As part of the NDIS planning strategy for your child, you’ll be requested how you want to address your child’s NDIS funds. For this, you can select to self-manage your child’s funds.
NDIS self-management can offer flexibility in utilising the funds, who you get services from, and how much you need to pay. It can be a good choice if you live in a rural or remote area because you can choose from different available providers for assistance with self-care activities in Australia.
Getting Organised For NDIS Self-Management
Self-managing NDIS funds require time, organisation and effort. Here are some tips for getting organised for NDIS self-management:
- Set up a new email address for all communication about your child’s NDIS plan and support.
- Set up a bank account that doesn’t charge fees, and use it for all your NDIS transactions.
- Specify a system to keep all documentation together. It could include a hard copy folder, a book you take notes in, or an electronic folder.
Choosing Supports For Self-Managed NDIS Funds
It’s vital to ensure that the supports you choose for your child’s NDIS plan are affordable and designed to help them reach their NDIS goals.
The following tips can help:
- Check your child’s plan and understand how your child’s support budgets work.
- Refer to the ‘What can I buy?’ page in the NDIS Guide to self-management.
Record-Keeping For Self-Managed NDIS Funds
Once you’ve selected and bought NDIS supports for your child, keep records about these supports. These records include:
- NDIS service provider names and ABNs
- Support costs
- Hourly rate of support
- Support dates for your child
- Support types and how they fit the support categories and goals in your child’s NDIS plan.
You should have invoices and receipts for five years and employment records for seven years.
Working with NDIS Support Workers And Service Providers
Beneficial collaborations with NDIS support workers and service providers help your child get adequate support. Here are different ways you can start building a good partnership:
- Share your child’s information, including strengths, interests, activities, etc.
- Tell the service provider what they need to know about your family to provide the best service for your child.
- Tell the NDIS service provider how you want them to communicate with you.
- Don’t be afraid to advocate for your child. It’s a good idea to write down what you want to say if you need to speak up for your child. Instead of demanding things, focus on solutions, stick to facts, ask questions, and make suggestions.