Ndis partners in the community program

24.2If the ECEI Partner is not a registered provider of services, how will “therapy” and the other services proposed be provided under the quality framework for the “initial supports”?

Applicants must comply with the National Disability Standard, or equivalent (and satisfy the NDIA on this point).  And applicants should also comply with any existing State-based accreditation arrangements in place for providers of early childhood supports. See clause 3.2 of the Statement of Requirements.

24.3Is there specific data available on early childhood requests to access the Scheme that have been deemed eligible to access the NDIS to determine capacity and capability to meet the key performance indicator of “<50% of children”? What supports will the NDIA provide in managing participant (and potential participant) expectations?

The approach to ECEI throughout Annex E to the Statement of Requirements requires that in addition to providing support and assistance to Participants, Partners will support and assist individuals who will not meet access requirements to become a Participant. For example, refer to clauses 1.4, 5.1 and 6.1 of Annex E to the Statement of Requirements.

Partners will need to have a good understanding of what will constitute ‘reasonable and necessary’ supports under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013, in order to meet the key performance indicator that 95% of people whom the Partner assists to complete an access request are determined by the NDIA to be eligible for the Scheme (refer to Annex C to the Statement of Requirements - ECEI Services - Level 1 Performance Indicators – Function 4 Access Recommendations).

Partners should not be encouraging people to make access requests where there is no expectation that the person is eligible for the Scheme.

The NDIA will seek to work together with ECEI Partners to successfully implement the Scheme, including in relation to:

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  access requests;
  
• 
  explaining the opportunities the Scheme is expected to deliver to individuals; and
  
• 
  appropriately managing expectations of children, families and carers within the Scheme Objectives.