Step-by-Step Guide to Support New Participants to Access the NDIS
As an NDIS provider, you’re often the first point of contact for participants who are navigating the NDIS for the first time. For those that are not participants of the scheme, the process can feel daunting, confusing, and overwhelming.
Your role as a trusted provider is to help prospective participants understand the process, what they need, and how they can successfully apply. This guide will give you the tools to explain the process clearly and support potential participants step by step.
Step 1: Explaining the NDIS and Why it Matters to be a Participant
Before diving into the details, start by explaining the value of the NDIS:
- The NDIS provides funding for supports and services to help people with significant, permanent disabilities achieve greater independence, inclusion and quality of life.
- For individuals living with a disability, becoming an NDIS participant is a vital step towards accessing tailored supports that align with their personal goals and aspirations and make choices that matter to them.
- Registration gives participants access to a plan tailored to their needs, with approved supports delivered by trusted providers like you.
- The NDIS empowers individuals to thrive in all aspects of life. It’s more than a support system - it’s a pathway to achieving greater autonomy and realising their full potential.
Step 2: Check Eligibility and Gather the Right Identity Documents
Participants will need to determine they meet the eligibility requirements and then gather key identity documents before they can apply. This is what’s required:
Eligibility:
- Younger than 65 when you apply.
- Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident and live in Australia.
- Then, you will need to meet the requirements for disability, early intervention, or both.
Identify:
- Proof of identity – Passport, driver’s licence, or other government-issued ID.
- Proof of age – They must be under 65 at the time of registration.
- Residency evidence – Proof of Australian citizenship, permanent residency, or a Protected Special Category visa.
For participants under 18:
- Parent or legal guardian contact details.
- Written consent to submit the application.
Advice to share: Encourage participants to create a simple checklist and gather documents upfront to avoid delays later.
Step 3: Supporting Participants in Providing Evidence of Their Impairments
New participants will be required to provide evidence of their disability and impairment or developmental delay (for children under 6), impairment is at the heart of an NDIS application. Applicants often need guidance on what this means and how to collect the right information.
From the 1st January 2025 the NDIS Commission will be providing clearer information to new participants about how they meet the disability or early intervention requirements for access. This will include their category of impairment. This change does not yet apply to existing participants.
What to explain:
- The evidence must show the impairment is:
- Permanent (or likely to be permanent).
- Significantly impacting daily activities (e.g., mobility, self-care, communication).
- Your impairment must also affect your social life, or your ability to work and study.
- And, you must be likely to need NDIS supports for your lifetime.
- Applicants will need reports or assessments from their treating professionals—such as doctors, occupational therapists, or allied health providers.
- For children under 6 with developmental concerns, an early childhood partner can assist with evidence gathering.
Your role: Guide participants in understanding what “sufficient evidence” looks like. Offer examples of reports or assessments that meet NDIS requirements, and where appropriate, encourage them to consult with their health professionals for clarification.
Refer to the NDIS Guide Applying to the NDIS
Step 4: How to Get Support with the NDIS Application
Once participants have their documents and evidence ready, it’s time to submit the application form. Walk them through the options:
If a new participant is aged 9 and older:
- Local Area Coordinator (LAC): They can help you through the application process and be your point of contact. Find your nearest location.
- By phone or mail: If they need extra support, they can submit their Access Request Form directly through the NDIS, ensuring they complete the application form accurately, contact the NDIS directly on 1800 800 110.
For children younger than 9:
- The NDIS encourages families to talk to an early childhood partner before applying to the NDIS.
Important advice: Emphasise the need for accuracy and honesty in the application to avoid delays. Encourage them to review everything carefully before submitting.
Step 5: Explaining the NDIS Worker Screening Check and Database
Here’s what to share:
The NDIS Worker Screening Check is a requirement for all Registered Providers and their workers in risk-assessed roles. Unregistered providers are not required to have a NDIS Worker Screening Check.
If you elect to be a self-managed participant or a plan managed participant, you can access supports and services from unregistered providers. As a participant accessing supports and services from an unregistered provider, you can request that your worker obtains an NDIS Worker Screening Check, but this is not mandatory. This transparency helps participants feel confident that registered and unregistered NDIS providers meet strict safety and quality requirements. You can then search the Worker Screening Database to verify:
- check and monitor the clearance status of workers, and
- confirm that a worker is, or will be, engaged by an unregistered provider.
Step 6: Setting Expectations for Review and Approval
It’s natural for participants to feel anxious while waiting for a decision. Help set clear expectations by explaining the application process and review stages:
- The NDIS Commission will assess the application and may request further information.
- Processing times can vary based on the complexity of the application.
What happens if they’re approved?
- They’ll receive an NDIS plan outlining funded supports tailored to their needs.
- The next step will involve connecting with registered providers—this is where you step in to deliver services that help them achieve their goals.
How You Can Support Participants Along the Way
As an NDIS provider, you play a critical role in empowering participants through registration. Here’s how you can add value:
- Clear Communication: Break down each step into simple, easy-to-understand language. Avoid overwhelming participants with jargon.
- Verify that relevant workers have undergone necessary screening to mitigate risks associated with their roles.
- Resource Sharing: Provide participants with checklists, templates, or guidance documents they can refer to when gathering documents or evidence.
- Encourage Collaboration: Remind participants to involve their healthcare professionals early to gather strong evidence for their impairments.
- Ensure that key personnel within your organisation are well-versed in NDIS standards to provide accurate guidance.
- Build Confidence: Reassure new participants that the NDIS process is designed to support them, and with the right preparation, they can access the services they need.
Your Role as a Trusted Registered NDIS Provider
When participants feel supported during registration, they’re more likely to trust you with their ongoing NDIS journey. By providing clear advice, practical tools, and reassurance, you’re not only helping them navigate the NDIS but also positioning yourself among registered NDIS providers who can deliver the supports they need.
Encourage new participants to start the process early, get the right help, and stay organised—because with your guidance, they’re not alone.
For more information, encourage new participants to visit the official NDIS website or contact the NDIS Commission for additional guidance.
References:
- National Disability Insurance Scheme. How to Apply for the NDIS.
Retrieved from: https://www.ndis.gov.au/applying-access-ndis/how-apply - National Disability Insurance Scheme. Providing Evidence of Impairments.
Retrieved from: https://ourguidelines.ndis.gov.au/home/becoming-participant/applying-ndis - NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. NDIS Worker Screening Database.
Retrieved from: https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au - National Disability Insurance Scheme. Specified Supports and Services.
Retrieved from: https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/becoming-ndis-provider/am-i-ready/supports-and-services-funded-ndis
