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Tools + Resources Categories

Getting started

Getting started

Let’s start at the very beginning. It’s a very good place to start.

Here you can find a range of information to commence your self management journey.

Keep your records

Keep your records

As a self manager you need to keep records of your purchases and claiming on your plan.

Works smarter,
not harder.

Set goals and make plans

Set goals and make plans

A goal without a plan is just a wish.

The planning tools and resources in this section can help you live the life you want.

Know your rights

Know your rights

As an NDIS Self Manager, it is important you know your rights and responsibilities.

This section will lay it all out for you.

Build your team

Build your team

It’s so important to have a good team to support you.

In this section you will find resources to build and manage your ideal support team.

Rules for hiring

Rules for hiring

Find information on work health and safety, tax, superannuation, workers’ rights and more.

Get creative

Get creative

Think outside the disability box to what a good life looks like.

Find the flexibility to design your own supports to meet your goals for your life.

Can I buy it?

Can I buy it?

“Can I buy it?”…maybe.

In this section, we give you information and tools to help you decide if it is okay to use your NDIS funds for certain things.

Peer networks

Peer networks

The Self Manager Hub is a peer network for self managers.

In this section we share more information on peer networks and peers support.

Search Results

Online workshop : STA & Respite in the NDIS : 2.00pm AEDST Saturday 16 March

By Self Manager Hub

| Creative solutions | What can I buy? | Blue sky dreaming | Human rights | Managing supports

| NDIS Fund Management | What can I buy? | Events

| Online learning | Event


This is a free workshop on the rules for NDIS Short Term Accommodation and respite funding. We discuss the rules about how you might use your funding when you or your family member need a short break and when you go on a holiday. We will hear from senior NDIA staff,...

read more

Self Manager Hub Forum – Is this the end of Self and Plan Management?

By Self Manager Hub

| Choice and control | Human rights | NDIS quality safeguard commission | Managing supports

| Free resource | News | Know your rights

| Document | News


Did you miss the Self Manager Hub Forum on 17 February? If so, you can access the PowerPoint slides that were used in the forum here..... _________ On 17 February, the Self Manager Hub Board held an online forum to help people who self manage and plan manage NDIS...

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Free ‘Aged Care to Home’ service

By Summer Foundation

| NDIS | My home | Supported decision making | News

| Free resource | Set goals and make plans | Know your rights

| Article


The Summer Foundation has partnered with Housing Hub to deliver a free specialist service, working directly with young people living in aged care, and their supporters, to achieve their housing and support goals. Whether you want to move out of aged care or improve...

read more

NDIS Review: Regulation does not keep people safe. People keep people safe!

By Linda Hughes

| NDIS | News | NDIS review

| Free resource | Get creative | News | Know your rights

| Article


Linda Hughes is president of the Self Manager Hub and parent of an NDIS participant. Together they self manage and directly employ support workers. Here Linda describes some of the problems with the changes proposed by the NDIS review.

read more

Workshop: Towards a Better Life – 7 & 8 March 2024 – Melbourne

By Belonging Matters

| Blue sky dreaming | Future planning

| Build your team | Events

| Event


Belonging Matters are holding a two-day workshop which will inspire participants to reflect on the value of obtaining the good things in life and consider how we may support people who may have been marginalised or disadvantaged to have better lives and greater...

read more

NDIS Review Survey

By Every Australian Counts

| Human rights | NDIS quality safeguard commission | Hiring a contractor | News

| Free resource | Rules for hiring | News | Know your rights

| News | Text only | Survey


Every Australian Counts are collecting anonymous information to understand what our community thinks about the recommendations in the NDIS Review Report. The survey talks about the recommendations in the NDIS Review Report and asks you to outline what they might mean...

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Petition: Don’t remove Decision Making and Choice from People on NDIS

By Self Manager Hub

| Human rights | NDIS quality safeguard commission | Hiring a contractor | News | Contracts and legal

| Free resource | Rules for hiring | News | Know your rights

| Form | News | Text only | Survey


Join thousands of others and sign this petition to Parliament to prevent people on NDIS from losing choice and control over the people they hire to support them.  This petition aims to ensure that choice and control is legislated and that this choice is not removed by...

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You CAN Ask That! Self Manager Hub Webinar

By Self Manager Hub

| Choice and control | Engaging a service provider | Employing people | Supported decision making | Managing supports

| NDIS Fund Management | Premium Content | Build your team | Rules for hiring | Get creative | What can I buy? | News | Know your rights

| Video | Closed caption


You CAN ask that! Q & A with Sam Paior and Dr George. Australia’s leading self-management gurus take on your questions! Can I hire my friend/family member to support me? What’s a parent’s responsibility vs the role of the NDIS? Can I take a holiday with my NDIS funding? Can self management be taken away from me?

read more

The NDIS Review : Experts Have Their Say – Reasonable & Necessary podcast

By Summer Foundation

| Human rights | NDIS quality safeguard commission | News

| Free resource | News | Know your rights

| Video | Closed caption


On this episode of Reasonable and Necessary, Dr George brings together Australia's leading disability advocates to unpack the NDIS Review. Dr George, along with El Gibbs, Nick Avery, Jarrod Sandell-Hay and Sam Paior will guide you through all the big changes that are...

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NDIS Review – Big Changes Revealed with co-chairs Professor Bruce Bonyhady and Lisa Paul – Reasonable & Necessary podcast

By Summer Foundation

| News

| Free resource | NDIS Fund Management | News

| Video | Transcribed


On this episode of Reasonable & Necessary, Dr George speaks with Professor Bruce Bonyhady and Lisa Paul for their final interview, revealing major changes that will be recommended in the NDIS Review final report. This is a must see episode for anyone interested in...

