The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Appeals Program helps people seeking an external review of most National Disability Insurance Agency decisions.
The NDIS Appeals Program helps people with disability, and other people affected by reviewable decisions of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). It helps people to access support when seeking a decision review through the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART).
The NDIS Appeals Program is funded under our Disability and Carers Outcome.
Read the Operational Guidelines for more information on NDIS Appeals.
Accessing the NDIS Appeals Program
To access the NDIS Appeals Program, an individual must have completed an NDIA internal review process and received an outcome.
Once an internal review has been completed, individuals can access the NDIS Appeals Program to get help with undertaking an external review at the ART. Visit the ART website to learn more about the external review.
An application for an ART review must be made within 28 days of receiving the NDIA internal decision.
Goal of NDIS Appeals Program
The NDIS Appeals Program helps:
people appealing internal NDIA decisions before the ART can access a skilled disability advocate who acts as a support person
with legal services, where there is wider community benefit and/or disadvantage that would substantially benefit from legal representation.
NDIS Appeals Program supports are free of charge. Support persons are also National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) disability advocates. They are available in every state and territory.
An NDIS Appeals Program advocate can help by:
explaining the review process, including what is involved in appealing to the ART
helping to prepare documents
providing skills so individuals can better represent themselves
attending ART conferences and hearings to help individuals put their case to the ART.
While the focus of the NDIS Appeals Program is advocacy support, individuals can also access legal services through the Legal Aid Commission in their state or territory.
Applying for NDIS Appeals legal services
Legal Aid Commissions in the relevant state or territory assess applications and determine eligibility for funding for legal services. You will need the following documents, to apply for funding for legal services by email or post:
Guidelines for the Assessment of Applications for NDIS Appeals Program Legal Services funding
Application for NDIS Appeals Program Legal Services.
There is a 30-day processing period for assessments.
Read more about what to do if you disagree with a National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) decision.
Finding an NDIS Appeals Program provider
Find support services for people with disability in your state or territory.
Alternatively, relevant NDIS Appeals services in your area can be found using the Disability Advocacy Finder at AskIzzy – NDIS Appeals search. When using the Finder, you can filter by postcode or suburb to find your nearest provider.
Contact us for more information about our Disability and Carer programs. Disability Support for Older Australians (DSOA) Program clients can contact us for support and to find an advocate.
