Episode 1: An Introduction to the NDIS

This episode provides an introduction to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), covering its purpose, how it operates, and the key concepts that participants, providers, support workers, and those new to the sector should understand.

Drawing on the practical experience of Gemeh Kromah, founder of LOFA Consulting, the discussion explores the fundamentals of the NDIS through real-world insights gained from supporting providers and working within the disability sector. LOFA Consulting has assisted more than 80 businesses through the NDIS registration process and provides consulting, training, and business support to providers across Australia.

In this episode:

• What the NDIS is and why it was established
• Who the scheme is designed to support
• Key stakeholders within the NDIS ecosystem
• Common misconceptions about the NDIS
• Important considerations for anyone entering the sector

Whether you're exploring a career in disability, planning to become an NDIS provider, or simply looking to build a stronger understanding of the scheme, this episode offers a practical foundation for navigating the NDIS with confidence.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:05

So this episode is about the introduction to NDIS and today we have invited Gemma. Yay! Thanks for coming. So first we're gonna start with some icebreaker question. Tell us a little about yourself and what you do.

SPEAKER_01 0:27

So my name is Gemma and what I do is basically I help people um start uh launch and then grow their business. Help them start their own business.

SPEAKER_03 0:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 0:42

And then they start, they launch day, and then not just launching the business, but also helping them to grow as well. So I help them to start. So the most important thing is getting started.

SPEAKER_03 0:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 0:54

And then help them to start. So the starting point is just basically, okay, should I go into business or not going to business? That's the starting point. You have to make a decision to say, okay, yeah, I want to start the business. Okay, we go through the process of starting the business, and then after we go through the legal side of things, registration and things like that. And then once they are done with that, then we launch the business to the marketplace.

SPEAKER_00 1:14

Yeah. Um, and you said continuing like a business, what does that involve?

SPEAKER_01 1:21

So business is an ongoing um process. So you start business, yes, you can start, but maintaining and making sure that your business is actually uh getting cash flow in, yeah. It's it has to continue to serve to add value to the marketplace. And how do you do that? You need to engage um uh marketers because people who are interested in your products or in your services, you need to make sure that you reach out to them. Yeah, so you don't just start your business and then go and sit down and say, Okay, the marketers or the customers are just gonna come. No, you need to reach out to them. So that's the meaning of saying that you need to continue your business.

SPEAKER_00 2:06

Yeah. Okay. Um then next one is what first got you interested in NDIS sector.

SPEAKER_01 2:17

That's a very interesting question. Well uh yeah, um, so first and foremost, I didn't know anything about the NDIS, but my background is in social work must qualify uh registered social worker with the Australian Association of Social Workers. Um I was looking for a part-time job and because I wanted to start my own business, yeah, but I didn't want to work full-time, and so I saw a job online and it was in Ballarat, which is about 100 kilometers away from here, uh the city area, and so because it was three days, even though it was very far away from where I live, I said, you know what, it's better than nothing because it's it's it's what I want because I wanted part-time three days a week. Um so yeah, I applied for the job, and I was asked to attend the interview, so I attended the interview. The interview lasted for five minutes, and I guess so. What's going on here? Um, but eventually I got a job, so and then the role was uh support cognition, and that is helping um to engage or connect people with disability to their support network. Um, for example, their occupation therapist, if they require that in their plan, uh psychology, physiotherapist. So this is how I got to know about the NDIS, which is the National Disability Insurance Scheme. And then from there, I worked in the organization for seven months, and I decided to move back to Melbourne because it was like two hours to join a day, so I resigned and then went on to work for other organizations as well. Those were some of some of the biggest IDS providers in the state of Victoria. And then uh from the idea and the the experience that I accumulated, then I went on to uh establish my own.

SPEAKER_00 4:18

Yeah, so tell us more about your journey with as a working in this NDIS field. So you started off as support coordinator, correct?

SPEAKER_01 4:30

And then so I started off as a support coordinator, yeah. Um and then um I did that for about from 2019, started working as a support coordinator. Yeah, and I still work as a support coordinator by the way. Um, so what I learned from that is um it's the experiment that I used to set up my own NDIS business.

SPEAKER_00 4:57

Yeah, so you became a provider.

SPEAKER_01 4:59

I became a provider and built my business to $1.7 million in revenue. That doesn't mean that came to my pocket, yeah. But that's how that's how I built from zero to $1.7 million. Yeah, and then from there I used to help some friends just on the side. Yeah, and they said, Oh, Gemma, if you are helping people, why not charge for this instead of doing it for free? So this is how Lufa Consulting was born.

SPEAKER_00 5:26

Right.

SPEAKER_01 5:27

And then I went on to set up um loaf for consulting. So support coordinator to provider yourself and provider to consulting, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:35

Helping the providers. Correct. Yeah, cool. Um, yeah, so what motivates you to continue working in this space?