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New supported decision making resources

By WA Individualised Services

| Human rights | Supported decision making

| Free resource | Set goals and make plans

| Video | Webpage | Closed caption | Easy english | Guide


Supported decision-making is when people with disability get support to make or act on their own decisions. Having choice and control means your decisions are heard and respected. This is a basic human right and it’s the foundation of self-direction. WAiS have...

read more

Disability Royal Commission : Interview with Former Commissioner Alastair McEwin – Reasonable & Necessary podcast

By Summer Foundation

| Human rights | NDIS quality safeguard commission | News

| Free resource | News | Know your rights

| Video | Closed caption


On this episode of Reasonable and Necessary, Dr George speaks to Alastair McEwin, Former Commissioner, Disability Royal Commission about what the findings and recommendations of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with...

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Redesigning NDIS 2.0 with Simon Duffy, an international perspective – Reasonable & Necessary podcast

By Summer Foundation

| News

| Free resource | NDIS Fund Management | Get creative | News

| Video | Closed caption


On this episode of Reasonable & Necessary, Dr George speaks with international expert on self-directed disability supports and citizenship, Dr Simon Duffy and NDIS participant and researcher Dr Mark Brown about their new report “Redesigning the NDIS”. The report...

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Challenging NDIS decisions : Expert advice to get the support you need

By Summer Foundation

| General NDIS

| Free resource | News | Know your rights

| Video


On this episode of Reasonable and Necessary, Australia’s leading podcast series on the NDIS, Dr George Taleporos speaks with Mitchell Skipsey from the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and NDIS participant and activist, Felice Vaiani, about NDIS appeals and what...

read more

How to Find & Keep Support Workers That Are Right for You – Webinar

By Self Manager Hub

| Choice and control | Engaging a service provider | Employing people | Managing supports | Worker screening

| Premium Content | Build your team | Rules for hiring

| Video | Closed caption


If you want to find and maintain a good support team, this workshop is for you. This practical workshop will help you figure out how to get the support you need. We will look at common problems when support is not right and how to address these. We will look at job...

read more

NDIS Self-Management Audits

By Self Manager Hub

| NDIS | Reporting to government bodies

| NDIS Fund Management | Premium Content | News | Keep your records | Know your rights

| Audio | Video | Closed caption | Transcribed


This is a recording of a workshop for self managers to hear directly from the NDIA about NDIS self-management audits. Find out what’s involved and how to be prepared in case you are audited.

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Unpacking the New Self Management Guide with the NDIA

By Self Manager Hub

| Choice and control | NDIS | Finding supports

| NDIS Fund Management | Premium Content | Build your team | News | Know your rights

| Video | Closed caption | Transcribed


This is a recording of a workshop hosted by Dr George Taleporos from Self Manager Hub where he was joined by Anna Burke from NDIA to unpack the new Self-Management Guide. This workshop is for self managers to hear directly from the National Disability Insurance Agency...

read more

NDIS Guide to Self-management

By Self Manager Hub

| Planning | Choice and control | NDIS

| Free resource | Build your team | News

| Tools | Webpage | Guide


Self-management is when you manage your NDIS funding. It gives you the flexibility and choice to decide what supports you buy to pursue your plan goals. The NDIS developed the Guide to Self-management for people who are self-managing, or interested in self-managing...

read more

Directly Employing Support Workers: Why Bother & How Do You Do It?

By Self Manager Hub

| Choice and control | NDIS | Finding supports

| Premium Content | Build your team | News

| Video | Closed caption | Transcribed


Presented by Dr George Taleporos and Linda Hughes, this Self Manager Hub workshop will help you:1. Understand what it takes to directly employ your support workers2. Decide if direct employment is right for you3. Increase your confidence and skills in direct...

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Using Short Term Accommodation Funding Innovatively with Self Management

By Self Manager Hub

| Flexibility | Choice and control | News | STA

| Free resource | Get creative | What can I buy? | News

| Video | Closed caption | Transcribed


Watch this Self Manager Hub workshop to learn how to get great outcomes from your Short Term Accommodation NDIS funding with Self Management. This workshop discusses all things STA, including: • The purpose of STA and what it means for you • What’s the difference...

read more

How to get great outcomes from your NDIS plan – A Self-management Deep Dive – Reasonable & Necessary podcast

By Summer Foundation

| Budgets | Managing supports

| Free resource | NDIS Fund Management | Get creative | News

| Video | Closed caption


On this episode of Reasonable and Necessary, Dr George speaks with NDIA General Manager Sam Bennett and NDIS guru Sam Paior about how to manage your NDIS funds efficiently, creatively and innovatively so you can get the best outcomes out of your plan.

read more

NDIS fraud and dodgy providers – Tips to protect your plan

By Summer Foundation

| General NDIS

| Free resource | News | Know your rights

| Video | Closed caption | Transcribed


On this episode of Reasonable and Necessary, Australia’s leading podcast series on the NDIS, Dr George Taleporos is joined by Assistant Director of the Fraud Fusion Taskforce at the NDIA Bruce Graydon, the Director of Compliance and Worker Screening at the NDIS...

read more

Working safely in other people’s homes

By Workplace Health and Safety Queensland

| Employing people | Hiring a contractor | Contracts and legal | Reporting to government bodies

| Free resource | Rules for hiring | News

| Handbook


This guide provides practical advice to health and community service organisations about how to manage work health and safety for community workers working in people’s homes. The guide outlines many common hazards found in the community services sector, primarily in...

read more

“At first I said No!” – NDIS Chair Kurt Fearnley reveals all in this exclusive interview

By Summer Foundation

| General NDIS

| Free resource | News

| Video | Closed caption | Transcribed


Dr. George Taloeporos speaks with newly appointed NDIS Chair Kurt Fearnley. In this in-depth interview Fearnley reveals all about how he came to the role, his vision for the future of the NDIS and, with a bit of persuasion, he takes on some of your tricky questions.

read more

Self managing your NDIS plan – e-learning

By QCOSS Community Door

| Planning | NDIS words | General NDIS

| Premium Content | Getting Started

| Online learning


This training is designed for people that are looking to self-manage their own plan or are currently self-managing and looking to increase their skills and knowledge. The training package aims at empowering and inspiring individuals to confidently manage all/some/part...

