The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides its participants with the ability to access funding and engage the supports they feel are necessary for their circumstances. However, applying for NDIS funding can be a fraught process; and any carer applying on behalf of a child needs to know how to approach the NDIS so they can achieve solutions that are in the child’s best interests. To that end, let’s look at what steps you can take. 

What are the eligibility requirements for the NDIS?

The basic requirements for NDIS funding for anyone between the ages of 7 and 65 years of age are:

• Australian citizenship or a permanent visa holder who resides in Australia
• Are living with a permanent and significant disability
• Require specialised equipment and 
• Require supports to reduce your future needs.

If these basic criteria are met, your child should be eligible for NDIS funding. 

NDIS funding application process

Applying to become an NDIS participant begins by completing an access request form and submitting it to the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). The application can be made by: 

• Applying verbally over the phone at 1800 800 110 or,
• Downloading the access request form from the NDIS website, filling it out and emailing it to [email protected].

If you need assistance with the application, contact your local area coordinator and they will be able to help you through the process. 

It may also be necessary to attach additional supporting evidence of your child’s disability along with your application. This can include a formal diagnosis of the disability from a specialist as well as recent reports and assessments from healthcare professionals or other support providers. 

Support for children under 7 years 

If your child has a developmental delay or disability and is under 7 years of age, the NDIS’s early childhood approach connects families with an early childhood partner who can help to identify what supports your child needs and how to access them. 

The early childhood approach is based on best practice and aims to assist children in improving their daily life skills and increasing their participation in the community. Read more about the early childhood approach here.

Creating your NDIS plan

Once the application has been made, the next step is to prepare for your planning meeting. This is an opportunity to meet with an NDIS coordinator or Local Area Coordinator and formulate your child’s NDIS plan. 

The meeting will ascertain what kind of support your child requires in their daily life, what their goals are over the short and long term and what you are seeking to achieve with the assistance of the NDIS. These goals will inform what supports your child can access with their funding. 

There are certain guidelines that determine what services may be accessed through the NDIS which are as follows:

• the support is related to the child’s disability  
• the support will help your child pursue their goals and aspirations  
• the support will help your child undertake activities that will increase their community participation
• The supports are cost effective
• The benefit of funded supports are backed by good practice and evidence
• The support is needed to complement any existing informal supports available through avenues such as family or community ties
• The support is most appropriately funded or provided by the NDIS.

After the planning meeting the NDIA will compile your child’s NDIS plan and send it to you. With this plan in place, you can begin seeking out support services in line with your child’s goals. At Community Access Care, we offer a variety of services dedicated to working with parents to help children achieve their greatest future potential.