The NDIS Funding is made possible by various allied health and non-health professionals who ensure Australians with any form of disability or impairment get the necessary support they deserve. All thanks to them, the NDIS funding can reach as many Australians as possible. Below are the various allied professionals who work together;
NDIS Planners
NDIS Planners are professionals who help assess participants and determine if they are eligible for NDIS funding or not. They also work with the beneficiaries to develop individualised plans that support their independence, allocate resources to their needs in order of priority and link them to other professionals who can help realise the individualised plans.
Support Coordinators
Support Coordinators help NDIS beneficiaries to understand the complexities of the funding they are trying to access. They also collaborate with beneficiaries to determine their goals and needs and connect them with service providers who can meet these goals and needs. Finally, they ensure that the NDIS funding is spent accordingly.
Social Workers
Social workers work with other allied professionals by providing emotional and psychological support to persons with disabilities. Also, they assess the risks of each patient, help them in filling their forms and equip them with knowledge to make the right decisions. Sometimes, they also advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities and advocate for policies that support their welfare.
Behavioural Therapists
Behavioural therapists help to assess the behavioural conditions and challenges of individuals with disabilities to determine if they are eligible for NDIS funding and the type they are eligible for. In addition, they teach the individuals how to replace maladaptive behaviours with constructive behaviours to aid their independence and social reintegration.
Special Education Teachers
One crucial part of NDIS funding is support for the mental development of all beneficiaries. As such, special education teachers collaborate with other important stakeholders to develop and implement specialised education plans for individuals with disabilities. They also help concerned individuals to transition from school to after-school activities and encourage them to relate more with their peers.
Rehabilitation Counselors
Rehabilitation Counselors majorly provide psychological support to NDIS beneficiaries to ensure they are in good mental condition. They also help beneficiaries develop career plans that align with their interests and strengths, as well as work with employers to make their workplaces more inclusive and conducive for persons with disabilities. Sometimes, they recommend the assistive technology needed to support beneficiaries’ independence.
General Practitioners
General Practitioners are often the first point of contact for NDIS patients needing medical care. They diagnose and treat a wide range of medical conditions, especially those that do not need the attention of a specialist. They also manage and coordinate medical care for patients, provide wellness education, promote healthy behaviours, refer patients to specialists as and when due and ensure patients receive proper care.
Speech Pathologists
Speech Pathologists provide therapy to people with speech disorders. They do this by first assessing the level of the speech disorder in the individual. They help individuals navigate cognitive speech disorders resulting from medical conditions such as trauma, brain damage, stroke, etc. They also help design social and communication skills interventions for individuals with autism.
Assistive Technology Specialists
Assistive Technology Specialists assess the individual’s situation to determine the kind of assistive technology recommended to support their independence. They also advocate for incorporating assistive technology in education and work settings, collaborate with other allied professionals to include assistive technology into individuals’ care plans, and tailor assistive technology recommendations to reflect individuals’ needs.
Financial Planners
Financial Planners work with families and individuals with disabilities to create budgets that cover all costs of treatments and therapies, navigate NDIS funding and maximise all benefits, and map out long-term financial plans for individuals who require lifetime support. They also collaborate with support coordinators to ensure all financial needs of individuals are covered and that they receive the necessary support as and when due.
Community Nurses
Community Nurses play a crucial role in making the NDIS funding a success. They monitor the conditions of individuals with disabilities regularly, provide special care for those with physical injuries, visit the homes of individuals with disabilities to ensure they live in the best conditions, and assist with the NDIS documentation. They also work with General Practitioners to ensure the continuity of medical care.
Dietitians
Dietitians help with assessing the nutritional requirements of each individual and creating individualised meal plans accordingly, supporting individuals who find it difficult to feed themselves, working with other professionals such as speech pathologists to address feeding issues, and providing education on nutrition. They also offer assistance in NDIS documentation on nutritional needs.
Audiologists
Audiologists are specialists who support people with hearing and balance disorders. They carry out a range of assessments to determine the extent of hearing and balance loss in individuals and provide solutions accordingly. They also recommend assistive listening devices to enhance individuals’ communication and offer rehabilitation services for people with hearing problems.
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapists conduct different tests to assess the functional needs of individuals with disabilities in various aspects of their lives and provide therapy interventions accordingly. They also help individuals develop essential life skills and design activities for those with cognitive loss to improve their memory.
Physiotherapists
Physiotherapists design and implement individualised plans to help reduce and manage the pain associated with various disabilities. They also recommend assistive devices for individuals who need them and use exercises to improve the balance of individuals with disabilities. Finally, they work with other professionals to ensure optimal neurological care for the individuals.
Job Coaches
Job Coaches assess an individual’s condition, interests, preferences, skills and abilities to determine suitable employment opportunities. They also help individuals develop skills, offer on-the-job training and support and facilitate job networking opportunities. They work with employers to provide a conducive environment for work and address work challenges and crises between the individual and the employer or other employees.
In conclusion, various allied health and non-health professionals work together to ensure NDIS funding achieves its goals for individuals with disabilities. This provides equitable opportunities for individuals to live fully and contribute to their societies.