Frequently Asked Questions

SECTION 1: UNDERSTANDING THE NDIS

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is Australia’s disability insurance scheme that provides tailored funding for reasonable and necessary supports to help eligible people with permanent disabilities live independently and achieve their goals.

To be eligible, you must:

  • Have a permanent disability that significantly reduces your ability to do everyday activities
  • Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a Protected Special Category Visa
  • Be aged between 6 and 65 years old when you first apply
  • Have your disability documented with evidence from health professionals

Contact NDIS: 1800 800 110 or www.ndis.gov.au

The NDIS covers:

  • Physical disabilities (spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, mobility challenges)
  • Sensory disabilities (blindness, deafness, hearing loss)
  • Neurological conditions (autism, acquired brain injury, multiple sclerosis)
  • Psychosocial disabilities (mental health conditions)
  • Intellectual and cognitive disabilities
  • Multiple disabilities and co-occurring conditions

Step 1: Contact NDIS on 1800 800 110 to request an Access Request Form

Step 2: Complete the form with details about your disability and how it affects daily life

Step 3: Gather supporting evidence from health professionals (doctors, specialists, therapists)

Step 4: Submit your form and documents to the NDIS

Step 5: Meet with a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) to prepare for planning

Step 6: Meet with an NDIS planner to develop your support plan

Step 7: Receive your approved NDIS plan with funding details

Typical timeline:

  • Initial assessment: 2-4 weeks
  • Planning process: 4-8 weeks
  • Total time: 2-3 months (varies based on your situation)

You can:

  • Request a review of the decision
  • Contact your Local Area Coordinator
  • Get support from a disability advocate (call 1800 422 015)
  • Reapply if circumstances have changed

SECTION 3: CHOOSING PROVIDERS

A registered NDIS provider is approved by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and:

  • Meets quality and safety standards
  • Complies with NDIS Code of Conduct
  • Is accountable to the NDIS Commission
  • Has trained, qualified staff

Lotus Care SA is a fully registered NDIS provider.

Consider:

  • Are they NDIS registered? (verify on NDIS Provider Register)
  • Do they offer the services you need?
  • Do they have experience with your disability?
  • Are they local and accessible?
  • Do they listen to your goals?
  • Are they responsive and communicative?
  • What are their staff qualifications?

If you have an approved NDIS plan that includes funding for our services, yes.
We work with:

  • NDIA-managed plans
  • Plan-managed plans
  • Self-managed plans

Contact us:

Yes. You can change providers anytime with no penalty. Simply:

  • Inform your current provider
  • Contact your new provider
  • Your funding follows you

Yes. Many participants use multiple providers for different support needs.

SECTION 5: OUR TEAM & QUALIFICATIONS

Harsh (CEO)

  • Extensive disability support experience, genuinely committed to person-centered care

Arman (Director)

  • Specialized expertise in complex and high-intensity support needs

Sarah (Client Intake Manager)

  • Warm, compassionate, ensures you feel understood

Junaid (Operations Manager)

  • Reliable, dependable, ensures your support runs smoothly

All team members have extensive hands-on disability support experience.

Core Qualifications:

  • Certificate III & IV in Disability Support
  • Certificate III in Community Services
  • Diploma in Community Services / Mental Health
  • Service Coordination certifications
  • Positive Behaviour Support Practice certifications

Mandatory Certifications:

  • NDIS Quality, Safety and You training
  • First Aid & CPR certification
  • Manual Handling certification
  • Crisis Prevention Intervention training
  • Assist with Medications (AssisMed) certification
  • Diabetes awareness training (where applicable)
  • Safe Environment for Children and Young Person certification

Additional Qualifications:

  • Nursing qualifications (where applicable)
  • Ongoing professional development and training

All certifications are current and regularly updated.

  • Positive behaviour support
  • Complex health support
  • Mental health and wellbeing
  • High-intensity support needs
  • Dementia care
  • Communication support

Person-centered, which means:

  • We listen to your goals, not our assumptions
  • We respect your choices and autonomy
  • We support independence whenever possible
  • We treat you with dignity
  • We build genuine relationships based on trust
  • We’re responsive to your changing needs

SECTION 7: MAXIMIZING YOUR PLAN

  1. Be clear about your goals – Identify what matters to you
  2. Use your budget – Don’t leave funding unused
  3. Request what you need – Communicate your full support requirements
  4. Build your capability – Use supports to develop independence skills
  5. Plan ahead – Think about future needs and transitions
  6. Review regularly – Check what’s working and what isn’t
  7. Stay flexible – Adjust supports as your life changes

  • Inform your provider about new support needs
  • Request a plan review if changes are significant
  • Discuss with your Local Area Coordinator
  • Work with your provider to adjust support

Self-managed plans: Yes, you can hire anyone

Plan-managed plans: You have flexibility but work through your plan manager

NDIA-managed plans: You choose from registered providers like Lotus Care SA

SECTION 9: GETTING HELP & RESOURCES

Free help from:

  • NDIS Helpline – 1800 800 110
  • Local Area Coordinators – free support in your area
  • Disability advocates – help with applications and reviews
  • Lotus Care SA – we offer support coordination

  • Helpline: 1800 800 110
  • Website: www.ndis.gov.au
  • TTY: 133 677 (National Relay Service)
  • Hours: Weekdays, 8am-5pm

Contact:

SECTION 10: LOTUS CARE SA SPECIFIC

Typical timeline: 1-2 weeks from decision to first support appointment

This depends on your readiness, our capacity, and complexity of support needed.

Basic information helps us:

  • Your name and contact details
  • General idea of support needed
  • Whether you have an approved NDIS plan
  • Any specific requirements or preferences

Yes. We believe in finding the right match between you and your support worker.

