected Special Category visa; and
live in an Australian location where the NDIS is available.

People can also access the NDIS for early intervention, and a specific Early Childhood Early Intervention approach has been developed for children aged 0 to 6 years.

The role of General Practitioners and other health professionals

General Practitioners and other health professionals may be asked to provide evidence to support a person’s request to access the NDIS. People with disability may need to provide evidence of their disability which includes information on:

what their disability is;
how long it will last; and
its impact on their life.

You may need to:

Complete the NDIS Supporting Evidence Form, or sections of the Access Request Form
Document that a person has or is likely to have a permanent disability
Provide copies of reports or assessments relevant to the diagnosis that outline the functional impact of the disability.