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How to find everything you need to self manage your NDIS plan

By Self Manager Hub

| Free resource | News | Getting Started

| Video | Closed caption


In this recording of the launch of the SelfManagerHub.org.au NEW & IMPROVED website: A Q & A with NDIS experts Dr George and Sam Paior about how you can set yourself up for success in your self management journey. You will also get a tour of our website, and...

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Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction

By Queenslanders with a Disability network

| Planning | Flexibility

| Free resource | Peer network | News

| Tools | Video | Webpage


Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DIDRR) means making sure that the needs and voices of people with disability are included in emergency management and disaster planning. These resources are helping community and disability service providers, emergency...

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What does good support look like – Reasonable & Necessary podcast

By Summer Foundation

| Managing supports

| Free resource | Build your team | News

| Video | Closed caption


In this episode of Reasonable and Necessary, find out what good support looks like and what NDIS participants want from support workers. Dr George speaks with Latrobe University PhD research student Megan Topping and NDIS participant and the director of support...

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What can I buy with my NDIS funding – checklist

By Self Manager Hub

| Things: Consumables and assistive technology

| Free resource | What can I buy? | News

| Document


Once you understand your NDIS plan and support budget you can choose the supports you are going to buy. As a self-manager you can be really creative when working out how you can best meet your needs and plan goals using your funding. What you buy with your...

read more

Bringing the good life to life

By Community Resource Unit

| Planning | Blue sky dreaming | My home

| Premium Content | Get creative

| Video | Webpage | Closed caption | Audio described video


The idea of this website is to explore what makes a Good Life and some of the things that can be done to create and sustain this for a person with disability.  We have gathered some great content that already exists on this topic and created some new resources that...

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Worker screening information (self-managed participants)

By NDIS Quality Safeguards Commission

| Employing people | Worker screening

| Premium Content | Rules for hiring

| Tools | Webpage


Self managing participants can use the NDIS Worker Screening Check. If you are a self-managed participant, you are able to ask workers providing NDIS supports and services to you to demonstrate they have a clearance, or to ask them to obtain a clearance by undergoing...

read more

The difference between contractors and employees

By Fair Work ombudsman

| Employment vs contractors | Employing people | Hiring a contractor | Contracts and legal

| Premium Content | Rules for hiring

| Tools


Independent contractors have different obligations and rights to employees because they are running their own business. This means it’s important to understand the difference between the two. Included on this page are the common indicators and general examples which,...

read more

State information about Work Health and Safety

By Self Manager Hub

| Employing people | Hiring a contractor

| Premium Content | Rules for hiring

| Directory


Contact the workers compensation regulator in your state or territory: Australian Capital Territory: WorkSafe ACT New South Wales: State Insurance Regulatory Authority (NSW) Northern Territory: NT WorkSafe Norfolk Island: Norfolk Island Workers Compensation Agency...

read more

Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010

By Fair Work ombudsman

| Employment vs contractors | Employing people | Contracts and legal

| Premium Content | Rules for hiring

| Document


Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services (SCHADS) award is the award that often covers people working in the disability sector. Read this award for pay and conditions for disability support workers.

read more

National Disability Insurance Scheme – Information from ATO

By Australian Taxation office

| Employment vs contractors | Employing people

| Premium Content | Rules for hiring | Keep your records

| Webpage


Information on your responsibilities if you engage your own support workers (if you're a participant or a nominee of the participant under the NDIS). Information on this page: Hiring a support worker Income and deductions for participants Income and deductions for...

read more

Seven Steps To Self-Direction – Building right relationship between people with disability, their families, friends and support workers

By Resourcing Inclusive Communities

| Engaging a service provider | Employment vs contractors | Employing people | Hiring a contractor | What you can expect from your providers

| Premium Content | Build your team

| Document


This workbook is a simple guide for working in "right relationship" in self-directed support arrangements through a seven step process.

read more

Where to buy and sell second hand Assistive Technology

By My Care Space

| What can I buy? | Things: Consumables and assistive technology

| Premium Content | What can I buy?

| Directory


Buying second-hand assistive technology can help spread your funds that little bit further or perhaps you are even looking to sell assistive technology that you no longer need. Click here for groups that can help people sell, swap and buy second-hand disability...

read more

Guide to Self Management

By NDIA - NDIS.gov.au

| Supports | Recordkeeping | NDIS words | What can I buy?

| Free resource | What can I buy? | News | Getting Started | Keep your records

| Document | Tools


Self-managing your National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding lets you use your funds creatively to better meet your needs. This guide will help you to:• Understand self-management and decide whether it is the right option for you.• Understand your rights and...

read more

NDIS participants CAN buy a device with the NDIS funding IF they need it for their support.

By Every Australian Counts

| What can I buy?

| Premium Content | What can I buy?

| Article


On the Every Australian Counts Zoom forum with Scott McNaughton this morning, Scott confirmed NDIS participants CAN buy a device with the NDIS funding IF they need it for their support. Link to Facebook post and other links.

read more

Choosing a Support Coordinator

By Summer Foundation - UpSkill Project

| Supports

| Free resource | Build your team | News

| Tools | Guide


The Summer Foundation’s UpSkill team has created this guide to help you choose a support coordinator who has the right skills, experience and values to work with you. We have included ideas for important things you might want to know about your support coordinator...

read more

Be a Boss

By WA Individualised Services

| Employment vs contractors | Employing people | Hiring a contractor

| Free resource | Build your team | Rules for hiring | News

| Online learning | Video | Closed caption


Be a Boss is a comprehensive online training  course  that has been developed to help you feel more confident and knowledgeable when hiring your own workers.  Excellent information on the difference between contractors and employees.

read more

Townsville’s ‘Master Shredder’ shows how work can change the life of people with disabilities

By ABC News

| Goals | Blue sky dreaming | Community | Jobs

| Premium Content | Get creative

| News


At 21 years old Emma Lynam is kicking goals — she has her own flat, her own small business, and recently hired her first employee. These achievements are significant for any young person, but they are especially so for Emma, who has Down syndrome, mild autism, is...

read more

Planning

By WA Individualised Services

| Plans to action | Planning

| Premium Content | Set goals and make plans

| Step by Step | Tools


Planning is a life long process - if you think about it, we sometimes make plans on a yearly, monthly, weekly or even daily basis. WAiS have co-designed and developed some Planning resources with people, families and service providers. These resources have been...

