The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is funded by the Commonwealth Government.
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is the Commonwealth Government Agency that oversees the NDIS.
If you are an NDIS service provider wanting to connect with Council, please refer to our Access and Inclusion in City of Darebin: Information for NDIS Service Providers.
Brotherhood of St Laurence (BSL) and the NDIS roll-out in North East Melbourne Area
Since July 2016, the BSL has been delivering Local Area Coordination (LAC) supports across Darebin, Yarra, Nillumbik, Whittlesea and Banyule. If you live with disability, they will support you to identify and pursue your lifestyle goals by developing a plan and linking you to mainstream or community services.
NDIS participants who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander can ask to talk to a member of the BSL NDIS Aboriginal Participation Team.
BSL are also providing Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) supports. ECEI services support children 0-6 years with a disability or developmental delay and their parent/carers to get information and access to supports.
How to contact the BSL NDIS Team:
Phone: 1300 BSL NDIS (1300 275 634) / 1300 BSL ECEI (1300 275 323)
Email: ndis.info@bsl.org.au / NDIS.feedback@bsl.org.au
Or drop into one of their offices during business hours:
- Banyule and Nillumbik - 65 Main Street, Greensborough
- Darebin - 293 High Street, Preston
- Whittlesea - 1/1 Latitude Drive, Thomastown
- Yarra - 95 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
NDIS information sessions, forums and events: if you are aware of an NDIS event please contact us to have the details listed below:
NDIS Webinars
The NDIS regularly run online webinars where people can watch a panel discussion online and contribute questions via email, text message and social media.
To find out when the next webinar is on and how to participate in a live webinar click here or to access old webinars click here.
NDIS pre-planning supports
The following Disability Services Organisations (DSO) can provide support to people with disabilities and their carers to prepare for transition to the NDIS by building up skills and feeling more confident:
Unhappy about an NDIS related decision?
NDIS review and appeals flow chart
NDIS: Who to make a complaint to
Review of NDIS decisions
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission is now operating in all Australian state and territories except Western Australia. The Commission is a new independent agency established to improve the quality and safety of NDIS supports and service.
NDIS Reviews and Appeal Support
A number of Victorian providers offer advocacy and support assistance to NDIS participants who are seeking review of NDIA decisions through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). The services of a support person are provided by the National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP). Access to a skilled support worker to act as an advocate is available, as well as, in the case of complex and novel legal issues, access to legal assistance. You can look up providers on the National Disability Advocacy Finder.
All services provided under NDIS Appeals are free of charge. An NDIS Appeals pamphlet (also available in easy English) has been developed that briefly explains the process. There is also an NDIS Appeals Fact Sheet available with more information.
Victorian NDIS Appeals Providers are:
• Action on Disability within Ethnic Communities (ADEC)
• Action for More Independence & Dignity in Accommodation Inc.
• AED Legal
• Disability Justice Advocacy
• Leadership Plus
• Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council Inc. (VMIAC)
Further information: on NDIS Appeals can be found on the Department of Social Services website.
More information about the NDIS
Resources in other languages, Plain and easy English
Support communicating with the NDIA (video)
NDIS Easy English fact sheets for participants
NDIS information in languages other than English - Arabic, Hindi, Vietnamese, simple and traditional Chinese, Filipino, French, Greek, Italian, Macedonian and Samoan
What are reasonable and necessary supports? (easy English)
What if I'm not happy with the NDIS (plain English)
General NDIS information
Auslan: NDIS explained (video)
NDIS Victoria
Disability Loop
Every Australian Counts
Interface with mainstream services fact sheets
Changes to the Home and Community Care (HACC) Program
Resources for participants (people with a disability) - What is the NDIS?
Accessing the NDIS (video)
My NDIS Pathway - A Guide to being an NDIS Participant
NDIS Tip Sheet for Deaf community
What are Reasonable and Necessary Supports? (video)
The NDIS for Women with Disabilities
Writing Your Plan
Developing your NDIS Plan (video)
Developing Your Plan
Getting Ready for your Planning Conversation
Developing you child's participant statement
Understanding your plan and supports
'Picture My Future' planning toolkit
Starting Your First Plan
Understanding Your NDIS Plan
Starting Your Plan (video)
Starting Your Plan
Starting Your Plan with a Support Coordinator
Starting Your Plan with a Local Area Coordinator (LAC)
Starting Your Plan as an NDIS Self Managed participant
Choice and Control over your NDIS Plan
Choice and Control - Fact sheet on managing your funding
Consumers with disability - The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) have developed resources to assist consumers with disability to navigate the market and know their rights.
'It's My Choice' Toolkit
Finding and Engaging Providers
'Choosing a Service Provider'
Clickability - An Australian Disability Service Directory featuring ratings and reviews from the people who actually use the services.
Care Navigator - A directory for people to search, review and find NDIS providers.
Resources for parents/families of young children (0 - 12 years old)
Accessing Supports for my Child
Early Childhood Early Intervention (video)
How the NDIS can help your child guide
NDIS4Kids online resource for families of children with a disability aged 0-6 years of age
Early Childhood Intervention Services transition to NDIS
Raising Children Network NDIS resources for parents of children aged 0 - 6 years
Choosing an NDIS Service Provider for a child aged 0 - 6 years old
Resources for carers - carers cannot join the NDIS, however there are rules which outline how carers should be involved in the assessment and planning of the person they care for. There are also supports available through the NDIS which can help carers in their caring role, either directly or indirectly.
Carer Gateway
Carers and Families in the NDIS
Peer Conversation Partners
NDIS Guide and Checklist for Mental Health Carers
Resources for service providers
National Disability Services (NDS)
NDS NDIS Helpdesk - An online state-wide Q&A forum with the single focus of helping providers successfully transition to the NDIS
NDIS service provider readiness toolkit
Working with the NDIS - Information for service providers
Disability Services Consulting