There are many turning points in life. Time of completion of school, first time living outside the family home, beginning a new job, returning home from the hospital — all of these can be very exciting and often very stressful times. These changes can be a challenging time for people with disabilities, who might not have the support they need to cope.
This is where Assist Life Stage Transition NDIS can help.
You may have heard the term but have been unsure what it covers, who is eligible and how to get it added to your NDIS plan, so here you go! This guide takes you through it all in simple terms in a way that you can understand and act on confidently.
Assist Life Stage Transition NDIS is a new NDIS support for transitioning from one life stage to another.
Assist Life Stage Transition NDIS is a registered support category in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). It forms part of the funding budget for capacity building and is meant to assist NDIS participants in a concentrated and goal-directed manner to support their major life transitions.
This support category is designed for those special moments when life is moving towards a significant change, whereas Core Supports are designed to help with daily activities. It’s not about ‘maintenance’. It’s about developing your skills, confidence and network to navigate a major change and emerge even stronger and more independent than before.
This is time-limited and outcome-driven support. Your provider collaborates with you to establish goals, monitor progress, and build capacity for future transitions as well. Consider it as functional support in the most difficult stages of life.
Who’s eligible for this support?
This support is only available to those who are already registered with the NDIS as a participant with an active plan. Assist Life Stage Transition NDIS funding can form part of your plan from the beginning or be requested at a time of scheduled plan review.
If you are a good candidate for this support, you:
- You are either about to or have to go through a big life change
- That transition is impacting your independence, daily activities or involvement in your community
- The support is in line with goals in your NDIS plan
If you are concerned about your next plan review, it may be helpful to discuss this with your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) or support coordinator. Bringing a letter from a GP, allied health professional or school will provide a solid base for your request.
What does it include in terms of life transitions?
It’s a very common question people ask and has merit. Transitions are different for each person. The NDIS recognises this, and provides flexibility in how this funding can be used.
There are a number of situations in which Assist Life Stage Transition NDIS can have a significant impact:
- Transition from secondary to adult life is one of the most complex transitions experienced by young people with disabilities. It is very important to have structured support during this stage, whatever the next step might be – further education, employment or participation in the community.
- The transition from the family home to Supported Independent Living (SIL) or moving into independent living is challenging and involves a shift in thinking, as well as practical skills development. This support enables individuals to build their confidence and skills to live independently.
- Major transitions involve starting or returning to work, as it may be a new job or a change in career, or returning to work after an injury or illness. Assistance provided here can consist of goal setting, skills building, and job services referrals.
- Returning home after a major health event, such as a hospital stay, may be a stressful time. Life stage transition support helps the transition from clinical care to life at home in the community.
- A family change: The death of a main carer, relationship breakdown or change of living arrangements can all demand immediate targeted support if it’s to be managed effectively.
- Support needs that change over time: The nature and amount of support required may change as a person grows older, or they may evolve over time as the person’s needs change. It can make a huge difference to plan ahead of these changes rather than react to them in crisis.
How will this support be funded in the NDIS plan?
Assist Life Stage Transition NDIS is funded in your NDIS plan under the Capacity Building budget. This is in addition to your Core Supports and will be dedicated to developing your skills and independence gradually.
The amount of this type of support varies from person to person. Funding is based on what is reasonable and necessary in your circumstances, considering your goals, nature and complexity of transition, and supporting evidence provided during your plan review.
A key reason that it is important to ensure that your needs, including upcoming transitions, are included in your plan when writing your plan is because the capacity building funding is not interchangeable with Core Supports funding.
What is a Life Stage Transition Provider?
At Assist Life Stage Transition NDIS support, you’ll meet with a registered NDIS provider who will work collaboratively with you as the person seeking support. A provider in this area should be able to assist you with:
- Identifying your goals for the transition period
- Establishing concrete actions towards meeting those goals
- Linking you to appropriate services, community organisations and informal networks
- Developing actual skills that can practically be used in the change you are experiencing or are facing
- Keeping track of progress and modifying the plan as needs change
- Speaking up for you to other service systems and agencies
A good provider is not a jack of all trades. They are with you; they fade away as you become more confident and able to do things for yourself – that’s what capacity building is supposed to do!
For life stage transition, Access Assist’s steps to help are as follows:
Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting started:
Step 1: Talk with your existing NDIS plan. Review if funding for life stage transitions is part of the funding for Capacity Building. If it is, get in touch with a registered provider and take steps.
Step 2: Discuss with your LAC/support coordinator. If it’s outside your current plan, talk about your transition and how it’s impacting your life and independence. They can assist you with the next plan review.
Step 3: Collect evidence to support the claim. Having a letter from a GP, school, or allied health professional to explain the need for this support and what you are aiming to achieve can assist in establishing this.
Step 4: Identify a registered NDIS provider. Contact the NDIS provider finder service on the NDIS website (ndis.gov.au) or get recommendations from your support coordinator. Identify providers that have experience with life stage transitions.