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New Self Management Policy

By NDIA - NDIS.gov.au

| Planning | NDIS words

| Premium Content | Getting Started | Set goals and make plans

| Document | Webpage


It can be hard to understand what is involved in self-managing NDIS funding. The NDIS recently developed this policy so people understand self-management and more participants and their nominees can choose to self-manage if it is right for them. The self-management...

read more

Deliveroo appeal affirms emphasis on contract in determining the employment relationship

By Karen Ansen Consulting

| NDIS | Engaging a service provider

| Free resource | Rules for hiring | News

| Webpage


What does Deliveroo and the High Court have to do with you? Well if you engage independent contractors as support workers it is worth noting the recent High Court decision about independent contractors. This blog gives you an overview of the High Court decision.  

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Reference checking template for hiring new employees

By Fair Work ombudsman

| Engaging a service provider | Finding supports | Employing people | Hiring a contractor | Worker screening

| Free resource | Build your team | News

| Document | Tools


You can use this template to help you check your applicant’s references when you are hiring for a new job. Reference checks can help you verify the claims made by applicants in their interview and help you make more informed hiring decisions.

read more

Nick shares his story about how assistive technology has helped support his daily life.

By JFA - Purple Orange

| What can I buy? | Things: Consumables and assistive technology

| Premium Content | What can I buy?

| Video | Closed caption


'Assistive technology' refers to ways that equipment and software can assist people with limited movement: it includes any device or system that provides people with practical solutions to everyday life activities. In this video Nick shares his story about how...

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There is now finally more flexibility in how you can use your NDIS funds

By Every Australian Counts

| Flexibility | News

| Premium Content | What can I buy?

| Article


New Announcement from NDIA 9 May 2020 NDIS participants who are plan or agency managed can now use their core funds across ALL core funding categories. That means you no longer need at least $1 in a category to move your funds around. In practical terms that means: -...

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Participant Fact Sheet – Basic and Standard Assistive technology

By NDIA - NDIS.gov.au

| Things: Consumables and assistive technology

| Premium Content | What can I buy?

| Document


This Fact sheet explains what low cost AT means, how you can access your funding and what you can purchase. You should only spend this funding on Assistive Technology (including aids and equipment) that helps you with achieving your NDIS goals in your plan.

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A good life – can funding get me a good life?

By Council for Intellectual DIsability - My Choice Matters project

| Before you start | Goals | NDIS meetings | What can I buy? | Blue sky dreaming

| Free resource | What can I buy? | News

| Tools | Easy english


Easy read workbook that talks about: Changes to disability funding How you use funding How funding can help you get a good life. This is the third workbook in our good life series

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Self Direction in Australia – the Story so far

By Family Advocacy

| Flexibility | Choice and control | Blue sky dreaming

| Premium Content | Peer network

| Video


The opportunity to direct individualised supports that have enabled people with disability to live lives typical of all Australian citizens has been a hard won victory. Belinda Epstein-Frisch talks about how this began and gained momentum through the vigorous advocacy...

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“It Gave Me Back A Sense Of Self” Gillian on Peer Support and Volunteering after an ABI

By Peer Connect

| Relationships | Community | Peer support

| Premium Content | Peer network

| Video | Closed caption


In this video, Gillian shares her story about the positive impact of joining a peer support group. Gillian joined a local group run by Families 4 Families, an organisation for people living with Acquired Brain Injury and their families in South Australia.Gillian...

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Diversity Disability Alliance

By Diversity Disability Alliance

| Peer support

| Premium Content | Peer network

| Webpage | Culturally diverse


Diversity and Disability Alliance is a user led disability support organisation, run by and for people with disability from diverse backgrounds with the support of families and allies. We assist people to live the lives they choose. We are an independent, collective...

read more

Shaping Great Lives

By Community Resource Unit (CRU)

| My home | Jobs | Peer support

| Premium Content | Get creative

| Video | Webpage


When thinking about what makes a great life for people with disability one only need think about what would make a great life for all people; having a home of one’s own, having a job or a way to make a contribution, having relationships where we feel a sense of...

read more

Mindset for being In Charge

By In Charge

| Supports | Flexibility | Finding supports | Managing supports

| Premium Content | Get creative

| Video | Transcribed


As people step into their power as partners and creators of their own solutions, new skills and knowledge are needed. Dale and Anita Speed from Queensland, Australia, tell us about their experiences of being in charge, Dale’s mowing business and what mindsets they...

read more

Jac’s place

By Resourcing Inclusive Communities

| Plans to action | Blue sky dreaming | My home

| Premium Content | Get creative

| Video | Closed caption


Jacob Hughes has made the move to live independently. This short film celebrates his life, the plan to give him the opportunity to have his own place and the team of people who worked together to make it a reality. Version with audio descriptions.

read more

Harness the Possibilities: Planning a positive future for a child with disability

By Resourcing Inclusive Communities

| Plans to action | Blue sky dreaming | Community

| Premium Content | Get creative

| Document


This booklet is based on the shared stories and experiences of familiesin NSW and is intended to help families develop a positive vision for their child with disability. It is hoped that it provides some ideas and strategies for building meaningful and fulfilling...

read more

Fifty Ideas for Young Disabled People to Do

By Yellow Submarine Down Under

| Creative solutions | Relationships | Community

| Premium Content | Get creative

| Tools


How about we start thinking outside of the box for young disabled folks?Here's a list to get you started. Please remember that you do not 'set' activities for young folks, you support their communication and decision making, allow them to do what they want to do and...

