Disability Services - Getting the Most Out of Your NDIS Funding

 Behind razor wire at the Don Dale youth detention centre in Darwin, a teenager with profound disability sits. He has been incarcerated for a series of complex behaviours that escalated into fights with peers and staff.

Disability services Darwin structured through non-Indigenous concepts of disability can threaten Indigenous values and social structures, further marginalising people already subject to colonisation. Decolonising disability services requires reform at provider, organisational and systemic levels.

NDIS Providers

A registered disability provider can help you access the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). They can provide you with a range of services and products, including disability support workers. Choosing the right provider can make all the difference in achieving your goals and getting value out of your NDIS funding.

A qualified planner will work with you to identify your needs and goals. They’ll also review your existing supports and discuss your desired outcomes. Then they’ll prepare a draft plan, which will outline the approved funding categories and budget amounts.

BDMS Community Services was founded by Binay Sharma in 2019 to address the gap in quality disability support in Darwin. He drew on his experience working directly in the NDIS system to create a service that is tailored to local needs and cultural differences.

Early Intervention Support

Early Intervention Support is a specialised program available to children with disabilities and their families. This enables them to meet developmental milestones and personal goals that improve functionality in multiple areas of their lives. This can help them live more independently than if their disability was allowed to progress unchecked.

In the Northern Territory, Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) services are delivered by Local Area Coordination and ECA NT. LAC services link people to the NDIS and support them to access quality services in their community. ECA NT is the NDIS ECEI partner in the Darwin urban region, which includes Darwin, Palmerston, and Litchfield.

During an evaluation and assessment, your family will work with professionals to develop an individualised family service plan. This will identify the services your family needs, including early education and community participation. Delaware County ECEI Service Coordinators follow a “dedicated model” and use their skills in service coordination as their primary role.

Community Participation Support

Getting involved in the community is a great way to boost your confidence and self-esteem. Whether you’re attending local festivals or window shopping, these activities promote a sense of belonging and inclusion.

Innovative community participation supports are a vital component of the NDIS. It enables participants to unlock their potential, develop skills and nurture hopes and dreams. It also helps them find their own unique strengths, passions, and interests.

NDIS funding for community participation support allows you to access social and recreational activities, cultural events, and more. This is included under the NDIS’s Support Category 9 – Social and Community Participation, or Capacity Building Supports. This type of support is often used to fund a support worker to attend activities with you, but can also be applied towards costs like transportation and disability-related expenses. These are considered high intensity supports, and their hourly price limits are different from other NDIS supports. The price limit is higher for high-intensity supports that need a support worker with specialised training or skills.

Personal Care Support

Personal care includes assistance with tasks such as dressing, grooming, eating and mobility. These are things that most of us take for granted, but can be very challenging if you have a disability. This type of support is available through NDIS funded services.

BDMS Community Services was founded in 2019 by Binay Sharma to fill a need for quality disability support in Darwin. He has extensive experience working directly in the NDIS system and realised that participants were not getting the comprehensive care they deserve.

The organisation offers a range of aged care, NDIS, and general community support services in Darwin, Palmerston & Rural, Katherine, Barkley, and Alice Springs. The organisation also provides a number of disability equipment products and specialises in specialist dementia care. All employees are screened and have all required safety checks, including National Police Clearances and Working with Children Checks. Many people choose to use their Home Care Package funding for basic personal care and domestic assistance, while also paying privately for specialised support services.