NDIS

The NDIS provides funding to assist you to achieve your desired goals & aspirations with complete choice and control

understanding THE NDIS

Helping you understand the NDIS

The NDIS can provide all people with disability with information and connections to services in their communities such as doctors, sporting clubs, support groups, activities, therapists, libraries and schools to assist them to achieve their plan goals.

WHAT DOES THE NDIS MEAN

NATIONAL

The NDIS is being introduced progressively across all states and territories.

DISABILITY

The NDIS provides support to eligible people with intellectual, physical, sensory, cognitive and psychosocial disability. Early intervention supports can also be provided for eligible people with disability or children with developmental delay.

INSURANCE

The NDIS gives all Australians peace of mind if they, their child or loved one is born with or acquires a permanent and significant disability; they will get the support they need.

SCHEME

The NDIS is not a welfare system. The NDIS is designed to help people get the support they need so their skills and independence improve over time.

HOW DO I FIND OUT IF I’M ELIGBLE

  • To be eligible, you must be an Australian citizen, younger than 65 years old, need support because of your disability and live in an area where the NDIS has started.
  • For more information, go to Applying to access the NDIS.

How does the NDIS work?

  • It is Australia’s first national scheme for people with a disability. It provides funding directly to individuals so they can access the supports they need.

PLANNING & APPLYING FOR THE NDIS

Support to help you with your NDIS planning

OC Connections is a registered NDIS provider. We provide a number of NDIS supports including support coordination, in-home support, shared independent living (SIL), daily personal support, recreational activities, pathways to employment, supported employment, learning and skill development.

download our ndis planning guide

FAQs

Read More FAQ’s

prepare for your ndis review

Support to help you prepare for your NDIS plan review meeting

To ensure you are ready for your NDIS planning meeting. Download and complete our free guide.

download our ndis planning review guide

Preparing for NDIS Review in 4 Easy Steps

1

Get in touch with your Support Coordinator to organise a meeting

2

Download our Planning Review Guide

3

Together we can discuss your current plan, & highlight what is working well & what could be improved. If we need to adjust your goals we can also look at this.

4

Use our Planning Review Guide checklists to help gather any additional information or documents to prepare for your meeting.

5

Ready for your NDIS Plan Review Meeting!

things to consider before your plan review meeting

YOUR LIFE NOW

  • Which supports and services are working well?
  • Which supports and services are not going so well?
  • Are there any supports and services in your plan that you are not yet receiving?
  • If so why, What are the barriers?

What has changed since your last NDIS plan?

  • Informal supports, social and family connection
  • Living arrangements
  • Health and well being
  • Access to mainstream supports and services
  • Independence

Your funded services:

  • Are your current providers working well for you?
  • Are they meeting your service expectations?

Your other supports:

  • Have you built a better connection to your local community?
  • Would you like to access different community or mainstream supports?

Goals

  • Are you achieving your goals and do you have any new goals?
  • What other goals can I set?

WHY CHOOSE OC CONNECTIONS?

Why Choose OC Connections as Your NDIS Provider

At OC Connections, we are excited about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the opportunities it provides for people with disabilities.

Under the scheme, participants have greater choice and control over what services they have, what activities they can do, and who will provide these for them.

With almost 70 years’ experience in providing disability services, OC Connections is perfectly placed to be your NDIS provider of choice.

We have extensive knowledge in the areas of shared living, in-home support, supported employment and learning and skills development and support coordination. We are registered to provide NDIS services across all metropolitan regions of Melbourne.

For people starting their NDIS journey, our staff can work with you to make the transition to the new scheme as smooth as possible.

We can assist with:

Information about the NDIS and how it works

Preparing and gathering information for your discussions with National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) representatives

Information on service providers and assistance with connecting you to those offering your selected services

Information about NDIS services offered by OC Connections.

OC Connections Price Guide For NDIS Service

You can download our price guide below

Please note that from 1 July 2020 our prices for personal care and community and centre-based activities include the “Temporary Transformation Price” (TTP) which the NDIA views as a cost that providers can charge as they continue to transition to working under the NDIS.

On the price guide this is denoted by the suffix ‘TTP’ in the support item name and ‘T’ in the support item number.

MY DAYS

At OC Connections we encourage people to be involved in a wide range of activities based on their life goals and personal interests.

Learn More

MY WORK

Meaningful employment is important to us all! Inspiring work opportunities provide economic security, gives us a sense of identity and belonging and encourages social interactions

Learn More

MY HOME

A home is so much more than four walls. At OC Connections we understand that ‘home’ means somewhere safe, a place to truly be yourself, where your individual lifestyle choices are paramount.

Learn More

MY SUPPORT COORDINATION

We will meet with you to discuss your goals and how we can work together to implement your NDIS plan.

Learn More

OUR LATEST NDIS NEWS

Read the latest NDIS news at OC Connections

NDIS family’s success story

Parents of OC Connections (OCC) participant Cal made the most of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) by conducting research and speaking to their peers. Cal’s parents’ learnings have ultimately helped them to set up a plan for their son which has enabled him to participate more fully in his community, learn new skills and […]

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Preparing for your NDIS Review

As you may know, the NDIS will review your Plan every 12 or 24 months, or earlier if there is a significant change in your circumstances and you have made a request for a review. OC Connections is committed to helping you ensure that you are ready for your next review meeting. At our recent […]

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NDIS Community Forum

The Hon. Bill Shorten MP, the Shadow Minister for National Disability Insurance Scheme, and Clare O’Neil MP, the Federal Member for Hotham, would like you to join them at this important community forum on the NDIS. WHEN: Wednesday 13 November, 2019 10.30am to 12.00pm WHERE: Mulgrave Community Centre, 355 Wellington Road, Mulgrave Find out more […]

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ENQUIRE NOW

All NDIS related enquiries please complete the form below:

NDIS FAQ HUB

OC Connections have answered a range of frequently asked questions regarding the NDIS. Please select a category below or use the search feature.