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A good life – needs and dreams

By Council for Intellectual DIsability - My Choice Matters project

| Before you start | Blue sky dreaming

| Premium Content | Get creative

| Tools | Easy english


We all have needs and dreams. This workbook has ideas and exercises for you to think about what gives you a good life. Our workbooks have tips and exercises to help people with intellectual disability learn and grow skills.

read more

The value of Imagining better

By Community Resource Unit (CRU)

| Blue sky dreaming | Relationships | Community

| Premium Content | Get creative

| Video | Closed caption


In these videos, Michael Kendrick explains that Imagining Better is useful when we are faced with a particular challenge or problem and we’d like to work out how to improve the situation. By taking a fresh perspective, we can imagine how life might be better; and not...

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Worker Screening checks

By Self Manager Hub

| Engaging a service provider | Employing people | Hiring a contractor

| Premium Content | Build your team

| Article


Worker screening is a way to check potential support workers are suitable for the job and don’t present an unacceptable risk to you or other people with disability. We would recommend that whether you directly engage support , use a registered or in registered...

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Withholding payer numbers super obligations

By Australian Taxation office

| Employing people | Hiring a contractor | Worker screening

| Premium Content | Rules for hiring

| Tools


If you employ your own support workers you may need to apply for a  Withholder Payer Number so you can collect your employee's tax for the ATO. A WPN is only offered to entities who are not eligible for an ABN, have PAYG withholding obligations and are required to pay...

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Sham Contracting

By Fair Work ombudsman

| Employment vs contractors | Employing people | Hiring a contractor | Contracts and legal | Reporting to government bodies

| Premium Content | Rules for hiring

| Webpage


Sham contracting is where a person working as an employee is told they are an independent contractor when they’re not. They will also be treated like an independent contractor in some ways, for example they may be required to have an ABN and submit invoices.

read more

NDIS Worker Screening Check

By NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission

| Worker screening

| Premium Content | Rules for hiring

| Article


On 1 February 2021, new NDIS worker screening arrangements will start. This is part of a national approach to worker screening. Once the new national worker screening arrangements have commenced, registered NDIS providers will be required to only engage workers who...

read more

Managing performance & warnings

By Fair Work ombudsman

| Employment vs contractors | Employing people | Contracts and legal

| Premium Content | Rules for hiring

| Tools


Effective performance management creates a harmonious and productive workplace which is beneficial for both employees and employers. Find out more about: Managing performance Underperformance Serious misconduct Preventing underperformance Addressing underperformance...

read more

Australian Government Work Health and Safety

By Australian Government Work Health and Safety

| Employing people | Hiring a contractor

| Premium Content | Rules for hiring

| Webpage


Work health and safety (WHS) – sometimes called occupational health and safety (OH&S) – involves the management of risks to the health and safety of everyone in your workplace. This includes the health and safety of anyone who does work for you as well as your...

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What you need to know about reference checks

By Seek

| Employing people | Hiring a contractor | Worker screening

| Premium Content | Build your team | Rules for hiring

| Article


Reference checks are an imperative part of the recruitment process. Reference checking is about whether the candidate actually worked at the place they said they did and carried out the tasks they said they were doing. Essentially, it’s a means of verifying the...

read more

UpSkill Provider Directory

By Summer Foundation - UpSkill Project

| Finding supports | Hiring a contractor

| Premium Content | Build your team

| Directory


Find support coordinators and allied health professionals who are right for youThe UpSkill Provider Directory gives you access to profiles of support coordinators and NDIS allied health professionals with a wide range of specific skills and experience.

read more

Learning from Complaints: Occasional Paper No. 2 – Families and service providers working together

By Disability Services Commissioner - Vic

| Supports | Engaging a service provider | Complaints

| Premium Content | Build your team

| Document


This paper provides strategies specifically for supporting the families of adults with a disability and disability service providers to work more effectively together. These strategies should be implemented while working with people with a disability in ways that...

read more

Getting Creative with Paid support

By In Charge

| Supports | Blue sky dreaming | Relationships | Community

| Premium Content | Build your team | Get creative

| Article


Self Direction opens up an exciting array of possibilities and more than ever the opportunity to be the author of your own destiny. But sometimes it can be hard to fathom just what is possible beyond our current experience. Being in charge is more than about having...

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Directly engaging your own staff

By NDIA - NDIS.gov.au

| Employment vs contractors | Employing people | Hiring a contractor | Contracts and legal

| Premium Content | Build your team | Rules for hiring

| Document


The purpose of this document is to provide you with general information about some of the considerations that may be relevant to employing your own staff.As a participant of the NDIS who is thinking about employing staff directly, you are doing something that many...

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Direct your Support and Live Your Life

By In Charge

| Supports | Choice and control | Employing people | Managing supports

| Premium Content | Build your team

| Video | Closed caption | Auslan


In this recording you hear 3 people who all self direct their supports:Learn the benefits of self directed support in terms you can understand.Discover different approaches to working with the available organisations.Discover how you can self direct supports under the...

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Choosing a Service Provider

By WA Individualised Services

| Supports | Engaging a service provider

| Premium Content | Build your team

| Article | Step by Step | Tools


This resource is to assist people in thinking about, and choosing a service provider that is best for them.  In the resource there are a number of different areas with questions to explore. You can go through the whole resource, or just choose some areas of your...

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Yes we want to hire workers more easily. But let’s also talk safeguards and support

By In Charge

| Engaging a service provider | Employing people | Human rights | NDIS quality safeguard commission | Hiring a contractor

| Free resource | Rules for hiring | Know your rights

| Article


Ellen Fraser-Barbour writes that while she is excited by the new types of support emerging, she is also concerned about safeguards.

