Frequently Asked Questions
The iConnect Life team have come together to answer some of our most commonly asked questions. If you are unable to find an answer to your question, please get in touch with our team via our Contact Us page. We are here to help.
Our Top FAQ’s – please select a category to find your specific answer sooner.
The NDIS is short for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. It’s a new way for people with a disability, under the age of 65, to get the care and support they need. The NDIS is for people with a permanent and significant disability that impacts their ability to take part in everyday activities.
The NDIS provides lifetime supports to individuals who meet the eligibility criteria. The support is based on a plan that includes your support needs, goals and aspirations. If you are eligible, you will work out what reasonable and necessary support you need to live your life and achieve your goals. You’ll then receive funding to pay for these supports. The team at iConnect Life can work with you to create a plan to suit your own goals and hopes. Find more information on the NDIS website.
There is a range of NDIS support types. Not all types of support required by a person living with a disability fall under the responsibility of the NDIS. Some supports are funded by other areas of government (e.g. state health systems) or existing public and community services.
In general, the NDIS will fund reasonable and necessary supports that help a person living with a disability enjoy an ordinary life. These supports and services fall into three categories.
CORE – A support that assists with activities of daily living.
CAPITAL – A support for an investment, such as assistive technologies; equipment and home or vehicle modifications; or funding for capital costs (e.g. to pay for Specialist Disability Accommodation).
CAPACITY BUILDING – A support that helps build independence and skills.
The NDIA is the National Disability Insurance Agency. It is a government agency and its role is to implement and manage the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) and make sure people with disability continue to get the support they need.
Eligibility for the NDIS depends on a few different things, such as:
- Age: You need to be under 65 years at the time of your application.
- Residency status: You must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen with a Protected Special Category Visa.
- Disability & Early Intervention: You must have a permanent disability that significantly affects how you can communicate, move, care for yourself, or manage your life, or have a permanent disability (or developmental delay for children under six years) which would likely benefit from receiving supports now, to reduce the amount of support needed in the future.
- Early Intervention: You might be eligible if early intervention would substantially improve your functioning, or delay or decrease a decline in functioning, for you or your child.
We recommend you confirm your eligibility via the NDIS website or by calling the NDIA on 1800 800 110. For more information, visit Am I eligible.
There are several ways you can manage your NDIS plan, and you don’t have to choose only one of these options. You can use a combination that best suits your needs.
For example, you might self-manage some parts of your NDIS plan, while the NDIA may look after other parts.
The three options for plan management are:
- Your plan is managed by someone from the NDIA
- Your plan is managed by a Plan Manager
- You manage your NDIS plan
Absolutely! If you are not eligible for NDIS funding, you are still able to access a range of supportive services our team has to offer. To learn more about our services, visit Our Services page or give us a call on 1800 511 411 to discuss your options.
For NDIS participants, clients can access their NDIS plan to pay for the Support Workers who run each activity. For private clients, please contact our team for individual group activity costing and participation. Our activities are suitable for a range of abilities and ages.
Travel / Transport: This service can also be provided upon request. The service includes pick up from home to the hub or activity and return. This service is charged at $1 per km and when there is another client in the car the cost is split between them e.g, fifty cents per km per client. Some NDIS plans include funding for this.
Depending on the group activity you wish to participate in, come additional costs may be required. All costs will be discussed with the client and their family prior to participation. Most additional costs are associated with the provision of meals, the purchase of souvenirs or additional entry fees when visiting a venue or attraction i.e golf courses or theme parks. Feel free to visit our What’s On activity page for more information on the groups available.
This will depend on the activity you select and the venue you are attending. Our Support Workers will ensure that the items you need are communicated clearly prior to your activity. As a general guide, the below items will be required:
. Video Gaming Activities: $5 for chicken nuggets and chips or your own food if you would prefer. We also recommend bringing your own water bottle for hydration.
. Social Groups – including Movie & Boardgame Activities: You will require some additional money for food or your are welcome to bring your own food. A water bottle is required also.
. Outdoor Adventure Groups: There may be an additional charge for your activity (location/group dependant) and occasionally you will need to bring items such as swimmers, a backpack, and a water bottle. This is always discussed beforehand.
There will be one Support Worker for three clients. If any of the clients have behaviours that require more attention or the activity requires more in-depth supervision the Support Worker ratio will be adjusted to suit.
Our schedule of Group Activities is extremely varied. At this time, only a portion of our activities is wheelchair accessible. To learn which activities are suitable, please call our team on 1800 511 411.
The number of participants for each Group Activity varies, with several factors impacting the capacity. The group participant numbers will be determined in accordance with the space we are using, the available Support Workers and current Covid-19 regulations as set out by the Australian Government. To get details on specific activities, please touch base with our team Phone 1800 511 411.
Our two Connection Hubs are set up in Tweed Heads (NSW) and Robina (QLD), however, our list of scheduled activities can occur anywhere from Ballina to Brisbane. In addition to our weekly scheduled Group Activities, our team also offer short-term accommodation, holidays, and camping trips across Australia. These larger events are dependent on your funding type.
NDIS Social & Community Participation is a funded support category for goals relating to your social participation, involvement in recreational activities and participation in your local community. At iConnect Life, we have a range of activities available, including social networking events, overnight camping, adventure programs, movie days, plus so much more. Each activity is tailored to suit the needs of the people joining us, and they are an excellent way for you to get out there and meet new friends!
At iConnect Life, we work to match you with participants and team members that share your interests and understand your needs so you can get the most out of your experience.
Need More Information
Our team are available for any questions you have about the services we offer, the NDIS or our community participation activities. Feel free to get in touch with us today. We are always happy to answer your questions. Phone: 1800 511 411 • Email: info@iconnectlife.com.au