One of the primary goals of the NDIS is to provide you with greater choice and flexibility in how you access supports. The NDIS allows you to choose how you manage your funding and the providers you use and control over how you achieve the goals laid out in your NDIS plan.

There are three different ways to manage your NDIS plan:

1. MANAGED BY NDIA

THE National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is the body that implements the NDIS. You can choose to have your funds managed by this body. The funds you are allocated for a 12-month period will stay with the NDIA. You will choose the services you want to meet your set goals. The service providers you choose will claim from your funding pool, held by the NDIA. You can monitor how much has been spent against your goals and paid to your chosen service providers via an online portal – a bit like monitoring online banking transactions.

2. MANAGED BY YOU

YOU can choose to manage NDIS funds yourself.

You will provide the NDIA with details of your bank account for a transfer of your NDIS funding. Once your plan is approved you can purchase supports from both registered NDIS providers or providers you feel can best meet your goals.

3. MANAGED BY A SERVICE PROVIDER OR OTHER THIRD PARTY

MUCH like the self-managed model, you can choose any service provider offering NDIS funds management – even those not registered with the NDIS. For a fee, this third party, or Plan Manager, will file and record your invoices and track you expenditure of NDIS funding, providing you with a regular update or report on your funding and goals.

Learning Links is committed to implementing the Child Safe Standards to ensure a safe environment for the children we work with. By embedding these standards into our everyday practice and putting the interests of children at the centre of all that we do, we’re helping to build a culture where all abuse of children is prevented, responded to and reported.

At Learning Links, we want to ensure all families are able to fully exercise choice and control and have their voices heard. If your child is unable to advocate for themselves, our team can provide information about accessing an independent advocate.

An advocate works on behalf of you and your child to promote and protect your rights and interests and support you to exercise choice and control.

Click here to find a government-funded advocate near you >

Learning Links works collaboratively with families and relevant external providers to facilitate children’s development and address families’ needs and priorities, including supporting them to identify a suitable key worker provider if required. A key worker acts as the primary point of contact and support for your child. They coordinate with other professionals on your behalf to help your child achieve their goals. Our allied health professionals work collaboratively to liaise with you and other providers involved in delivering your child’s supports through the provision of consultative and non-face to face services.

If you would like to discuss how we can provide this additional support, please contact our Intake team on 1300 003 900 or access our free online learning Parents as Case Coordinators program.

Learning Links is committed to receiving feedback from customers, members of the public, and agencies, as a means of promoting continuous improvement in our NDIS Services.  We recognise the right of any individual or group to provide feedback or raise a complaint.

Complaints lodged by parents/ carers/ professionals regarding a NDIS participant can also be lodged with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission by contacting the Commission: 1800 035 544

Learning Links continuously reviews our systems, policies and processes to ensure NDIS participants feel confident and safe when accessing our services. You can view our policies below:

What NDIS approved services do you provide?

Learning Links is an approved provider of the following registered supports:

Improved Daily Living (Support Category 3.15)

This category includes ‘Therapeutic Supports’:

• Occupational Therapy
• Occupational Therapy Assessments
• Speech Therapy
• Speech Therapy Assessments
• Psychology – Counselling
• Psychology – Assessments

My child has an approved NDIS plan. What do I need to do to access Learning Links’ services?

You will need to provide a copy of the approved plan to Learning Links. Your plan includes the total dollar value for the approved supports and an approval number. When we receive the approved plan we will then contact you to discuss how much money you would like allocated to which service. When this has been agreed Learning Links will send you a Service Agreement with these details. Services can commence when the signed Service Agreement has been returned to Learning Links.

Why does Learning Links need to see my plan?

So we can help your child receive the right supports we need to view your plan with the following information.

• Plan start and end date
• Support areas approved
• Amount of money

Learning Links Privacy Policy protects any information you provide to us and is available on our website.

What if I want to make a change to the Service Agreement I signed with Learning Links?

To make any changes to the Service Agreement a request must be sent in writing. This will take effect when the change has been approved by Learning Links and you have been notified in writing.

Is Learning Links a provider under Early Childhood Intervention Australia?

Learning Links can provide services to children 0-6 years under NDIS.

How have the fees been set / determined?

Learning Links’ fees are consistent with what is set by the NDIS.

What is included in the fee?

• Intervention for your child
• Feedback at the end of the session
• Planning and preparation by the professional. This includes communication with other professionals as required (internal and external), review and a summary report at the time of discharge.

What do I do if I want the amount approved and allocated to my child in their NDIS plan to be increased?

Any funding issue or query should be referred back to your NDIA planner. Unfortunately, Learning Links cannot assist you with this.

What do I need to do to pay for Learning Links’ services?

Payment varies depending on whether your child’s plan is NDIA-, plan- or self-managed. Learning Links will process payments as agreed in your Service Agreement.

If you are self-managing your child’s NDIS plan, you can find information about paying for supports here: https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/using-your-plan/self-management/paying-your-supports

My child’s NDIS plan has only been approved for 12 months. What if my child needs your services for more than 1 year?

Under the NDIS, Learning Links is required to conduct a review of your child’s progress before the end of the 12-month funding period and provide this information to the NDIS. We need two weeks notices to complete this report. This will assist you to negotiate a new funding approval for your child if relevant and required.

Even though my child’s NDIS plan is for 12 months I would like to use Learning Links for less than 12 months. Is this possible?

Yes. The Service Agreement has a start and finish date which can be less than 12 months. If you would prefer less than 12 months, please let us know when we are discussing the agreement with you.

Does Learning Links provide case management support?

Learning Links unfortunately does not provide this support. The NDIS has approved agencies to provide case management support. Funding for case management support needs to be approved in the NDIS Plan. Your NDIA planner can help you with this.

Do you charge to travel to my child’s school to provide the support?

Learning Links does not charge an additional fee for travel if your child’s school is within a 10 km radius from our office.

How do I cancel my services with Learning Links?

To cancel services with Learning Links you will need to advise us in writing via email or letter. When written notification has been received the termination of the Service Agreement will be confirmed by Learning Links.