NDIS

The first step in accessing the NDIS is to confirm you meet the eligibility criteria. To find out if you’re eligible for the NDIS, you can check the eligibility requirements here.

The graphic below may also help you understand your accessibility. The screen-readable version is here.

PWdWA is currently unable to accept any new NDIS Appeals cases. There is a lot of information online about Access and Planning, including participant booklets.

You can also use our NDIS Access Request Toolkit and Support Letter Template:

NDIS Access Request Toolkit

NDIS Access Request Support Letter Template

PWdWA can provide advocacy in the following circumstances:

• If you have applied for the NDIS, or have started the planning or review process, and you feel you are not being heard by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA)
• If you want to make a complaint about the NDIS
• You are unhappy with a decision made by the NDIA and want to review or appeal that decision
• You want to make a complaint about your NDIS service provider

Developing your NDIS plan is really important to ensuring the planner understands the support that you need. The NDIS website has resources on preparing for your planning meeting and managing your funding, including information on self-managing and employing your own support workers.

PWdWA doesn’t have the resources to provide ongoing support to access the NDIS or attend planning and review meetings. If you have an upcoming meeting, we strongly encourage you to take a family member, friend or key support worker with you.

The NDIA may make a decision you disagree with, and you can request a review. You can submit an application for internal review of a decision, and you can complete an NDIS review application form here.

PWdWA runs regular online and in-person information sessions on how to request a review. You can find out more about these information sessions on our Workshop page.

We also have a Toolkit which you can use to help you prepare for your Internal Review. This Toolkit was developed with other advocacy agencies and Legal Aid WA.

WA Advocates Internal Review Toolkit – contains information about requesting an Internal Review as well as an example application form.

Example Internal Review Application Form – Example application form only, and has advice on what to include in each section of the application.

An Advocate can act as a “support person” when someone asks for a review of a NDIA decision or wishes to appeal a decision with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).

The role of a support person is to:

• explain the review process, including what is involved in lodging an appeal to the AAT
• help to prepare documents
• provide advice and skills so you can better represent yourself, or
• attend AAT conferences and hearings to help you put your case to the AAT
• help you apply for legal services where your case raises complex or novel legal issues

Useful resources for people going through an appeal at the AAT;

• Statement of lived experience template – to use as a guide when writing a statement of Lived Experience to send to the AAT, about accessing the NDIS
• Access Matrix – to use when organising evidence about a person’s disability, before sending to the AAT

For more information:

• Administrative Appeals Tribunal – Applying for a review
• Has the NDIA made a decision you do not like? – Easy Read

Information about a review at the AAT is available in the Operational Guidelines on the NDIS website.

• Easy Read document attached
• Administrative Appeals Tribunal – Accessible video (Plain English with Auslan interpreter)
• Legal Aid WA – Disputes with the NDIS