  • What type of support does the NDIS fund?


    The types of supports that the NDIS may fund for participants include:

    • daily personal activities
    • transport to enable participation in community, social, economic and daily life activities
    • workplace help to allow a participant to successfully get or keep employment in the open or supported labour market
    • therapeutic supports including behaviour support
    • help with household tasks to allow the participant to maintain their home environment
    • help to a participant by skilled personnel in aids or equipment assessment, set up and training
    • home modification design and construction
    • mobility equipment, and
    • vehicle modifications.

    Find more information on types of funded supports

     

  • Is OC Connections a registered NDIS Provider?

    Yes. We meet all quality requirements under the National Standards for Disability Services and Department of Human Services Standards.

  • How do you qualify for NDIS funding?

    You need to check your eligibility for NDIS funding – you can find out more here:  https://www.ndis.gov.au/applying-access-ndis/am-i-eligible

  • What can you spend NDIS funding on?

    The NDIS can help pay support funding for individuals based on their needs, including daily personal activities, transport and mobility (such as wheelchairs), access to work and education, household tasks, home and vehicle modifications and therapeutic support.

  • What will the NDIS fund?

    The NDIS can help pay support funding for individuals based on their needs, including daily personal activities, transport and mobility (such as wheelchairs), access to work and education, household tasks, home and vehicle modifications and therapeutic support

  • Who manages my NDIS Funding?

    If you appoint a plan manager they will look after the financial and administrative elements of the plan for you. The NDIA will pay your plan manager who will then pay your providers for you. You can choose to have NDIA manage your plan or you can choose to manage your Plan yourself. Talk to your planner at your planning meeting about what will be best for you.

  • Can my family be included in the NDIS process?

    Yes, you are able to bring a support person to your planning sessions.

     

  • How do I apply for NDIS funding?
    • To join the NDIS you need to meet access requirements

    This includes the Scheme being available in your area, your age, your residency status and the nature of your disability.  You can find out more here:  https://www.ndis.gov.au/applying-access-ndis

     

  • Is OC Connections quality accredited?

    Yes. We meet all quality requirements under the National Standards for Disability Services and Department of Human Services Standards.

  • What is an NDIS Plan?
    • If you get access to the NDIS you will talk with an NDIA person about your goals and write down the list of things you need to help you reach them. The NDIA will use the information about your existing supports to develop your plan. An NDIA person will help you consider any gaps in your current supports and how they link to your goals.

    Your plan will identify the ‘reasonable and necessary’ supports you need and identify supports to help you achieve your goals. 

    Once written, your NDIS plan will provide you with:
      • A description of the services you can get
      • The funding amounts you will get for these services
      • Choice and Control to select organisations, workers or equipment to spend your funding on.

    You choose who will support you; your plan does not dictate this.

    Video on NDIS Planning:  https://youtu.be/rRe39j_s9Bg

  • What happens at an NDIS planning meeting?

    To get ready for your planning meeting, think about your immediate support needs and your current and future goals. 
    Watch the video to find out more https://youtu.be/ys-jVwjuTHY

  • How can I view my NDIS Plan?

    Your plan will be available on the NDIS myplace portal about 24 hours after it has been approved. You will also receive a printed copy of your plan either in person or in the mail in your preferred format or language. During your planning conversation you can request a copy of your plan printed in a variety of accessible formats, read more about Your plan in other formats.

  • What is myplace?

    myplace is a secure website portal on the Australian Government’s myGov website where you or a person you trust (a nominee or child representative) can access your NDIS information

  • What can you do on myplace?
    • See your current plan and previous plans.
    • Check your contact details.
    • See messages from the NDIS.
    • Create and view payment requests.
    • Create and manage service bookings.
    • Upload documents, including assessments or service agreements.
    • Share your plan, or parts of your plan, with your service providers.
    • Find service providers.

    Find more information and the step-by-step guide for using the myplace participant portal

  • Can I change my NDIS plan?
    • Change in circumstances

    If your personal circumstances change significantly and this affects the supports you need from the NDIS, you can request a plan review at any time by completing the change of circumstances form.

    Find out more about change in circumstances.

  • Can a family member or friend come with me to my planning meeting?
    • Yes, you are able to bring a support person to your planning sessions.

     

  • How do I prepare for the NDIS review?

    You may need to provide assessments or reports from some of your service providers for your plan review meeting. This is to show how your supports and services are helping you achieve your goals.

    These reports can also make recommendations for supports and services you might need in the future. Your ECEI Coordinator, LAC or the NDIA will discuss this with you.

    Video on planning your review: https://youtu.be/EJcABWYvk2w

    Tips for preparing for your plan review

    In the lead up to your plan review think about:

    • What worked well in your plan
    • What didn’t work well
    • Have you achieved your goals or made progress towards achieving them
    • Which goals you need to continue to work on and which goals you need to change
    • Who can help you achieve your goals
    • Will you need NDIS support in the future
    • Would you like to change how all or some of your plan funding is managed.

    You do not need to pick new goals at each plan review but your plan, supports and services should be helping you make progress, achieve new things and eventually, achieve your long-term goals.

    Find out what to expect in your plan review meeting

     

  • Does NDIS cover long term accommodation?
    • Yes in home support services are available through NDIS for people living in Specialist Disability Accommodation and people living in their own or their families home.