How to craft kick-ass NDIS evidence

When it comes to getting what you need from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), evidence is everything. Here, a senior support coordinator shares how to get yours in ship shape.

Alexandra Browne is an expert on evidence - the reports, assessments, letters and information - we need to provide the NDIS in order to paint a picture of what participants need to live life on their terms. She’s also a recent guest on the NDIS Know-how podcast, where she had so much useful advice, we created a two-part special to fit it all in. 

Here are three of her tips for delivering top-notch evidence at your next NDIS review:

Include a ‘comparison document’

“I’ve noticed recently that the NDIA is quite focussed on comparison - and it can be a powerful piece of evidence. It sounds awful, but unfortunately, the NDIS is a deficit-based scheme and we need to point things out in black and white by comparing an individual the same age who doesn’t have a disability - and what they are doing functionally - versus the person with the disability. 

“This is most important for participants between the ages of zero and 18, because the NDIA will very often push back and say that certain supports are ‘the parents' responsibility’. 

“Whether it is done with a therapist or as part of a carer impact statement, having that comparison document is powerful because it really outlines that the difference is due to the person’s disability and the support needs are there.” 

Think functional, not medical

“NDIS participants' needs should be discussed from a functional perspective, rather than a medical perspective. Otherwise the NDIS is just going to go, well, that’s health-related and they can get it funded through Medicare or another funding body. In NDIS reports, we definitely don’t want to say anything about ‘treatment’. 

“To speak about someone in a medical way might be saying they have cerebral palsy. To speak about how that impacts their function might be, they’ve got cerebral palsy, which means it's hard for them to get out and about in the community and socialise without support. And it can be broken down even further than that. What does that support look like? 

“In a lot of cases, whether it's cerebral palsy, a neurological condition or mental health, healthcare does have some responsibility in the mix. But explaining things from a functional perspective pulls focus away from the medical side and the NDIS gets a full picture.”

For every plan review, it’s back to square one

“It’s getting harder and harder to get things funded within an individual’s NDIS package. Even if the person has met access requirements and they’ve had the same plan for five years and it’s all tracking along well, they can’t get complacent. They need to be providing evidence each year to say, this is how the funding is being used, this is what’s working, this is what we continue to work on, and these are the changes. Otherwise, the NDIA might say they don’t have enough evidence to provide this level of funding and they’re going to cut it. 

“You might be like, no! We've been using this funding and it’s been going well. But the NDIA doesn’t know that. We need to show them that through evidence. And if you’re using any NDIS providers, then they know that they need to be providing that evidence.

“When a clinician comes in, as a parent, you might think, ‘they know best so I’m not going to say anything’. But remember that you know your child and their situation best. Feel empowered and comfortable about going back to your providers and saying, you know what? We really need this funding and this is why, and I don’t feel like this evidence is showing that to the NDIS.” 

Listen to the full interview with Alexandra Browne on the award-winning NDIS Know-how podcast.