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Ways to be heard when the NDIS isn’t working for you

By Peer Connect

| Human rights | Complaints | Consumer rights

| Premium Content | Know your rights

| Article


Everyone needs to practice self-advocacy. That means speaking up for yourself or for something you believe in. People who are self-advocates can communicate what they are feeling, thinking and what they want or need. As a self-advocate, you can speak up to describe...

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Ways the person/family can review their plan and support arrangements

By Peer Connect

| NDIS meetings | General NDIS

| Premium Content | Know your rights

| Step by Step


Sometimes, NDIS Plans are not quite right and need a review, and sometimes your situation changes and the Plan no longer meets your needs, and sometimes the Plan has genuine errors. This Quick Guide explores ways to make things right, or at least to request needed...

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Talkin’ Together: Consumer rights information: ​co-designed!

By Diversity Disability Alliance

| Contracts and legal | Consumer rights

| Premium Content | Know your rights

| Video | Closed caption | Auslan | Culturally diverse


Information and video resources about consumer rights in English, Auslan, Cantonese, Mandarin, Khmer, Vietnamese, Arabic and Korean. What you need to know about signing a contract, engaging a service, making a complaint or what to do if you get scammed.

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Service Agreements – A guide for NDIS participants engaging with providers

By Family Advocacy

| Engaging a service provider | Contracts and legal

| Premium Content | Build your team | Know your rights

| Document


Service Agreements - A guide for NDIS participants engaging with providers. Every service agreement  should be unique. It needs to be tailored to the goals and aspirations in your NDIS plan. As such, make sure your service provider adapts the agreement so that it is...

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NDIS AAT decision digest

By Living with Disability Research Centre at La Trobe University

| General NDIS

| Premium Content | Know your rights

| Article


The NDIS AAT decision digest is prepared by the Living with Disability Research Centre at La Trobe University and aims to summarise a selection of Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) decisions about the NDIS published in the preceding three months and highlight...

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Consumers with disability – where to go for advice or complaints

By Australia Competition and Consumer Commission

| Complaints | Consumer rights

| Premium Content | Know your rights

| Step by Step | Easy english


This factsheet is for consumers with disability and their carers and support networks. It will help you find the right place to go if you need advice or have a complaint.

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Consumers with disabilities

By NSW Fair Trading - Talk'in Together project

| What can I buy? | Things: Consumables and assistive technology | Consumer rights

| Premium Content | Know your rights

| Online learning


People with disabilities are now responsible for buying products and entering into contracts with service providers. Many are entering the marketplace as a consumer for the first time and won’t always have the skills and confidence necessary to make fully informed...

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Claiming your right to risk when you have a disability

By JFA - Purple Orange

| Creative solutions | Blue sky dreaming | Human rights

| Premium Content | Know your rights

| Article


Ellen Fraser-Barbou explains when you have a disability, “Everyone wants to protect you or remove anything that could be harmful or risky, and that is actually the most unhelpful thing anyone can do,” Ellen says. “If you don’t take risks and you don’t make mistakes...

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What it means to self-direct and self-manage your supports, and deciding which feels right for each person/family

By Peer Connect

| Supports | Choice and control | Human rights

| Premium Content | Set goals and make plans

| Webpage


The NDIS is based on the need to ensure people with disability are at the center of their own lives, and therefore they should be central to their supports and plans. This guide provides a series of discussion points and resources on SDS, plan management and...

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Ways to put the NDIS plan into action, including looking at agencies who can help with this

By Peer Connect

| Supports | Plans to action

| Premium Content | Set goals and make plans

| Step by Step


It can be quite overwhelming when you get your first NDIS Plan. NDIS Plans use words that are unfamiliar, and sometimes don’t make much sense, and many people have no idea what their Plan means, what they can purchase with their funds from where, or how to make...

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Ways to approach the meeting with the NDIS planner

By Peer Connect

| Goals | NDIS meetings

| Premium Content | Set goals and make plans

| Video | Closed caption


Many people with disability, their carers and families will feel a little nervous when they are getting ready for their first meeting with an NDIS planner. A Peer Network is a great place to share ideas on how to prepare for the meeting. This Quick Guide is intended...

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Support for Children Under 7 – Auslan

By NDIA - NDIS.gov.au

| Supports | Goals | NDIS meetings

| Premium Content | Set goals and make plans

| Video | Auslan


This video answers questions from parents and guardians who care for a child with a disability under 7 years of age. Children change a lot within a year. Their support needs and goals can change a lot, too. It's important that we talk to you about your child's goals...

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Starting Out: A Guide for Families to Assist the Inclusion of Young Children with Disability into Community Life in Western Australia

By Developmental Disability WA

| Supports | Blue sky dreaming

| Premium Content | Set goals and make plans

| Guide


Inclusion is the active participation of all children, regardless of ability, in home, childcare, school and community settings, and is the right of every child. High quality inclusion is not just about 'being there' or attending a mainstream or universal setting, but...

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Specialist Disability Accommodation

By Summer Foundation

| My home

| Premium Content | Get creative | Set goals and make plans

| Document


A guide that explains what specialist disability accommodation (SDA) payments are, who they are paid to and how they are accessed. It also explains the different types of SDA. For people who have SDA payments included in their NDIS Plan, it explains how to make the...

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Seven Steps to self direction

By Resourcing Inclusive Communities

| Flexibility | Choice and control | Blue sky dreaming | Relationships

| Premium Content | Set goals and make plans

| Document | Step by Step


People with disability benefit from intentional thinking and planning about how to achieve a good life. Real participation and inclusion in family and community comes from a deep understanding about what is meaningful in the life of the person being supported and...

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Setting goals – where do I want to work?

By Council for Intellectual Disability - My Choice Matters project

| Planning | Blue sky dreaming | Jobs

| Premium Content | Set goals and make plans

| Tools | Easy english


This easy read workbook is full of helpful tips and useful exercises to help you learn and grow skills. This workbook helps you to think about having goals about work.

