NDIS – National Disability Insurance Scheme

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a new way of providing disability support that takes a lifetime approach.

The NDIS will provide all Australians under the age of 65 who have a disability that is likely to be permanent and significant with the reasonable and necessary supports they need to live an ordinary life.

The NDIS is based on a policy of looking at the “whole person”. This approach is providing significant and improved outcomes, as these deliver individualised solutions.

These solutions are based on the participant’s goals and lifestyle needs rather than the basic standardised mobility solutions that have previously been available to participants on the state government scheme. With these tailored solutions, participants have successfully returned to work, or had their lives made easier at work, thereby extending their working life.

The basis of these “individualised solutions” are the participants personal goals and aspirations. For participants with amputations the types of goals & aspirations will determine the types of prosthetic solutions that will be required.

When thinking about your goals & aspirations you may wish to ask yourself:

• What activities are most important to you?
• What about your life would you most like to change?
• What would you like to do with less help from others?

You can see the positive impact that the answer to these questions has had on some of the participants with amputations under participant experiences.