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This page provides key information for authorised OOHC carers about the NDIS planning meeting, and what to do if a child is ineligible.
Note: OOHC caseworker refers to the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) or non-government organisation OOHC caseworker that has case management responsibility for the child or young person.
A child or young person’s NDIS plan has two parts:
The statement of goals and aspirations is prepared by the participant, or the child representative. For children and young people under the parental responsibility of the Minister, the OOHC caseworker, carer and child or young person will need to work together to develop the statement. The statement needs to describe the goals and aspirations of the participant, and their environmental and personal context (social/community and personal relationships).
The statement of participant supports is prepared by the NDIS representative with input from the child or young person, their carer, OOHC caseworker and available assessments that specify:
The types of supports that the NDIS may fund for participants include:
OOHC carers have a responsibility to meet their child’s daily transportation requirements.
Some children, however, may require additional assistance when they cannot use public transport or their carer’s vehicle, even if modified, due to their disability.
Carers and their OOHC caseworker will work with an NDIS planner to develop a participation plan outlining the child’s transportation support requirements.
Each child or young person will have an individualised NDIS plan that is tailored to their goals, personal circumstances and disability support needs. The types of supports that the NDIS may fund that may have direct or indirect benefits for you as a carer include:
For further information about NDIS planning process, including reasonable and necessary supports, see www.ndis.gov.au/participants/creating-your-plan.
Supports are not likely to be covered by the NDIS if the support or service:
DCJ remains responsible for:
All relevant information, evidence, reports and plans (including OOHC health management plans and OOHC case plans) should be taken to the meeting.
For children or young people in the parental responsibility of the Minister, it will be the role of the OOHC caseworker to work, with the carer, to collect relevant materials and take them to the meeting. This includes drafting the participant statement of goals and aspirations, listing the current supports (including day to day carer supports), and consideration of the aids, equipment and modifications the child or young person might require over the next 12 months.
Your OOHC caseworker will include you in making this decision. The planning meeting will include the NDIS representative, the OOHC caseworker, you and, where possible, the child or young person.
You and your caseworker may also invite other important people in your child’s life who can provide valuable input to their NDIS plan. This may include people such as the OOHC Health Coordinator, Occupational Therapists, specialist therapists, teachers or any other support person.
Responsibility for engaging and coordinating disability supports under an NDIS plan is best undertaken by an NDIS support coordinator so carers and caseworkers can focus on their core role for the child or young person.
During the NDIS planning meeting, carers and OOHC caseworkers should discuss the inclusion of support coordination in the child or young person’s NDIS plan.
Support coordination is most often included in NDIS plans for children in OOHC, except for children aged 0-7 in the ECA pathway who have access to early childhood coordinators to assist them with plan implementation.
A support coordinator will assist in managing and implementing the child’s NDIS plan and arranging for disability service providers to deliver disability supports for the child. This includes:
For further information about support coordination,can be viewed here
Plan management is the way in which funding in the NDIS plan is managed.
During the NDIS meeting, the OOHC caseworker will ask for plan management to be included in the NDIS plan - either “agency managed” or “plan managed”.
Agency managed is where the NDIA manage the funding and pay providers, who must be registered with them. This is the simplest option and may be best for children in OOHC.
Plan managed is where a registered plan manager manages the funding and payment of supports. This is allows for a little more flexibility with funding. If the child lives in an area where there are more limited services, it may be best to use the plan managed option.
If you are not satisfied with the supports being provided under the child or young person’s current NDIS plan, you should discuss your concerns with your OOHC caseworker in the first instance. Carers and caseworkers will need to work together to ensure the best outcomes are achieved for children and young people in OOHC. If support coordination is funded in your child’s plan then you and the caseworker can talk to the support coordinator about exploring other service provider options.
You should first discuss your concerns with your OOHC caseworker who is responsible for representing your child or young person throughout the NDIS planning process. The caseworker can work with you to raise the issue with the NDIS plan manager, support coordinator or the NDIA as required.
If a child or young person isn’t eligible for a NDIS funded package, they may be eligible for mainstream and community services. Talk to your OOHC caseworker about accessing supports in your local community. You can both talk with a Local Area Coordinator who can advise on what supports are available to meet your child’s needs.
16 Dec 2022