Options include:

  • Speak with your support worker directly
  • Request a different worker if personality doesn’t match
  • Speak with our office – we’ll problem-solve
  • Use our complaints process
  • Change providers – you have that right

Contact us:

Contact us to discuss emergency or urgent needs and whether we can accommodate them.

Reach out:

Absolutely. Family members can:

  • Attend planning discussions
  • Provide insights into your needs and goals
  • Be part of your support team
  • Receive regular updates

It’s your choice how involved they are.

SECTION 2: YOUR NDIS PLAN

Your NDIS plan is a personalized document that outlines:

  • Your disability support goals
  • The supports you need to achieve those goals
  • Your annual funding amount
  • Types of supports covered
  • How your funding is managed

Daily Living Supports:

  • Personal care (showering, dressing, hygiene support)
  • Household tasks (cleaning, laundry, meal preparation)
  • Medication reminders and health management

Community & Social Support:

  • Transport to activities and appointments
  • Community participation and social activities
  • Support for volunteering or hobbies

Employment Support:

  • Job skills training and development
  • Work experience coordination
  • Job placement assistance

Therapy & Health Supports:

  • Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology
  • Psychology and counseling
  • Health-related care (wound care, medication management)

Accommodation:

  • Supported independent living
  • Specialist disability accommodation
  • Tenancy support

Funding varies based on:

  • Your disability type and complexity
  • Your age and support needs
  • Your goals
  • Your informal support (family, friends)

Each plan is individual—there’s no fixed amount. Your NDIS planner will work with you to develop your plan.

  • Most plans run for 12 months before review
  • You can request a review anytime if your circumstances significantly change
  • Your plan can be adjusted based on progress toward your goals

Yes. You can:

  • Request a plan review anytime
  • Propose new goals and supports
  • Ask for adjustments if something isn’t working

Three management options:

NDIA-Managed:

  • NDIA holds your funds
  • You work with registered providers

Plan-Managed:

  • A plan manager holds your funds
  • You choose your own providers

Self-Managed:

  • You hold your own funds
  • Complete flexibility in choosing supports

SECTION 4: LOTUS CARE SA SERVICES

1. Assistance with Personal Activities

  • Showering, dressing, personal grooming, toileting, medication management

2. Household Tasks & Home Support

  • Cleaning, laundry, meal preparation, shopping, household organization

3. Travel & Transport Assistance

  • Door-to-door accessible transport, public transport support

4. Community Participation

  • Activities, outings, community connection, social support

5. Life Skills Development

  • Training in cooking, budgeting, communication, independence skills

6. Employment Support

  • Job skills training, work experience, employment readiness

7. Life Stage Transition Support

  • Support through major life changes (school to work, moving out)

8. Accommodation & Tenancy Support

  • Finding housing, rental applications, tenancy management

9. Community Nursing Care

  • Professional health support, medication management, health monitoring

10. Positive Behaviour Support

  • Specialized support for behavioral challenges

11. Therapeutic Supports

  • Mental health and wellbeing support

12. Specialist Disability Accommodation

  • Specialized housing for high-support-need clients

  • Authentic Experience – Our leadership team worked as frontline disability support workers
  • Person-Centered Approach – Your goals guide our support
  • Local Adelaide Base – We understand our community and your needs
  • Genuine Care – We genuinely care about your wellbeing
  • Responsive & Flexible – We adapt support to your changing needs
  • Quality & Integrity – Professional standards combined with authentic commitment

Our services are funded through your NDIS plan and charged according to NDIS price guides based on:

  • Type of service
  • Duration of support
  • Level of support needed
  • Weekday, evening, or weekend timing

Contact us for transparent pricing:

We’re based in Adelaide, South Australia and service Adelaide and surrounding areas.

Contact us to confirm:

Yes. We offer:

  • Daily support
  • Weekday and weekend availability
  • Evening support
  • Intensive support arrangements

Step 1: Contact Us

Step 2: Consultation

  • Discuss your needs and goals
  • Learn about our services

Step 3: Coordinate With Your NDIS Plan

  • We’ll verify your funding
  • Arrange your support

Step 4: Start Support

  • Meet your support worker
  • Begin services tailored to your goals

SECTION 6: SAFETY & QUALITY

Yes. All staff undergo:

  • National Criminal History Screening
  • Working with Vulnerable Persons checks
  • Professional reference checks
  • Health and safety clearances

  • Thorough staff screening and vetting
  • Comprehensive safeguarding training
  • Clear reporting procedures for concerns
  • Regular supervision and quality monitoring
  • Compliance with NDIS Practice Standards
  • Regular risk assessments

You can:

  1. Speak directly with your support worker or manager
  2. Contact our office – we’ll listen and address concerns
  3. Use our formal complaints process – we’ll investigate
  4. Contact the NDIS Commission

Reach out:

Yes. We maintain:

  • Professional indemnity insurance
  • Workers’ compensation insurance
  • Public liability insurance

  • Your information is secure and confidential
  • We only use your information for your support
  • We don’t share information without your consent (except legally required)
  • You can access your information anytime
  • We maintain confidential records

SECTION 8: COMMON QUESTIONS

No. The NDIS covers reasonable and necessary supports for disability-related needs. It doesn’t cover:

  • General living costs (rent, groceries, bills)
  • Healthcare via Medicare
  • Childcare
  • Services better provided by mainstream services

Generally, no. NDIS funding is treated differently to welfare benefits. Check with Centrelink about your specific situation.

Your plan runs for a defined period (usually 12 months) before review. Once eligible, you maintain eligibility unless circumstances fundamentally change.

You need documented evidence of disability from health professionals, but formal diagnosis isn’t always required.