NDIS Psychologist

NDIS Registered Psychologist Overview - All things NDIS and NDIS Provider Registration

NDIS Registered Psychologists – A general overview of the NDIS, criteria for participants, plans, locations, types of support and participants, goals, partnerships with service providers, funding pathways, registered vs. unregistered providers, choosing an NDIS psychologist, continuing your services, self–managed NDIS plans and how to find an NDIS Psychologist Services at Chat Clinic.

If you are simply looking for psychological services, feel free to skip ahead to the “NDIS registered psychologist Services at Chat Clinic” section.

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The NDIS program:

Overview of the NDIS

Just under a fifth of Australians present with a disability (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2009). This has contributed to the development of the NDIS, which stands for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, an insurance support scheme by the Australian Government. The National Disability Insurance Agency administers the program and is overseen by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) (National Disability Insurance Scheme, 2020).

The NDIS scheme has an impact on an estimated 4.3 million Australians (NDIS, 2020). To be able to obtain funding and access NDIS services, it is vital to understand the criterion involved including accurately identifying what a permanent and significant disability is.

Half a million Australians with a permanent and significant disability will be provided with upwards of $22 billion of funding from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) over the next half-decade. The projected annual program cost is estimated at 22 billion dollars a year (NDIS, 2020).

What are the criteria for NDIS participants?

Key criteria involve:

  1. Being under the age of 65.
  2. Having a permanent disability – means your disability is likely to be lifelong.
  3. Having a significant disability – a substantial impact on your ability to complete everyday activities.

How is an NDIS plan developed?

The development of an NDIS plan involves the integration of information from doctors, healthcare professionals, support groups, networks and associated individuals involved in the participant’s life to demonstrate that the participant requires this NDIS funding. This also involves identifying services that assist the participant through the NDIS network of services. This is accomplished through the NDIS providing information and connections concerning the use of services within the participant’s individual community. This would also include providing relevant information regarding support by individual state and territory governments.

What locations will the NDIS begin in?

The NDIS program will be implemented in all states and territories.

What are the types of support and participants your NDIS psychologist can assist with?

The NDIS program would be suitable in the context of core supports and capacity building. The NDIS program supports participants with a range of disabilities including intellectual, physical, sensory, cognitive and psychosocial. The NDIS program also addresses early intervention support for younger people identified with disabilities and children with developmental delay through early intervention support.

How does the NDIS program assure Australians who have presented with a disability?

The NDIS program assures that the participant can obtain the necessary support within what the insurance scheme permits. It could range from an adult recently diagnosed with a disability to a child, who from birth or thereafter obtained a permanent and significant disability, within the criteria involved.

What goals does the NDIS support for those presenting with a disability?

The NDIS program supports its participants in their development of skills and to obtain assistance that falls into the areas of core support, capital supports and capacity building in the context of occupational, educational, social and even within community participation settings. Autonomy and independence is a major focus in activities of daily living and daily activities which has a distinct impact on functional improvements in occupational, educational, community and professional outcomes.

Do our NDIS psychologists partner with Service Providers?

Yes! Our NDIS registered psychologists partner with NDIS service providers. This is to ensure you obtain timely and effective therapeutic support services. If the services have been approved in your NDIS plan and with your NDIS planner, none of the services provided to you will be out of pocket.

Funding pathways in the NDIS

  • Plan-managed funding;
  • NDIA-managed funding;
  • Self-management;
  • Having your services fall under multiple categories

Primary differences between these options:

  • Plan-managed – In this option, the NDIA works together with your Plan Manager to fund services agreed to within your NDIS plan. The Plan Manager undertakes the task of reimbursing your providers. The amounts for each type of service will be stipulated in your NDIS plan. The Plan Manager can view your plan on the Myplace portal and undertake tasks such as keeping track of your budget, financial reporting and assisting in the selection of providers if so required.
  • NDIA-managed – This is where your NDIS plan is managed at an Agency level. The selection of providers is limited to NDIS-registered providers and the NDIA will reimburse registered providers on your behalf. Claims by registered providers will be completed online. Under this option, you may be limited to registered providers. You will retain the ability to review any claims made by a provider on the Myplace portal. Similarly to being Plan Managed, you would have the ability to review any claims that a provider has made from your NDIS funding and monitor your budget through Myplace. Except in this option, any book-keeping and financial records are managed at the Agency level (NDIA).
  • Self-management – Under this option, you have the autonomy to fund support services agreed to within your NDIS plan independently. You have the discretion to utilise the funding from the NDIA in a way that empowers your choice in the types of support that you decide to access. This gives you control and flexibility as to how you can achieve specific goals and outcomes that have been agreed to in your NDIS Plan. You are responsible for the management of your NDIS funding which includes, ensuring that your budget adheres to the scope of what was agreed to in your NDIS plan and, deciding independently as to the service providers and types of support you utilise.
  • The best of both worlds! – If you would like a proportion of your services to be managed by the NDIA or a Plan Manager and the remainder to the self-managed, that choice remains yours.

Regardless of the option chosen, ensuring that your choice and control over ensuring and evaluating whether your services are working for you and fit in your budget, are yours.

NDIS registered and unregistered provider, what’s the difference?

The primary distinction between registered and unregistered providers is that the provider has chosen on their own accord to be registered with the NDIS. This NDIS registration permits a registered provider to see agency, plan and self-managed participants.