Step 5: Define measurable objectives. From the initial meeting, confer with your provider about what success will look like for you in transition.
Step 6: Review and adjust on a regular basis. Life is never as it would be if it were all to go according to plan. Check-ins allow the support to be ongoing and remain relevant and effective as your situation evolves.
The importance of this support to Australians with Disabilities
The NDIS has been a tremendous success in achieving outcomes for Australians, but one of the most important, and often neglected, stages in a participant’s life is transitions. If they aren’t supported at these turning points, they can slip away and become less independent, and put greater strain on relatives and informal carers.
Assist Life Stage Transition NDIS is here to make a difference. With the right use, this support category has the ability to actually change lives: to provide the scaffolding, the tools and the courage for people to take on large life changes with immense ease.
From assisting your teenager with transitioning to adulthood, to supporting a parent in transitioning out of their current care, to helping with your next steps after a health change, this funding category is here to walk alongside you.
Final Thoughts
Going through a significant life change is challenging at best. However, it’s not something you have to do all by yourself.
One of the most valuable supports and one which is often underutilised in the NDIS is Assist Life Stage Transition. It is only for a participant at a turning point, and it is intended to develop the independence and capability that will last long after the transition itself.
When a plan review is coming up, or a major change is already in progress, it’s time to move forward. Speak with your LAC, collect your evidence, and ensure that your plan is the support you need to move forward.
You deserve to go through life’s changes with the right people, the right tools and the right plan in your back pocket.
FAQ’s
What is Assist Life Stage Transition NDIS and how does it differ to Support Coordination?
Assist Life Stage Transition is a Category of support for the NDIS that is specifically for NDIS participants experiencing a major life transition, including leaving school, moving into independent living or returning home from hospital. Support coordination, on the other hand, helps participants to understand and take action with their NDIS plan in many different areas, long-term. Focus and timing are the key difference. Life stage transition support is designed around a particular change, is time-limited, and focuses on becoming independent during the change. Support coordination is more wide-ranging and ongoing.
Am I able to receive Assist Life Stage Transition funding in addition to other supports in my plan?
Yes, absolutely. This funding is in addition to other supports received from the NDIS. It is located in the Capacity Building budget and can be used in conjunction with your Core Supports (the funds allocated for day-to-day supports) and also be used in combination with support coordination. Life stage transition funding does not diminish or impact other funded supports that are already in place. They just collaborate to meet various components of your requirements.
How much funding is there for life stage transition support in the NDIS?
There is no set dollar amount. The amount of funding you receive is decided on a case-by-case basis, depending on your goals, the complexity of the transition you are going through, and what will be reasonable and necessary given your circumstances. A person with a more complicated transition (such as moving to independent living when losing a primary carer) may be eligible for more funding than another person with a less complex transition (such as moving to independent living when a child leaves the home). The best way to get the funding you need is to make sure you have all the details documented at your plan review.
What is considered to be a life stage transition for the NDIS?
There are a wide variety of transitions recognised by the NDIS. These are usually considered to be qualifying events, such as: leaving school; entering adulthood; starting or returning to work; leaving the family home or moving into SIL; returning home from a long hospital stay or after a significant medical event; changes to the family; loss of a carer; ageing and changes in support needs. Once a significant life change (such as the loss of independence, functioning, or community participation) occurs, it should be explored with your LAC whether or not it is a threshold event for this type of service.
Will I require a plan review to have life stage transition support added to my plan?
In most cases, yes. If Assist Life Stage Transition is not currently in your plan, you’ll need to request it at your next plan meeting and include evidence. If the transition is urgent or unexpected, for example because of a sudden death of a primary carer or an unplanned discharge from hospital, a request to review the transition date (Change of Circumstances) may be made for the transition date to be reviewed sooner. In such cases, it is essential to be quick in responding and put out records that would prevent a delay of unnecessary support.
Do children/youth have access to Assist Life Stage Transition NDIS?
Yes. This support is especially effective with young people who are facing some of their most significant life transitions. The 15-22 age range is a very important time, as a significant number of children and young people with disabilities are moving from school to adult life and further study and employment. Planning early in this stage is known to have significantly improved long-term results. If you are the parent or carer of a young person who is an NDIS plan holder and are approaching this time, it is the perfect time to have the conversation with their LAC.
How can I find a registered NDIS provider to provide support for transition to adulthood in Australia?
Use the official NDIS provider finder at ndis.gov.au by searching for providers based on your location and the type of support you are looking for. Consider providers who have specific experience and history of supporting life stage transition, rather than providing life stage transition services. Pay attention to how they do it (are they willing to be participative and collaborative?), know your particular kind of transition and have ties to local services and community networks. Your LAC or support co-ordinator may also be a great source of referrals. One of the most crucial things that you must do here is to choose the right provider, and you should not make hasty decisions, so ask questions before you commit.