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Setting goals – Where do I want to live?

By Council for Intellectual Disability - My Choice Matters project

| Goals | Blue sky dreaming | My home

| Premium Content | Set goals and make plans

| Tools | Easy english


Easy read resource: What are the things that are most important about where you live? This easy read workbook talks about having goals about where you live.

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Preparing for your NDIS Plan Review – Scheduled Plan review

By Uniting LACs

| NDIS meetings | Things: Consumables and assistive technology

| Premium Content | Set goals and make plans

| Video | Culturally diverse | Community languages


Every year (sometimes every two years) NDIS participants have a 'scheduled plan review' with an NDIS Planner or LAC. This video helps you to prepare for a scheduled review.

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Planning Card Sets

By WA Individualised Services

| Planning | NDIS meetings

| Premium Content | Set goals and make plans

| Tools


Set of 11 cards will help you 'prepare to plan'. It might seem strange to talk about ‘preparing to plan’ - after all,why not just jump in and start planning for a good life? If you haven’tplanned much before, or if plans you have done in the past haven’tworked, you...

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NDIS Self Management- Creating a Good Life

By Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA)

| Planning

| Premium Content | Get creative | Set goals and make plans

| Video | Closed caption | Transcribed


Our journey with NDIS self‑management, me and my son, Isaac. This is Isaac. He's 23 years old, he's a delivery man. He's a house mate. He's a friend. He's a gym member and a Canberra Raiders fan and he has a very complex disability.

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My Home: Individualised Living

By WA Individualised Services

| Blue sky dreaming | My home

| Premium Content | Get creative | Set goals and make plans

| Article | Tools | Easy english | Directory


Here you will find a library of resources that we hope you will find interesting and useful. You can click on your area of interest, where you find resources to watch, read, listen or download.

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Mike’s Story – Housemates

By Belonging Matters

| Creative solutions | My home

| Premium Content | Get creative | Set goals and make plans

| Video | Closed caption | Audio described video


This documentary addresses somebody with an intellectual disability living in their own home with the support of housemates. Mike has been living under this model for several years with the support of his parents Rosie and Kelvin, who also explain how the model works.

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Micro Enterprise Project

By Community Living Project

| Blue sky dreaming | Jobs

| Premium Content | Set goals and make plans

| Webpage


Our Micro Enterprise Project (MEP) can support you to start your own small business which is aligned with your own passions, skills and situation. MEP offers a unique, proven and independently evaluated model of support which is funded by the NDIS and philanthropic...

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Matthew Delivers

By In Charge

| Creative solutions | Supports | Blue sky dreaming

| Premium Content | Get creative | Set goals and make plans

| Video


In this short video we see Matthew learning and practising skills as part of his mail delivery business. Matthew is a man with significant intellectual disability who doesn’t speak, yet with the help of family and supporters is creating meaningful work for himself.

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Mapping Needs: Complex support needs planning

By Developmental Disability WA

| Supports | Plans to action | Planning

| Premium Content | Set goals and make plans

| Tools


How to use mind maps to build a NDIS plan. Mapping needs starts from the point of getting to know the person first, to build up a full picture of who they are and the challenges they face. People with complex support needs are often known a little bit by many people...

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Making Changes through Goal setting: participant workbook

By Developmental Disability WA

| Supports | Plans to action | Planning | Goals

| Premium Content | Set goals and make plans

| Document


As a parent you care deeply about your child’s development and have many dreams for your child. Life can often present you with a number of obstacles that prevent turning dreams into reality. Obstacles may include the fear of the unknown, feeling overwhelmed by the...

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Kick-Starting Your Child’s Career Journey

By Developmental Disability WA

| Blue sky dreaming | Jobs

| Premium Content | Get creative | Set goals and make plans

| Document


Work can take many forms: full-time or part-time; permanent or casual; working for someone else or starting a small business; being inside or outside; interacting with people or working alone; working day times or evenings. Explore ways you can help your young adult...

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Individualised Living Options in the NDIS

By WA Individualised Services

| Blue sky dreaming | My home

| Premium Content | Get creative | Set goals and make plans

| Article | Video | Webpage | Closed caption


Highly individualised living arrangements can support people, including people who may have complex supports and / or complex communication needs, in one of the most natural and beneficially ways possible – real people connecting, supporting and sharing their lives....

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Housing for People with Disability: What needs to happen

By Every Australian Counts

| Choice and control | My home | Community | Human rights

| Premium Content | Get creative | Set goals and make plans

| Article


Dr George Telporos' research and advocacy has always focused on how Australia can move beyond congregate (group) housing for people with disabilities and towards a future where people with disability can choose where we live, who we live with, and how we are supported.

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Getting the Good Life

By Resourcing Inclusive Communities

| Blue sky dreaming | Relationships | Community

| Premium Content | Get creative | Set goals and make plans

| Document | Tools


What is a good life: family, friends, connection to the wider community, a sense of belonging, opportunities to learn and develop, meaningful work and vocations, a place to call home, personal and financial security and the chance to follow dreams and passions.

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Creating Home: Individualised Living

By WA Individualised Services

| Blue sky dreaming | My home

| Premium Content | Get creative | Set goals and make plans

| Article | Tools | Easy english


All of us like to live in a way that reflects who we are and what makes sense to us. We like to choose where we live, and importantly, the people we live with. When a person needs support to live in their own home, finding a way for this to happen in a way that makes...

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Creating Home: An Exploration Of The Efforts And Commitment To Create Individual Lives, Not Just Bricks And Mortar.

By Community Resource Unit (CRU)

| My home

| Premium Content | Get creative | Set goals and make plans

| Article


Our home is meant to be our sanctuary, a place that both defines us and separates us, as well as protecting us from the outside world. We are meant to be free to be who we really are in our own home. It is also a place that shelters us, sustains us, and gives us a...

