Our First NDIS Review


Recently we passed another significant day in Cameron's journey, he had his first National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) review. It's been a year since Cameron joined the NDIS and transitioned out of the Western Australian disability support system. 

The NDIS is Australia's national system of support for people needing support to live their lives. Through the NDIS you can access funds to purchase therapy, equipment and support. 

There have been lots of different reactions to the NDIS - some good and some not so good. We have been one of the lucky families and our first year with the NDIS has been event free. 

We chose to self manage Cameron's funding and that gave us flexibility to employ support workers directly. This has meant that we have been able to organize Cameron's weeks and activities to suit him and employ the staff who we feel match our needs, Cameron's needs and his personality best.

Prior to switching from the now defunct state system to the new national system we spent several years putting in a lot of work to get people to understand the support Cameron needed and at times arguing our case to get increases in his support funding. This hard work paid off last year when we were given equal funding on the national system. 

It was disheartening last year when the person running Cameron's planning meeting stated that his plan was excessive and would be cut this year. She informed us that Cameron was not unique and she'd met lots of young men just like Cameron and he didn't need the level of support we had fought for. I'd love to meet all these young men she believed she knew because we don't seem to be able to find them. She also believed that we had only received his level of funding because the state body was being excessive with their spending - I was left speechless from that statement. We fought hard for every cent Cameron received and didn't receive everything we asked for. It must be difficult for some people to imagine an adult needing 24 hour, 1 on 1 care and supervision to keep them safe. That is Cameron's reality and I struggle to provide that level of care, 7 days a week, anymore. 

When you meet Cameron he looks just like you and I. No sign of his challenges. If he attempts to communicate it is obvious that is a problem. If you spend an hour with him you will see how much time we spend keeping him safe and watching over him for his own safety. If you enter our home you will experience the locked doors and arrangements around the home just for him. If you spend a day with us you will learn about the people who help Cameron live his life as meaningfully as possible and how challenging it is for us to fill his days and keep him engaged and potentially developing. Then there is the personal care. 

It's been 3 weeks and we haven't heard yet how Cameron's review has gone. He has been given a funding extension to cover him until his review is processed. That's a positive because we can continue as normal for now but we are waiting with our breath held. A funding cut will have huge ramifications for Cameron, his support staff and myself. The meeting seemed to go well but until the review comes through we have no idea what the outcome will be. We may be worrying needlessly and he may receive the same level of funding or even an increase - wouldn't that be nice. Our fingers are crossed. 

The silver lining - Cameron has no idea about his funding, his review or the fact that we are all awaiting this potentially life changing decision. Ignorance can be bliss. 


Comments

  1. If you are in Australia and you have a disability and need help, visit NDIS Registered Provider

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    1. Hi Jon,
      I have just become aware that I haven't been receiving comment notifications and therefore I didn't know you had commented - I'm sorry.
      Thanks for the link you shared.

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  2. The blog was absolutely fantastic! Lot of information is helpful in some or the other way. Keep updating the blog, looking forward for more content...Great job, keep it up. Thank You for this useful information. Please visit NDIS.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Matt, thanks for your comment and I'm glad you enjoyed my blog post. We self manage and live in Western Australia so we don't have much use for Victorian providers but thanks anyway.

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  3. Thank you for posting such a great blog. I found your website perfect for my needs. Read About Plan Partners

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    Replies
    1. I'm glad you found my blog helpful.

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  4. Replies
    1. I'm glad you enjoyed reading my blog. We live in Western Australia so have no need for Melbourne based service providers.

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  5. A really heartwarming blog thank you for posting this as it is really very odd to find a reliableNDIS provider Sydney, they might just be able to help you out with personal care, therapy, household tasks, and more.

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    Replies
    1. I'm glad you enjoyed reading my blog. We live in Western Australia so we have no need for Sydney based providers.

      Delete
  6. If you are looking for a trusted NDIS service provider in Perth to help NDIS participants with disability support services, Carepro Disability Services might be the right fit for you. Carepro Disability Services is a reliable NDIS service provider in Perth that offers a wide range of disability support services to NDIS participants.
    Our services include but are not limited to, personal care, community access, social support, assistance with daily living activities, and more. We work closely with our clients to understand their unique needs and preferences, and develop tailored support plans to help them achieve their goals.

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    Replies
    1. Our sons funding is self managed and we access our services privately, not through service providers.

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  7. In today's world, telehealth plays a crucial role in ensuring that families receive the support they need, especially during reviews. How has the experience been for Cameron and your family with telehealth services in the context of NDIS? Wishing you all the best on this ongoing journey!

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    1. This post is 3 yrs old, we've had several reviews since then. So far, we are doing well and have not required support.

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