SPEAKER_01 5:43

I think the motivation is basically about helping people with disability to live an ordinary life uh that you and myself might probably probably take for granted. And what is an ordinary life? An ordinary life is basically being able to do your gross shopping, being able to go to the London mic, do your laundry, yeah, uh, being able to go do your um exercise, uh, travel around. So that's what motivates me, helping those guys to actually get out of their homes, get the support that they need, uh, to live life the way they want it to be. And if I were in their shoe, I would have felt the same way. Yeah, that I need someone who can really help me. So that's the fact that I'm helping people achieve their goals, that's what motivates me because myself was helped to be who I am today. So, and I owe um that responsibility to help other people as well to achieve their goals. So that's what motivated me.

SPEAKER_00 6:53

So you're interested in like helping the helping people with disability, but then you're working for provide providers, right? How do you think that is related?

SPEAKER_01 7:06

So the relationship between that is basically so number for number one, the the fundamental uh idea of the NDI is to build capacity of people with disability so that they can live their life. Um, and part of that goal, to achieve that goal, I am privileged to help build the capacity of provider so that they can help build capacity of NDIS participants.

SPEAKER_00 7:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:35

So that's the link there.

SPEAKER_00 7:37

Right. Right. And I guess you're reaching more people by helping the providers because it can reach more and more. I think that's great. Um now we'll move on to some more deeper discussion questions. So the listeners that are unfamiliar with it, we've already talked about it, but what exactly do you define as NDIS?

SPEAKER_01 8:04

So when we talk about the NDIS, it's um they it's it's considered as the national disability insurance scheme. So that means it's a scheme that is set up by the federal government that covers the entire Australia, and it's only catered to people who have lifelong lifelong disability or permanent disability. Now, what that means is basically it means that that person will have that disability for life. Okay, that means all treatment options, medical treatment options, were exhausted and nothing could solve that problem. Nothing could cure the disability, so um it's lifelong. Okay so again, the NDIs stand for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. So they've insured if you get on that program on the scheme as a person with lifelong disability, yeah, that means you are in sure for life to be on the scheme.

SPEAKER_00 9:08

Right.

SPEAKER_01 9:08

Okay. So yeah, so that's the meaning of um the NDIs.

SPEAKER_00 9:13

Um then pe with people with disabilities, are they can it be physical or mental? Essentially both.

SPEAKER_01 9:21

Yes, so I I it's it's very interesting that you ask that question because a lot of people, including myself, before when I never knew anything about disability, I just thought disability was about physical disability, and you have to be physically uh disabled uh in order for you to be classified as as a person with disability. That is actually untrue. So disability comes in in many forms. It comes in, yes, of course, physical disability, it comes in mental health, uh the sack of social disability, and there's uh intellectual disability, there's acquired brain injury. So it comes in different forms. So it doesn't necessarily have to be physical.

SPEAKER_00 10:00

Yeah. And I guess the only condition that you're supported by this um sector of government is if it's life.

SPEAKER_01 10:10

Lifelong, yes. It has it has to be lifelong, yeah, and that means that all treatment options have been explored, yeah, but nothing worked.

SPEAKER_03 10:22

Right.

SPEAKER_01 10:22

That means it's like terminal. If you say it's terminal, then then it's terminal. So yeah, it has to be lifelong.

SPEAKER_00 10:29

Yeah. Okay, and I think we've already um talked about who it supports. So why is understanding of NDIS important today?

SPEAKER_01 10:41

It's it's that's a very interesting question as well, because a lot of people in the community do not understand the NDIS, how the NDIS operates, uh, particularly around how to get on NDIS and the NDIS funding, how it works, how it can be used. So a lot of people don't still understand that. So, what I can say to the viewers is that the NDIS is only there to cater to people with permanent disability. And not everyone is gonna be on the NDIS.

SPEAKER_04 11:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 11:13

So to be on the NDIS, you need to meet the criteria, and the most important criteria is your disability has to be lifelong, meaning that it's permanent, it's for life. Yeah. That's number one that people need to understand. Number two, the NDIS does provide funding for if a person is eligible for the NDIS, the NDIS does provide funding. Now, the funding is is meant to be used for the support that a person with disability requires or need in order for them to be able to live an ordinary life. Now, an example of that is basically, let's say, for example, a person has uh an intellectual disability and they're on the NDIS, and the ND and they tell the NDIS that, okay, my goal is to access the community so that I can socialize, so that I can meet new friends.

SPEAKER_03 12:11

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 12:12

Then the NDL says, okay, we will fund you for that. Let's say, okay, how many times a week do you want to access the community? They might say I want to access the community three times a week, five hours a day, to that 15 hours a week. So the NDL will fund that 15 hours a week. Now, then the NDL will allocate that funding. Let's say, for example, 15 hours a week will be around 50, $52,000 a year, for example. Then the support to get that person out of their home, they get paid. The support is a support worker that helps that person with disability to get out of their home. So this is how the funding is used. So the funding is not used where the money is taken out to be given to the person with disabilities using whatever ways they want to use it. That's not the point here. So that so people need to understand that the NDIS money is not essentially money. It doesn't mean if you're on the NDIS, you can utilize the money to go and buy whatever you want to buy. You want to buy funding show, you want to buy TV. That is incorrect. What is correct is the funding is used to pay the person who is going to help you access the community for social labs.

