NEWSLETTER

Important Information

Key dates to remember

Monday 16th April 2018                      First Day of Term 2

Wednesday 18th April 2018               Open Night     

Wednesday 25th April 2018               ANZAC Day Public Holiday

Tuesday 15th May 2018                       Naplan Testing Commences

NDIA

The NDIA is an independent statutory agency. Their role is to implement the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme). 

Information for families and students who live in Southern Melbourne Area and are in one or more of the following categories:

Students who are in one or more of the following categories have had their contact details provided to the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to facilitate a smooth transition into the NDIS:

  1. Students receiving Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD) funding for Vision Impairment;
  2. Students enrolled at a Specialist School exclusively for students with Moderate to Profound Intellectual Disability; (Springvale Park Special Developmental School and Dandenong Valley Special Developmental School)
  3. Students with disability transport program (Specialist School Bus, taxi or conveyance allowance);
  4. Personal care support at school (Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD) funding at level 4, 5 or 6; and/or Medical Intervention Support (MIS)).

How do I know if my child is eligible for NDIS?

If your child meets the age, residency and disability requirements of the NDIS and you live in the Southern Melbourne Area your child may be able to access the NDIS. Southern Melbourne Area includes the following Local Government Areas;

  • City of Greater Dandenong
  • Casey
  • Cardinia

Streamlined access to the NDIA (defined program)

The NDIA recognises some groups of students as meeting NDIS eligibility without the need for additional evidence. In Victorian government schools these are referred to as ‘defined’ programs and include

  • Students receiving Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD) funding for Vision Impairment;
  • Students enrolled at a Specialist School (SDS) exclusively for students with Moderate to Profound Intellectual Disability.

If your child is attending this type of school or is in receipt of PSD funding for Vision Impairment they will have met the disability criteria for the NDIS and will have direct access to the NDIS.

Non-streamlined entry into the NDIA (non-defined program)

The following two state government programs/supports are not defined programs;

  • Students with disability transport program (Specialist School Bus, taxi or conveyance allowance);
  • Personal care support at school (Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD) funding at level 4, 5 or 6; and/or Medical Intervention Support (MIS));

These two programs/supports do not have the same disability requirements as the NDIS. Therefore students who are receiving one or more of these programs will need to provide additional evidence of their level of functional capacity (what a person can or cannot do) to the NDIA.

 

What reports and information can my school provide me with to help me access the scheme?

The Department is committed to supporting children and young people with disabilities and their families to maximise the benefits available to them through the NDIS.  Schools can play a significant role helping students to access the NDIS including providing families with copies of student records.  Relevant information that schools hold include:

  • Copies of previous or current Program for Students with Disabilities applications
  • Individual Learning Plans
  • Student Support Service reports or allied health reports

 

Although the provision of these existing school documents is recommended, please note that schools are not required to arrange new assessments for the purpose of providing evidence to support a student’s access to the NDIS. 

When will parents be contacted?

From April 2018 the NDIA will contact you by phone or will send you a letter to begin the process of determining access to the NDIS. Please be aware that the NDIA is contacting a large number of families so you may not be immediately contacted. Your patience is appreciated.

What do I need to do after the NDIA contacts me?

The NDIS may fund supports in addition to what your child is currently receiving at school so we encourage you to respond to the NDIA as soon as they attempt to contact you.

Please be aware that the NDIS does not fund supports that relate to your child’s learning.  This will remain the responsibility of schools and the education system.

If your child is eligible for the NDIS, the NDIA will contact you to develop an NDIS plan that provides the right support for your child.

What will change and what won’t

The NDIA will ask you about your child’s goals and current supports to determine the right supports for your child. There will be no change to your child’s transport and/or personal care needs at school.

What if my child isn’t receiving support through any of the four categories listed above?

If you live in Southern Melbourne Area and your child is not currently receiving these services through the Victorian Government, and you believe they might be eligible for the NDIS, we encourage you to approach the NDIA or the NDIA Local Area Coordinator (yet to be announced) from the Area start date of 1 September 2018 at:

NDIA  Phone: 1800 800 110

Email: enquiries@ndis.gov.au

Website: www.ndis.gov.au

 

What if I don’t live in Southern Melboune Area?

The NDIS is transitioning across Victoria by Local Government Area from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2019.  To see when the Local Government Area you live in is scheduled to transition, please refer to the NDIS website. 

 

Upcoming Information sessions

The NDIA, the NDIA Local Area Coordinator (yet to be announced) and the Department of Education & Training will be holding a targeted series of NDIS information sessions for parents and students in the future.  Further information about these sessions will be provided via your school.

 

Additional information

For additional information about the NDIS, visit the NDIS website at https://www.ndis.gov.au

 

If you have any questions regarding supports in schools, please contact Mrs Jacqui Sampson at Lyndhurst Secondary College on 5996 0144.

Library Books

Please note that all Library books borrowed from the College library before the school holidays are now overdue and need to be returned OR re-borrowed.

Thank you

CFA