Unregistered providers are permitted to see solely plan and self-managed participants. Unregistered providers have the right to choose whether to register with the NDIS. Similarly, participants also have the right to choose how their plans are administered, through the agency, a Plan Manager or self-managed.

It’s always important to verify if the provider you are working with meets the requirements regarding qualifications, experience and capacity for the approved services and supports in your NDIS plan. For example, it’s important to ensure that the registered psychologist you are about to work with is registered with the Psychology Board of Australia under the Register of Practitioners.

To sum up, unregistered providers can still deliver the services, support or product to you. When working with an NDIS registered psychologist one of the most important criteria is that you have a therapeutic alliance with the psychologist. This goes further than providing you with a service as a healthcare professional and ensures that you’re working with a psychologist who has your best interests at heart.

Choosing an NDIS registered psychologist to deliver therapeutic services?

When choosing between service providers or NDIS registered psychologists, it is important to take a step back and remember your intended goals and outcomes. It’s so important to figure out work where you want to go and where you want to be. Connect with an NDIS psychologist that not only meets your needs but more importantly, that you have a therapeutic alliance with. Often a conversation about your goals within the context of your NDIS plan, your therapy goals and even personal goals can be very helpful. It’s important if the NDIS registered psychologist you are working with has the capacity and know-how to help you reach these goals. It is also equally important to be upfront about the costs involved, duration of therapy, and how to deal with financial, administration and scheduling issues, amongst others.

I have a preferred NDIS Service provider or have become accustomed to my psychologist even before my NDIS plan was in place. Can I continue utilising their services with the NDIS plan?

Absolutely! Whether you feel empowered and comfortable within the therapy services provided to you is paramount. If the psychologist can provide the services required in an ethical, secure and professional manner, you’re in good hands.

Before commencing with your NDIS plan, it is highly recommended to further a discussion with your chosen Service Provider as to how, when and where your therapy supports will be delivered. While you are not obligated to present your NDIS plan, it is beneficial to bring a copy of your NDIS plan. Some Service Providers may choose only to proceed with the NDIS plan and Service Agreement in place. The NDIS states that it is also your choice if you wish to share only share parts of your plan with that Service Provider. However, sharing this information with your Service Provider provides perspective and permits them to know what you want to achieve and how you would like them to assist you.

Self–managed NDIS plans, how does NDIS funding work in this case?

While it is not required, it is highly beneficial to be open about the NDIS plan and develop a Service Agreement with your Service Provider. It is certainly your choice whether to engage a Service Provider without a Service Agreement, however, this can lead to challenges in terms of what is agreed and details being overlooked between yourself and the Service Provider in terms of services provided, pricing and other important criteria.

A formal written agreement between yourself and the Service Provider is what is called the Service Agreement. The Service Agreement clearly outlines what, how and when psychological therapy services will be provided to you, including supports that will be delivered and need to be paid for.

Upon completion of a particular therapy service or support or, if you agree to pay for the invoice ahead of time (depending on the Service Provider), you will have to reimburse your provider using your own money and obtain a receipt. Subsequently, you will start a payment request to have funds from your NDIS plan budget to be paid to the bank account that you have listed with NDIS. The reimbursement process takes up to 24 to 48 hours (NDIS, 2020).

*If this applies to you: The process involved in changing your NDIS Plan from Plan or NDIA-managed, and to an entirely or partly managed by yourself involves setting up a meeting with NDIA.

We have included some information from the official NDIS page for your reference:

· https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/using-your-plan/self-management

NDIS Registered Psychologist Services at Chat Clinic

To determine the best way for you to obtain timely and effective NDIS psychological services at Chat Clinic:

1. Call one of the numbers listed below or;

2. Fill your details in the form below and we can schedule a call back or;

3. Talk to us in the chat box on the right hand corner.

Here are some of our NDIS psychologist profiles.

We can provide to NDIS participants with a scope of psychological services. This may include:

· A referral to a range of NDIS psychologists, healthcare professionals or practitioners within your community or through Telehealth that are eligible for funding under the NDIS.
· A referral to NDIS psychologists, healthcare professionals or practitioners of different genders.
· Taking a complete view of your situation and collaborating with all stakeholders involved in your situation. This can include family members, Service Providers and community support and networks.
· Providing psychology services outside normal working hours or after hours.
· Access to a friendly team of NDIS psychologists with an extensive breadth of experience and skillsets.
· Connecting with NDIS psychologists, healthcare professionals or practitioners who speak your language of preference.

The clients we work with are happy to work with us for the following reasons.

  • We consider your circumstances with empathy and in its entirety.
  • We emphasise the importance of a therapeutic alliance and ensure evidence-based methods are used in developing a personalised plan for you.
  • We work with you, the person, rather than just the diagnosis or disability.

Get Help Now From Our Registered Psychologists.

Click the chat icon and we will answer any of your queries about our service.

Note: If this is an emergency please contact, dial 000 immediately.

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land that we live and work on and we are committed to closing the gap.

References

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2009, Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings, cat. no. 4430.0, ABS, Canberra.

National Disability Insurance Scheme. (2020, November 11). What is the NDIS? NDIS. https://www.ndis.gov.au/understanding/what-ndis

Frequently asked questions by consumers who have inquired about our services: