For Australians with a disability, getting from A to B could be one of the most important issues they face in their daily lives. It is why Assist Travel Transport NDIS is here. This funded support category falls under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and is designed for eligible participants to travel safely, confidently and as independently as possible, to get to a therapy session, workplace, community event or to their medical appointment across town.
If you have an NDIS plan or know someone who does, you might find yourself having more access to and ownership of community and everyday life thanks to understanding the role of transport support in the plan.
What Is Assist Travel Transport NDIS?
Assist Travel Transport (NDIS) is a funded support type included in the Core Supports budget under the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Specifically, it is in the Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation category and is aimed at individuals who are not able to use public transport independently due to their disability.
This help is more than just arranging a ride. Assist Travel Transport NDIS is at its best when it is a way to achieve increased independence and supports the participant to develop the skills, confidence and systems they require to navigate their community with less reliance on others. This may include direct transport support, or travel training in which a trained support worker takes people through the steps of learning how to use public transport safely independently.
Eligible people for NDIS Transport Support in Australia
Not all NDIS participants get funding for transport as a support in an NDIS plan. If you want to include it then you must prove your disability has a real effect on your ability to travel independently using public transport. This evaluation is conducted at a time of your NDIS planning meeting or plan review.
The following are common disability specific factors that might support eligibility:
- Physical factors which hinder mobility or which necessitate special vehicle access.
- A cognitive or intellectual disability which impacts on safe and independent travel
- Mental health or psychosocial disability which makes it difficult to use public transport
- Language or speech barriers that hinder or make it unsafe to use transportation systems
For your planning meeting, you’ll need evidence from your treating professionals in order to make a strong case. A letter/report from your GP, occupational therapist or specialist that tells how your disability affects your capacity to use your transport is very helpful. The more specific and better substantiated your evidence, the better you will be at getting the proper funding.
What Does Assist Travel Transport NDIS Cover?
Once accepted for support through transport in your NDIS plan, it can provide access to a variety of supports that may be appropriate for your situation. These are some of the things Assist Travel Transport NDIS typically covers:
Travel to support activities
If you need someone to pick you up and drop you off at therapy sessions, day programs, community groups or other funded activities, you may receive funding from your plan for this. This is typically the most obvious application of transport finance.
Travel training
This is one of the most empowering aspects of this support type. Travel training is when a trained support worker helps you to develop the skills and confidence to use public transport without them. Sessions could involve learning a specific bus or train route, practising at the bus or train station, handling Opal or Myki cards and handling anxiety associated with travelling. Travel training for many participants is a stepping stone to lifelong independence.
Taxi and rideshare services:
If it is not possible to use public transport, or it is not safe, the NDIS can help pay for taxi or rideshare services to get from one place to another to attend appointments and activities. This is assessed on a case-by-case basis, and should be discussed with the Support Coordinator and plan manager prior to use.
Vehicle modifications
In some cases, the NDIS plan may cover vehicle modifications, such as installing grab handles or other design changes, to increase access and safety if the family member or carer is the person driving the vehicle regularly. This can be done by using ramps, hand controls or whatever is necessary based on the participant’s needs.
It’s important to understand that there are daily and weekly caps for using NDIS transport and that the amount of funding for transport services depends on how often you access supports and if you live in a metropolitan, regional or remote area in Australia.
How to access assist travel transport NDIS
If you think transport should be included in your NDIS plan but it isn’t, the steps you take to add it are easier than you might think.
Start by collecting documentation from healthcare provider(s).
The most important evidence that you can bring is a report from your Occupational Therapist or GP outlining how your disability affects your ability to travel on your own.
Ask for a plan review
Make direct contact with the NDIS or contact your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) for a plan review. Explain clearly what support you are seeking with regard to transport and bring evidence to the review.
If you have a Support Coordinator in your plan, work closely with your Support Coordinator.
They can assist you with preparing your case, making sure your needs are clearly understood by the NDIS and help you link up with registered providers when your funding is accepted.
Once transport funding is confirmed, you will need to find a registered NDIS provider to provide transport supports for you in your area. A good place to start is the NDIS Provider Finder on the ndis.gov.au website.
Selecting the right NDIS transport provider is crucial
You can get a different experience with the provider you select. Here are some of the signs to watch for:
When you register and comply with the NDIS
Always check that your provider is registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. This means they are able to ensure they are working to the national requirements to provide quality supports.
Experience in working with individuals with your disability type
is a major advantage for a provider to be able to provide the services you need and want.
Flexibility and reliability
A good transport company will be flexible and reliable when things change and will be open with the customer when plans change. If there is a critical appointment or service involved with transport, reliability is non-negotiable.
The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits must be adhered to by transparent pricing NDIS providers.
Before you sign up with your provider, ensure that you fully understand their rates and whether or not they fit your plan.
How to make the best use of transport funding
Smart planning of your NDIS transport budget means you’ll get more for your money and gain greater independence. Here are some practical suggestions:
- Record every transport expense and maintain transport receipts in an organised fashion.
- If financial tracking and budgeting is difficult, use a registered plan manager.
- If travel training is an objective in your plan, make children more independent to begin with as this will lessen the need for funded transport in the future.
- Check transportation requirements periodically, especially if health or living conditions change
- Discuss your transport requirements with your Support Coordinator so your plan reflects your requirements and is funded prior to your plan review.
Why Assist Travel Transport NDIS Matters for Australians
Transport is not solely a matter of transport. It is a question of access to health care, job, school, social interaction and community life. The absence of affordable, accessible transportation for people with disabilities can leave them vulnerable to isolation, missed appointments and missed opportunities that others enjoy.
Assist Travel Transport NDIS is here to fill this gap. This support category is the key that enables thousands of Australians with disability to participate in their everyday lives. It provides opportunities to participate, to give back, to be a part of their community, and to live it.
If you don’t know if you are getting the transport support you should, contact your Local Area Coordinator, Support Coordinator, or registered NDIS provider. Transport is an important aspect of independence, confidence and wellbeing and can make a big difference to these things.
FAQ
What is Assist Travel Transport NDIS and what supports does it include?
Assist Travel Transport (NDIS) is a support to help with travelling to and from appointments.
Assist Travel Transport (AT&T) is a funded support category of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for people with a disability who cannot travel independently to and from supports or services. It is part of the Core Supports budget, in the category Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation. This includes support to travel to and from NDIS-funded activities, travel training with a skilled support worker, taxi or rideshare costs where the public transport alternative is not suitable, and vehicle modification in some situations. The transport support for each participant is designed according to their individual transport plan and dependent on their disability related needs.
Who is eligible for NDIS transport funds in Australia?
A participant needs to be able to show that their disability impacts their ability to use public transport on their own and safely in order to be eligible for funding under the NDIS. This is usually reported by health professionals who treat them, such as their GP, occupational therapist or specialist. The NDIS planning process (or plan review meeting) determines eligibility. If public transport is not available or limited in regional or remote areas of Australia, this could also be considered in the assessment of those areas.
How much transport funding can I receive through my NDIS plan?
How much transport is included in an NDIS plan will vary from person to person. The NDIS has a tiered funding system that has daily and weekly caps which are dependent on the frequency of the NDIS funded activity a participant accesses and if they live in a metropolitan, regional, or remote location. This will depend on each person’s individual circumstances so the best way to find out what you’re entitled to is to speak directly to your Local Area Coordinator or Support Coordinator at the planning meeting and bring along all relevant pieces of evidence from your health team.
May NDIS transport funding be used for taxi services or ride share apps, such as Uber?
Yes, taxi or rideshare may be funded by the NDIS if public transport is not accessible or appropriate for the person with a disability. This may apply or not depending on the individual NDIS plan and the circumstances of each trip. It is highly recommended that you check with your NDIS Support Coordinator or plan manager before you use taxis or rideshare services from your NDIS budget to ensure that you are correctly spending it in your plan.
What is travel training and who is it for?
Assist travel transport is a structured support that can be obtained through the travel training category of the NDIS. It is a process that includes a trained support worker assisting a participant to build the skills, confidence and strategies to travel independently via public transport. Sessions can be customised for an individual and include learning specific routes, station and interchange use, public transport card use and dealing with issues of sensory sensitivity or anxiety. Travel training is especially helpful for persons with cognitive, intellectual, psychosocial, and communication disabilities who may be able to develop independent travel skills over time.
What is the maximum amount of funding to be used for Core Supports?
Yes, the transport support is included in the Core Supports budget, which is under the Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation category. Generally, Core Supports budgets are flexible, and there is some flexibility regarding the movement of funds between support types within Core Supports. There are rules and caps specific to transport funding, however, that differ from other Core Supports. When creating your plan, you should read it through thoroughly and consult with your Local Area Coordinator and/or Support Coordinator to ensure you have a clear understanding of how and where your transport dollars can be used and managed.
What is the NDIS funding amount?
The best place to seek out a registered NDIS transport provider is through the NDIS website, using the Provider Finder tool (located at the top of the website) that searches by location and support category to present a list of registered providers providing transport supports in your space. Your Support Coordinator may also be able to suggest providers you can trust in your local area that are appropriate to your disability and your needs and wishes. When assessing providers: Ensure they are registered with the NDIS, they are familiar with your disability type, reliable and clear with pricing, and will adhere to the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements.
