People with disability, families and carers guide: The rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme in NSW

This guide will help you find out when you can access the NDIS.

• It covers three simple steps you can follow to find out when you will likely have access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). • It also includes details of where you can find further information to start preparing for the NDIS.

Step 1. Find out if you may be eligible for the NDIS

You are under 65 years of age at the time of application

You are an Australian citizen or resident, or permanent visa holder

You meet the disability or early intervention requirements

The National Disability Insurance Agency No one will be disadvantaged in the move (NDIA) is the agency responsible for to the NDIS. People who had been implementing the NDIS and determining receiving specialist disability support, but your eligibility for access to the NDIS. aren’t eligible for the NDIS, will maintain the same outcomes they received before.

Am I eligible for the To check your eligibility for the NDIS, refer to the NDIS KATE: Can you insert the NDIA website and the Access Checker Form website www.ndis.gov.au/ndis-access-checklist NDIS? here?.

Step 2. Find out when your area will be able to access the NDIS

When you are able to access the NDIS depends on three things: 1) where you live 2) what supports, if any, you currently receive 3) your need for support, if you don’t currently receive any.

The map below shows when the NDIS will be available in your area.

From 1 July 2016 From 1 July 2017

From 1 July 2016 From 1 July 2017 You will be able to access the NDIS from 1 You will be able to access the NDIS from 1 July 2016, if you live in the following districts: July 2017, if you live in the following districts:  Central Coast  Shoalhaven  Hunter New England   Nepean Blue Mountains  Murrumbidgee  Northern  Northern NSW  South Western Sydney  South Eastern Sydney  Southern NSW  Sydney  Western Sydney  Western NSW  Far West

For more information on when the NDIS will be available in your area refer to the fact sheet on the rollout in your local area.

How do I check If you aren’t sure what area you live in, refer to: • www.ndis.nsw.gov.au what area I’m in? • The list of LGAs and areas at the back of this guide. Step 3. What supports do you currently receive?

To help people in NSW access the NDIS, we have grouped the types of support people currently receive into three categories. Clients will be able to access the NDIS within their local area, and respective year, according to the client group they are part of.

People currently receiving The majority will be able to access specialist disability supports the NDIS in the first six months

of each of the two year rollout Includes people living in supported periods. They will not need to apply accommodation, accessing a for access to the NDIS, but will go community access service such as through a simplified access a day program, or case process. management service.

Will be able to access the NDIS People who access specialist throughout each of the two year disability supports from time-to- rollout periods. People receiving time, or for a short amount of respite services will go through a time each week simplified access process. People Includes people who access respite receiving community care services or a community care program. will be supported to apply for access to the NDIS. NDIS New participants Will have the opportunity to access NDIS People who do not currently the scheme when it starts in their receive specialist disability local area, if they are in immediate supports from the NSW need of assistance, and do not Government. currently have support.

From 1 July 2018, all eligible people with disability, living in NSW will be able to access the NDIS.

How do I check what If you aren’t sure what types of supports you currently supports I currently receive ask your support worker or service provider. receive? Next steps

Confirm when the NDIS will be available in your local area via the NSW NDIS website www.ndis.nsw.gov.au Confirm if you may be eligible via the national NDIS website www.ndis.gov.au Ask your current provider to make sure your information is up to date, ahead of planning discussions with the National Disability Insurance Agency (if you currently receive supports).

Visit the My Choice Matters website www.mychoicematters.org.au or speak to a family member or carer for help in working out your goals.

If you currently receive disability supports you will be contacted before the rollout in your area.

Families and carers are important partners in the NDIS rollout

Checklist for families and carers We know that families and carers are important partners in the support of Confirm that the person you care for may be eligible for the NDIS via the people with disability. NDIS website www.ndis.gov.au.

The NSW Government is committed Use this guide to talk through the to keeping you involved and informed rollout of the NDIS with the person as we roll out the NDIS. you care for.

You can use this guide to work with Contact local support services such the person you care for to help them as My Choice Matters prepare for the NDIS. www.mychoicematters.org.au to start preparing.

Visit www.ndis.nsw.gov.au for more information on the rollout List of Local Government Areas in each district

Central Coast Murrumbidgee Sydney Gosford Albury Hornsby Ashfield Wyong Berrigan Hunters Hill Burwood Bland Ku-ring-gai Canada Bay Far West Boorowa Lane Cove Canterbury Balranald Carrathool Manly Leichhardt Broken Hill Conargo Mosman Marrickville Central Darling Coolamon North Sydney Strathfield Wentworth Cootamundra Pittwater (South & West) Unincorporated Far West Corowa Shire Ryde Deniliquin Warringah Western NSW Hunter New England Greater Hume Shire Willoughby Bathurst Regional Armidale Dumaresq Griffith Blayney Cessnock Gundagai South Eastern Sydney Bogan Dungog Harden Botany Bay Bourke Glen Innes Severn Hay Hurstville Brewarrina Gloucester Jerilderie Kogarah Cabonne Great Lakes Junee Randwick Cobar Greater Taree Leeton Rockdale Coonamble Gunnedah Lockhart Cowra Guyra Murray City of Sydney (Inner & East) Dubbo Gwydir Murrumbidgee Waverley Forbes Inverell Narrandera Woollahra Gilgandra Lake Macquarie Temora Lachlan Liverpool Plains Tumbarumba South Western Sydney Mid-Western Regional Maitland Tumut Shire Narromine Moree Plains Urana Camden Oberon Muswellbrook Wagga Wagga Campbelltown Orange Narrabri Wakool Fairfield Parkes Newcastle Young Liverpool Walgett Port Stephens Wingecarribee Warren Singleton Nepean Blue Mountains Wollondilly Warrumbungle Shire Tamworth Regional Blue Mountains Weddin Tenterfield Hawkesbury Southern NSW Wellington Upper Hunter Shire Lithgow Bega Valley Uralla Penrith Bombala Western Sydney Walcha Cooma- Auburn Northern NSW Eurobodalla Blacktown Illawarra Shoalhaven Ballina Goulburn Mulwaree Holroyd Kiama Byron Palerang Parramatta Shellharbour Clarence Valley Queanbeyan Shoalhaven Kyogle Snowy River Wollongong Lismore Upper Lachlan Shire Richmond Valley Yass Valley Mid North Coast Tweed Bellingen Coffs Harbour Kempsey Nambucca Port Macquarie-Hastings