According to the 2017-2018 Federal Budget, approximately 30% of NDIS funding goes unspent. As NDIS funding does not roll over to the next year, many participants are missing out on the full potential of their plan.
The team at Bright Management wants you to make the most out of your budget - it’s there for you to use!
We’ve collected a few tips and tricks to help you utilise your full funding and reap the benefits.
Get to know the role of your Local Area Coordinator (LAC)
Your Local Area Coordinator is your go-to fountain of knowledge. They’re the guiding hand through the NDIS maze. Understanding how LACs fit into your NDIS journey is imperative in getting the most out of your funding.
LACs help plan and review your NDIS plan. They cannot approve your plan (that’s up to the NDIA), but they’re able to help in building the best NDIS plan for you.
They’re able to assist in connecting you to service providers, help you understand your budgets, meet with you when it comes to constructing your first plan and subsequent reviews, and offer advice along the way.
Your LAC prioritises your experience with the NDIS and will help you construct a plan that utilises its full potential.
Know what your LAC needs from you
Every NDIS participant has different goals and needs, so it’s important to help your LAC understand you. A personalised plan designed to support your needs is a sure-fire way to get the most out of your funding.
You can help your LAC create a comprehensive plan by providing as much information about yourself as possible.
Outline your daily challenges, collate medical and/or therapy reports, provide quotes for resources and services, and develop a breakdown of your goals.
If your Local Area Coordinator is armed with all the relevant information regarding your challenges and goals, you’ll be in a much better position to utilise the entirety of your funding.
Get those goals set
The NDIS is all about helping you achieve your short and long term goals.
Setting goals helps define the direction of your plan and the services that will be enlisted - and it will help your LAC create a comprehensive plan for you. Setting loose or unspecific goals will likely result in a portion of your NDIS funding going unspent.
Your goals should relate to you - they could be about maintaining your health, developing better social skills or improving your communication skills.
And don’t forget to reevaluate your goals. Your NDIS plan should change as you do. When it’s time for a plan review, check-in with your goals. Are you on your way to achieving them? Or maybe your goals have changed?
This allows you to then determine what supports you’ll need to help you realise your goal throughout your NDIS journey.
The team at Bright Plan Management understand the ins and outs of the NDIS and we’re passionate about helping you get the most out of your NDIS funding. Get in touch today to see how we can help you on your NDIS journey!