Supporting younger NDIS participants
If you support a younger National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participant who wishes to leave aged care, you can help them consider their options by:
- asking about their home and living goals
- directing the younger person and their family or carer to the NDIS website to find information about their home and living options
- encouraging the younger person to contact their support coordinator, National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) planner or the NDIA to talk about their home and living options.
Applying for access to the NDIS
Ability First Australia will contact younger people living in residential aged care, or their nominee, to help them apply for the NDIS.
Residential aged care providers should encourage a younger person with disability to test their NDIS eligibility on the NDIS website or by contacting the NDIS. The younger person, or their nominee (family member or guardian), can do this in person, by phone, email, webchat or completing an online form.
Younger people who are eligible for the NDIS
If the younger person in your facility is eligible for the NDIS, an NDIA representative will set up a meeting with a Younger Person In Residential Aged Care (YPIRAC) Planner. In this meeting, the participant can:
- discuss their goals
- have an NDIS plan developed
- explore options to live independently in the community.
To help the younger person prepare for the meeting, you can:
- provide the NDIA staff member with contact details for the younger person’s nominee
- ensure the younger person is prepared for their meeting
- ensure staff are aware that the NDIA representative will be attending your service.
The participant may choose who they wish to have present at this meeting.
Become a registered NDIS provider
On 1 December 2020, residential aged care providers who deliver supports and services to NDIS participants became registered NDIS providers. NDIS participants across Australia have access to the same quality and safeguarding arrangements, no matter who provides their NDIS supports and services.
If you are not a registered NDIS provider, you may need to apply for registration with the NDIS Quality and Safety Commission to begin or continue to provide residential care to an NDIS participant.
Registered NDIS providers must meet the conditions of NDIS provider registration to provide support and services to NDIS participants.
Providers must also be registered to deliver certain higher risk support types to any participant, including:
- specialist disability accommodation
- development of behavioural support plans
- implementation of regulated restrictive practices.
These obligations are not applicable to the support you provide to aged care residents. The obligations only apply to the NDIS participants you support.
For further information and support, visit the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission website or call 1800 035 544.
Recognising NDIS worker screening
From 16 June 2021, aged care legislation recognised NDIS worker screening clearances for aged care providers who are also registered NDIS providers. This will make it easier for providers and workers supporting NDIS participants.
For more information visit screening requirements for the aged care workforce.
Continuing residential aged care for an NDIS participant
Residential aged care providers must continue to support a younger NDIS participant who:
- does not wish to leave residential aged care
- does not have a goal to leave residential aged care in their NDIS plan.
The aged care legislation, including the Aged Care Act 1997 and the Aged Care Principles, outlines the responsibilities of aged care providers, including:
- security of tenure
- ensuring aged care providers give care recipients dignity, choice and ongoing support.
The NDIS will continue to fund support for NDIS participants who choose to remain in registered residential aged care facilities.
Supporting a younger person who is not an NDIS participant
If the younger person is not eligible for the NDIS, or does not consent to testing NDIS eligibility, the YPIRAC System Coordinator Program may help.
A YPIRAC System Coordinator can help a younger person to:
- navigate the disability, housing, health and aged care systems
- find alternative accommodation and support services that best meets their needs
- move from residential aged care, if this is the younger person’s choice.
The younger person, or their family, can contact Ability First Australia to find out:
- how to receive support
- where YPIRAC System Coordinators are operating in their area.
State and territory government responsibility
State and territory governments also have a responsibility to help younger people find alternative accommodation where they are:
- not eligible for the NDIS
- not eligible for NDIS funded home and living supports.
For more information on what housing options may be available, please contact the relevant Housing Authority in your state or territory.