Members Blog

Happy belated New Year, we certainly hope you had a festive and safe holiday. We hope that 2021 will be an exciting year for all of us and we all stay safe and are keeping well.

Before Christmas, we were invited to participate in Deaf Community of Australia Forum (DCAF) with Shirley hosting the event and we were able to share with you the updates of what we have been doing.

Through Christmas, Deaf Australia has been preparing a submission to Department of Health to address accessible services for Deaf People who use Auslan in Hospital and Health Services and organising webinars for Disability Royal Commission and NDIS-ILC project.

• Accessible Services for Deaf People who use Auslan in Hospitals and Health Services

There have been too many mistakes, too many bad stories, too many preventable situations that has not been adequately addressed to ensure that our health and wellbeing are looked after.

The submission outlined 4 key areas:

• Hospitals
• Medical and Allied Health Services
• Telehealth Services and
• National Relay Service

This submission has been sent to Department of Health through our role with Covid-19 Disability Roundtable hosted by Department of Health. Through this group, Deaf Australia have reminded them the importance that deaf people need to have access to interpreter when there are media announcements regarding Covid-19 and accessing interpreter for health and medical services which led to this paper.

Deaf Australia acknowledge that Deaf Victoria is undertaking parallel project in Victoria asking deaf people their experiences with Hospitals. We look forward receiving their report.

To view written submission (https://deafaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Accessible-Services-for-Deaf-People-who-use-Auslan-in-the-Hospitals-and-Health-Services.pdf)

• Disability Royal Commission

We are thrilled to inform you that there will be webinars throughout the year covering different topics with the Disability Royal Commission. Darlene Thornton will be facilitating these webinars on a fortnight basis and would love to hear your stories and experiences so Deaf Australia can prepare our report to Disability Royal Commission.

We also encourage you to participate if you wish to directly share your experience to Disability Royal Commission and we will be able to assist you with your submissions.

To view webinar program (https://deafaustralia.org.au/advocacy/drc/)

• NDIS – Information, Linkage and Capacity (ILC) Building Grant (2019-2022)

We are ramping up with the project with Paula Thornton and Vanessa Alford taking key role with this project as Resource Officers.

Before Christmas, we had a full day workshop to discuss ideas, plans and strategy to improve our engagement with you.

This project will focus on 2 things:

1. Improve information distribution and
2. Developing appropriate and accessible resources that will strengthen deaf community’s knowledge and skills.

We will be using staff, volunteers and others to provide information, workshops or training through online and in person.

Deaf Australia is working hard behind the scenes to prepare and develop the program for this year. We look forward to an informative year for everyone. If you have any suggestions, please share with us by sending us an email – [email protected].

• Other information:

National Relay Service – registration required by 20 April 2020 – if you on or after 20 April, your application process may take longer. Please register here.

4^th WFD Conference in Thailand has been postponed to 20-22 April 2022 due to Covid-19.

The App makes it easier to claim and managing your budget. The trial App will allow NDIS to help them improve the App before it is released to the public. 

You need to be: 

1. Self-manage your plan, 
2. Use smart phone regularly, and
3. Currently making claims on NDIA ‘myplace’ portal. 

If you are interested to test/ trial the App, please send email to NDIA at [email protected] with email subject as ‘Deaf Australia Mobile App Invitation’. NDIA will ask you a few questions before providing you a link to download the App. 

Copy paste this script in your email to NDIA. 

Good luck.

Information for the deaf community and Auslan users regarding the NDIS

• Are you under 65?
• Are you an Australian citizen or a permanent resident of Australia?
• Do you use Auslan for medical appointments and other activities?

If you use NABS and you are under 65, you need to apply to join the NDIS to continue receiving free Auslan interpreting services.

What is happening to NABS for Deaf people under 65 years old?

Deaf people who have an NDIS plan with funds for Auslan support and choose NABS for interpreting must pay with their NDIS funds.

