I’m a support coordinator at the NDIS and I also have a disability that significantly impacts my life outside of work. I meet the criteria for NDIS support, according to my psychologist. I’m interested in hearing from others who have applied for NDIS benefits while working in the sector.
Does being employed within the NDIS impact the application process? I’m particularly concerned about potential confidentiality breaches or if my internal role might influence my application unfavorably. I’ve started to compile my application and am gathering supporting documents but am apprehensive about any unforeseen complications due to my employment status.
I’d really appreciate any insights or experiences on managing both roles. Especially any challenges you might have faced and how you navigated them.
I truly believe the NDIS could benefit from having more staff who are also participants, as lived experience is invaluable. Just remember, discrimination against people with disabilities is illegal in the workplace.
I’ve actually got an interest in pursuing a role within the NDIS myself. Support coordination has been on the cards for a while now, however I’m just waiting to see what the NDIS does with support coordination within the industry. There’s talks of the role being dissolved.
Being present on PNP for the last year and a half and trying to help as many people as I can, has been very satisfying. If I don’t know something, I research the answer. Its definitely been a very educational.
Thank you for the supportive words! I try to be open about my experiences within my professional capacity, which has generally been positive. Previous negative experiences with disclosure make me a bit anxious about how my application might be viewed, though. Your reassurance helps a lot!
I’ve done a bit of reading here and noticed that you’re always one of the first to answer. You sound like you’d be more determined/knowledgeable than some of the people I work with.
I recommend applying and pursuing it actively. It’s also worth exploring employers within the NDIS network who particularly value lived experience from their employees. Many do and it enhances the services provided.
Thanks for the encouragement. My employer is supportive of employees with disabilities, which is great. I’m just worried about how my application might be received by planners who know I work within the system. Nonetheless, I’m going ahead with my application.
The perspective you bring as both an insider and a participant would be amazing. It shouldn’t deter you from seeking the support you deserve. It’s vital for the NDIS to employ people who genuinely understand the challenges participants face.
I’ve heard that the PNP directory is launching in the, “next week or 2”. You should create a listing and we could chat further then.
I’d be dissapointed if you encounted any resistance. You won’t know though until you try.
I don’t think we have anyone else on this forum who is a participant AND working in the industry. I’d love it if you could keep us updated with your progress as it would be a fantastic thread to encourage other participants to pursue work in the industry too.
Also, having your additional knowledge here on the board would be fantastic! We’d appreciate it if you could stick around
Thankyou both for the encouragement and kind words. I definitely get great community vibes here and will be sticking around for sure. I will keep everyone here updated with my application. Hopefully there aren’t any issues, but we all know how the NDIS process can be at times .
I noticed theres a lot of discussion here focussed on peoples struggles with applications, so hopefully I can get lucky and its all smooth sailing.
Oh? I wasn’t aware of a directory. Depending on the cost etc, I’d definitely consider it. I don’t have my own business though. I’m working for a company.
Yeah! We’re launching a directory soon and giving providers the ability to create a listing and have post signatures on the platform.
The hope is by introducing providers (because we’ve kept it primarily as participants and participant support people), we can bring more knowledge to the platform. Our goal is to have this service free of charge for providers for at least the first 6 months and then after this time, charge a quarterly/annual fee.
It also means that participants get to see and talk with people like you on the platform Jetty and get a feel for you before taking up services.
With the additional resources we eventually aquire, we plan to dedicate far more time to this than we’re currently able to and build some really amazing tools for participants and providers. Both participants and providers struggle to navigate the complexities of the NDIS at times, and we’re going to have fun making it easier for everyone.
It has been a future ambition of mine to create a business eventually. I’m not at that stage yet though. I had planned on building a good reputation in the commnity first and then go out on my own. A platform like this seems like it would be really good for someone in my position.
Building a rep in the community is traditionally a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t get me wrong, building a rep on an online community like this would still be a marathon, BUT, due to it’s online nature, its far more efficient. You can do it from home at any time of the day, you don’t need to drive anywhere (time saving) and you have the potential to reach far more people, far more often.
Getting out in your local community is still a powerful thing, so don’t neglect that, but this is a good addition to your rep building/networking tool kit.
.