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Communication skills: Way to communicate and your right to communication

By WA Individualised Services

| Creative solutions | Planning | Choice and control | Blue sky dreaming

| Premium Content | Set goals and make plans

| Online learning | Tools | Video


We all have the right to communicate. Everyone CAN communicate and, sometimes, you might need some specific support to communicate what you want and need. It is very important, as a foundation to planning, that the way you communicate is understood. Even if you don’t...

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Building a good life through Self Management – Webinar 1 Vision

By Resourcing Inclusive Communities

| Creative solutions | Blue sky dreaming | Community

| Premium Content | Get creative | Set goals and make plans

| Video | Closed caption


Webinar: Linda Hughes talks about how having a vision for her son to live his best life and how self management helps him achieve it.

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A quick catch up with Benjamin on International Day of People with Disability

By Every Australian Counts

| Goals | Community

| Premium Content | Set goals and make plans

| Article


We don’t often hear from young people with disability . So we thought this was a good chance to hear from Benjamin what he has been up to lately, and what he would like to see change for young people in this country.

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A Place to Call Home: Thinking it through

By Peer Connect

| Plans to action | Blue sky dreaming | Future planning

| Premium Content | Set goals and make plans

| Document


Living independently does not necessarily mean living alone. An important consideration is that there is an element of choice in where a person lives. Although some people may choose to live alone, others may choose to live with someone else – a friend or a flat mate...

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A Place to call Home- QDN Housing story – Introduction

By Queenslander Disability Network

| Blue sky dreaming | My home

| Premium Content | Get creative | Set goals and make plans

| Video | Closed caption | Auslan


Introduction to housing and community living. Everybody, no matter who they are, wants their own home to live in and have a choice about their living situation.

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A Place to call Home

By Sally Richards and Timothy West

| Blue sky dreaming | My home

| Premium Content | Get creative | Set goals and make plans

| Document


Everyone deserves a place to call home — a place where they belong, feel safe and can be themselves. Every parent wants their children to grow up and, when they are ready, to leave home and move into their own home. The Benambra Intentional Community — a unique...

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A Personalised Approach to Safeguards in the NDIS

By Centre for Welfare Reform

| Relationships | Community | Human rights | NDIS quality safeguard commission

| Free resource | Set goals and make plans

| Document


This paper outlines a safeguard framework to keep citizens safe, well and included. Taking a person centred approach, this framework starts from the premise of building people's capital through developmental investments.

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A good life – what I do, know and hope for

By Council for Intellectual DIsability - My Choice Matters project

| Goals | Blue sky dreaming

| Premium Content | Get creative | Set goals and make plans

| Tools | Easy english


Is your life good? Most people say that: some parts of life are good some parts are OK some parts of life are bad It can be hard to work out what you want to keep happening in your life. And what you want to change. This easy read workbook helps you think about things...

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Planning and Making Choices

By Developmental Disability WA

| Plans to action | Planning | Blue sky dreaming

| Premium Content | Set goals and make plans

| Handbook


This Handbook looks at understanding your child’s development and helps you plan and make choices with your child to support them to reach their potential.Designed for parents of children with disability who want to learn how to access an ordinary, typical life for...

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Record-keeping & pay slips

By Fair Work ombudsman

| Recordkeeping | Employing people

| Premium Content | Keep your records

| Online learning | Webpage


Employers who engage employees are required to: make and keep accurate and complete records for all of their employees (eg. time worked and wages paid) issue pay slips to each employee. These record-keeping and pay slip obligations are designed to ensure that...

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Managing your Money

By JFA - Purple Orange - Peer Connect

| Supports | Budgets | NDIS meetings

| Premium Content | Keep your records

| Step by Step


There are several ways you can deal with the money side of things with the NDIS, and if the way you have chosen isn’t working for you, or you need more support, you can switch, though it might take a while – just let your NDIS office know! At the end of your planning...

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Managing your Money – Easy english

By Council for Intellectual DIsability - My Choice Matters project

| Supports | Budgets | NDIS meetings

| Premium Content | Keep your records

| Document | Tools | Webpage | Easy english


This is an Easy English guide about how to manage your money. It will help you understand things like: how much money you get how much money you spend how you can plan your money how you can save money

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Webinar – NDIS- Self-Management for Families of children and young people with disability

By Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA)

| Budgets | Recordkeeping | Before you start

| Free resource | News | Getting Started

| Video | Closed caption


This recording of a webinar is an introduction to self management. What is it; why you might be thinking about it; how to get started; the different types of budget that are in an NDIS plan and what that means for managing that plan; what's included under self...

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Using the funding in your plan differently – Auslan

By NDIA - NDIS.gov.au

| Supports | Flexibility

| Premium Content | Getting Started

| Video | Closed caption


This video answers questions about using funding in your plan differently."What if I want to use the funding in my plan in a different way?" You have more control over how you spend your core supports budget. Your core supports budget are the supports and services you...

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The Growing Space – online library

By The Growing Space

| Supports | Planning | Goals | NDIS meetings

| Premium Content | Getting Started | Set goals and make plans

| Webpage | Fee


Online Library To read any of the 250+ resources available here you can join us now! A free account will give you access to about 15 resources, and to see the rest, a full membership is required. That membership fee can be claimed from Self and Plan Managed NDIS plans...

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NDIS Preparation and Planning

By Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Disability Network Queensland

| Before you start

| Premium Content | Getting Started | Set goals and make plans

| Article | First nations people


It is important to prepare for your planning meeting before you go. This will help you have a head start on thinking about what supports you currently have and your goals and dreams for your life.

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How can I get Help with Computer Skills and Access to the Internet

By Self Manager Hub

| Before you start

| Premium Content | Getting Started

| Article


You will need to have access to the internet to self manage your NDIS plan. To self manage you need to be able to go online to the NDIS MyPlace portal to make payments requests to claim funds from your NDIS budget. You can go to the NDIS MyPlace portal using a...

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