To access Auslan interpreting for medical appointments and other activities you will need to join the NDIS, and get an NDIS plan with funds in place to pay for Auslan interpreting.

Why apply to join the NDIS?

The NDIS provides funding to help you access the services and supports you need to help you achieve your goals.

If you need Auslan interpreting, the NDIS will provide you the fund into your NDIS plan.

When applying for NDIS, please provide NDIS your communication support and services when discussing with Local Area Coordinator. 

You can find your nearest Local Area Coordinator on the NDIA website.

You can find more information about the benefits of joining the NDIS on the NDIA Auslan page.

How do I apply to join the NDIS?

Please follow these steps to apply forthe NDIS by 23 December 2020.

Step One:

Contact the NDIA by calling 1800 800 110, using the National Relay Service, and let them know you want to apply for the NDIS.

Tell them you use Auslan interpreter when requesting for Access Request Form (Access Request Form is a NDIS application form).

You can pick up the Access Request Form from your local NDIS office, have the form posted or emailed to you or download it from the NDIS website.

If you need help filling in the form, contact an NDIS Local Area Coordinator or your local NDIS office. Find your closest office at www.ndis.gov.au.

Step Two:

Fill out the NDIS access request form. Include details about using Auslan services so it is included in your NDIS plan.

Step Three:

Send the completed NDIS form back to the NDIA.

Step Four:

NDIA will send you a letter, telling you if you are eligible for the NDIS. If the NDIA says you are ineligible for the NDIS please read the: What happens if I’m not eligible for the NDIS? section below.

TIP:

Applying for the NDIS can take time, so you need to start as soon as you receive your application form (Access Request Form).

To continue receiving Auslan interpreting you must have an approved NDIS plan, with funding for Auslan interpreting, before 31 March 2021. 

What happens if I’m not eligible for the NDIS?

If you are told you can’t have the NDIS you can still get free Auslan interpreting services for medical appointments from NABS until 31 March 2021, you will be required to show proof (letter from NDIS) that your application was unsuccessful. 

If you are over 65, you can continue to access NABS after 31 March 2021.

If you are not eligible for the NDIS and you are under 65, you can use the National Relay Service (Video Relay). Video Relay is available from 7am to 6pm (Eastern Standard Time) Monday to Friday, except for National Public Holidays.

Participate in Information Session via Zoom if you need more information.

Where can I find more information?

The NDIA announced that plans will no longer end. On the day your plan is due to expire, the NDIA will automatically extend it for 365 days. You will not need to do anything – it will happen automatically. That way there will be no gaps between plans for anyone to worry about.

Your extended plan will have the same budget and supports as your current plan.

The NDIA are trying not to have any face to face meetings at the moment (for obvious reasons). So around the time you are due for a review meeting, the NDIA will contact you to see if you are happy with your current plan. If you are, they will simply extend it for up to 24 months. No muss, no fuss.

If you don’t currently have support coordination in your plan you can now use some of your core funding to employ a support coordinator to help you. For people trying to juggle their supports at this difficult time, this might really be a help.

Specific for Deaf NDIS Participants:

• You can use your core fund to purchase an appropriate device in the CORE supports (e.g.. can be used to fund everyday items participants may need. For example, low-cost/ low-risk category one assistive technology and equipment to improve your independence and/or mobility.
• NDIA has now implemented to manage appointments effectively with the use of interpreters. Where possible, an Alert has now been added to the system to notify the staff member that the participant is an Auslan user. This has been added as an additional safeguard to ensure staff are booking interpreters for appointments where needed.

The Commonwealth and South Australian Governments have announced they have reached agreement for the roll out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in South Australia.

From 1 July 2016, eligible people in Tasmania will start entering the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) carefully managed and well supported way.

