The NDIS can provide all people with disability with information and connections to services in their communities such as doctors, sporting clubs, support groups, libraries and schools, as well as information about what support is provided by each state and territory government. 

NDIS - What does it mean? 

National: The NDIS is being introduced progressively across all states and territories. 

Disability: The NDIS provides support to eligible people with intellectual, physical, sensory, cognitive and psychosocial disability. Early intervention supports can also be provided for eligible people with disability or children with developmental delay. 

Insurance: The NDIS gives all Australians peace of mind if they, their child or loved one is born with or acquires a permanent and significant disability, they will get the support they need. 

Scheme: The NDIS is not a welfare system. The NDIS is designed to help people get the support they need so their skills and independence improve over time. 

Plan management 

Accountant is also a provider which also known as plan managers, who support people to manage funding in your NDIS plan. Plan management is a type of disability service funded through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). 

Plan management can support participants by: 

 • managing and monitoring a participant’s budget 

 • managing a participant’s NDIS claims and disbursing funds to providers for services delivered 

 • providing regular statements to a participant to show the financial status of their plan including prompt notification of over or under utilization 

 • offering increased choice and control to a participant over plan implementation and utilisation through additional plan financial assistance. 

Participants can also receive advice from plan management providers about how to best utilise their NDIS plan funding which can assist in building a participant’s financial capacity and knowledge. 

Plan management services 

There are two types of services that a plan management provider can provide, including: 

1. the financial administration of a participant’s plan, and 

2. plan and financial management capacity building supports. 

Financial Administration 

Plan management refers to the financial administration of a participant’s NDIS plan on a participant’s behalf. This service will assist a participant by: 

 • managing and monitoring a participant’s budget in accordance with the plan management service agreement for the duration of the NDIS plan 

 • managing the NDIS claims and disbursing funds to providers for delivered services

 • maintaining records for a participant and producing regular (at least monthly) statements for participants showing the financial status of a participant’s plan, and 

 • providing access as required to a wider range of service providers, including non-registered providers, while ensuring compliance with the price limits contained within the NDIS Price Guide. 

Capacity building and training 

Subject to a participant’s individual circumstances, ‘capacity building and training in plan and financial management’ may be included in the plan as a reasonable and necessary funded support. Funding for this support is separate to funding included in a participant’s plan for plan management services and is claimed at an hourly rate. 

This capacity building and training support focuses on strengthening a participant’s ability to undertake tasks associated with the management of their supports. This includes, but is not limited to: 

 • building a participant’s financial and administration skills to set and monitor budgets, pay providers in line with service agreements, and gain financial organisational skills 

 • enhancing a participant’s ability to direct their own supports including deciding who provides these supports and how they are delivered, and where possible and appropriate, developing a participant’s skills to self-manage their own NDIS plan. 

Chang Accounting Advisory Pty Ltd, we are CPA practice and NDIS registered plan manager, we could help NDIS participants to manage their funds. If you or your families or friends need our services, please feel free to contact our team for any assistance. 

This article is for informational purposes only and does not form part of our advice. This article is based on NDIS guideline. Please contact our team if you need any assistance. 

Claire Chang, 0497 131 419, claire.chang@changadvisory.com.au, wechat: clairechang26 

Michelle Cui, 0433 539 870, michelle.cui@changadvisory.com.au, wechat: michellejc