NDIS is expected to be operating state-wide by July 2019, ultimately providing support to 10,500 Tasmanians.
In Tasmania, the Scheme will be progressively rolled out, by age, over 3 years, with specific age groups on dates as shown below:
0 – 3yrs — 1 July 2018
4 – 11 — 1 July 2017
12 – 14 — 1 July 2016
15 – 24 — Current
25 – 28 —  1 Jan 2017
29 – 34 — 1 Jan 2018
35 – 49 — 1 July 2018
50 – 64 — 1 Jan 2019
By 1 July 2019, all eligible Tasmanians, from birth to age 64, will become NDIS participants.
Eligible residents in shared supported accommodation will access the NDIS together on a house-by-house basis.
Tasmanian Gateway Services will assist people to connect with services and prepare for the NDIS.
Existing Commonwealth and state-based services and supports will continue until eligible people with disability start their NDIS plan.
For more information on Tasmania’s NDIS transition, visit www.ndis.gov.au/tas

From 1 July 2016, eligible people in Victoria will start entering the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) carefully managed and well supported way.

NDIS is expected to be operating state-wide by July 2019, ultimately providing support to about 105,000 people with disability.

Areas that will transition to the NDIS:

July 2016 – June 2017

• North East Melbourne – 1 July 2016
• Central Highland – 1 January 2017
• Loddon – 1 May 2017

July 2017 – June 2018

• Inner Gippsland – 1 October 2017
• Ovens Murray – 1 October 2017
• Western District – 1 October 2017
• Inner East Melbourne – 1 November 2017
• Outer East Melbourne – 1 November 2017
• Hume Moreland – 1 March 2018
• Bayside Peninsula – 1 April 2018

July 2018 – June 2019

• South Melbourne – 1 September 2018
• Brim bank Melton – 1 October 2018
• Western Melbourne – 1 October 2018
• Goulburn – 1 January 2019
• Mallee – 1 January 2019
• Outer Gippsland – 1 January 2019

The specific details on when and how people will be able to access NDIS will be made in available in coming months.
People currently receiving support through Victorian Government will move into NDIS at different time depending on where they live and the type of support they receive during the transition.
It is expected to take up to 12 months for eligible people with disability to enter the NDIS once roll out starts in an area.
A short video about the rollout (for Victoria) is available at https://goo.gl/5UYyPU.
Deaf Australia encourages deaf community (including parents of deaf children) to share experiences of accessing the NDIS with Deaf Australia. It is important that we monitor ongoing development of the scheme and share direct experiences of deaf and hard of hearing people and its family, carers and supporters.
Please email (or send video) your experience at [email protected].

From 1 July 2016, eligible people in New South Wales will start entering the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The NDIS is expected to be operating state-wide by July 2018, ultimately providing support to about 140,000 people with disability.
From 1 July 2015, the NDIS stated in Nepean Blue Mountains area for children and young people under 18 years of age.
Areas to be transition to the NDIS:
From 1 July 2016 The NDIS will start in

• Central Coast
• Northern Sydney
• South Western Sydney
• Southern NSW
• Western Sydney

From 1 July 2016, the NDIS will also start for rest of

• Nepean Blue Mountains
• Hunter New England

From 1 July 2017, the NDIS will start in

• Illawarra Shoalhaven
• Mid-north Coast
• Murrumbidgee
• Northern NSW
• South Eastern Sydney
• Sydney
• Western NSW
• Far West

Specific details on when and how people will be able to access NDIS will be made in available in coming months.
People currently receiving support through NSW Government will move into NDIS at different time depending on where they live and the type of support they receive during the transition.
It is expected to take up to 12 months for eligible people with disability to enter the NDIS once roll out starts in an area.
A short video about the rollout (for NSW) is available at http://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/our-sites/nsw#tran.
Deaf Australia encourages deaf community (including parents of deaf children) to share experiences of accessing the NDIS with Deaf Australia. It is important that we monitor ongoing development of the scheme and share direct experiences of deaf and hard of hearing people and its family, carers and supporters.
Please email (or send video) your experience at [email protected].

The Department of Social Services are running a survey about the communication of the National Disability Insurance Scheme – found out more about how you can have your say and improve communication for the future.