SPEAKER_00 13:22

Okay, I think that makes more sense. So, how long have you been working in this sector? You said from 2019?

SPEAKER_01 13:29

Since 2019, started working, and I'm staying here.

SPEAKER_00 13:32

So that's been seven years. I think so. Yeah. Um, how do you think has this sector changed over the years?

SPEAKER_01 13:41

So it has changed over the year and it is still changing. It is in change process. So um, like currently there's a lot of changes going on. And um that if we think about the from the time the NDI, the NDI started um to where yes were first and foremost launched in 2013.

SPEAKER_04 14:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:03

But the uh the then Prime Minister Jiva Gilla. Um so if you look at the progression of how it has progressed, um initially it was about reaching, I think six, I think it was about reaching 6,000 uh people with disability, but um it has increased that number, it has increased, it's almost hitting that number. And in terms of the funding, it has also the funding has also increased, the budget has increased significantly from 2013. Yeah, the target, I think the target at the time was around 400 to reach 400 people, 400 people with disability. I think 400 people correct that, or find I'll find a way to correct that. But I think it's around 400, 400 people. Um, that was from 2013. That was the good projection set to say, okay, we need to hit this number of target uh people. Um, and then from 2019 to now, I think it was about when they first started it was 22 billion dollars. And now it's over 35 billion dollars now. Yeah, so it's one of the largest spending schemes now in Australia, probably over the over Medicare. So Medicare is the largest, used to be the largest, I guess it used to be the largest uh government spending scheme, and now the NDIS has exceeded that. Yeah, and now the change that is going on now, the government is saying that they've invested a lot of money and they feel like the money wasn't being spent the right way. So they are now cutting a lot of funding from participant.

SPEAKER_00 15:40

Yeah, and that's the change that's happening now.

SPEAKER_01 15:43

Yes, and that is affecting everyone, that is affecting providers, it's affecting participants, yeah, affecting family members. Uh, for example, recently, one of my um clients, consulting clients, participants, um, whole funding was $900,000 for 12 months, yeah, and that has been cut to $135,000. That was that is a drastic cut.

SPEAKER_02 16:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:08

So, yeah, so that's a change going on now in the industry uh for everyone. Uh, in terms of even in terms of compliance as well, the NDS Commission is also uh making sure that providers are compliance. Uh, so there's a lot going on in the industry.

SPEAKER_00 16:22

So, how do you suggest um because the budgets are being cut, that these providers um respond to that?

SPEAKER_01 16:31

They look everybody responding to it in different ways. Um, some people are very um agitated about it, but um what I would say is basically um you have a funding body, you have a donor. So someone has the money and say this is how I want the money to spend and to be spent, there's nothing you can do about that. So the money has been given by the government, and if the same government says, Hey, I've been spending a lot of money and then I need to I need to reduce what I've been spending, what else do I have to do? Not much. It just what I can say is just to um accept the reality and and work according to that. Yeah, I think if you want to survive, if you have a provider out there, you want to survive, just go by the change.

SPEAKER_00 17:23

Yeah, and I think I read up on this, but so um so the conditions for like receiving the fundings are getting more specific, so there's like a lot of boxes to take now.

SPEAKER_01 17:36

Correct, it's becoming more tight now, it's more tighter than ever before. So to not enter this game is not as easy as it used to be.

SPEAKER_00 17:47

Yeah, and I guess it's not easy for providers to be aware of all these like boxes. Yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:57

It's not easy because it's it's it is an area of expertise because there's a set of criteria that you need to take a person through who wants to be on the scheme. So they have to go through fresh a diagnosis. They have to be diagnosed that yeah, they have a disability. That's the first thing. They have to be diagnosed, yeah, that yes, they have a disability. Number two, they must have been treated with all other options, yeah, and there's evidence that all other options uh didn't work, and as a result, they they have a lifelong disability.

SPEAKER_00 18:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:33

Right? So then that's the only way, that's the only way they will be assessed on the skin.

SPEAKER_00 18:38

So it's important to keep track of like um the evidence of like getting the treatment. Correct, correct.

SPEAKER_01 18:46

Yes. So yeah, that's so if anyone is intending because they are certain, they are certain disability when you have certain types of disability, when you have it's it doesn't have to be lifelong energy. You don't need to say or a medication descended. For example, if someone has a physical disability, it's clear.

SPEAKER_04 19:03

Yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_01 19:04

If someone has a massive physical disability, it's clear. If someone has a brain acquired brain injury, it's clear. But there are certain things like, for example, mental health, for example. If someone is on mental health, because if you have a mental health psychosocial disability, for example, like borderline personality disorder or schizophrenia, so you must have been on medication for some times. Yeah, that you know you've been told to say no, uh, you just have to be on medication for the rest of your life, then that's lifelong.

SPEAKER_00 19:31

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:36

Yes, it is growing. Yeah, it is growing, yeah. Uh of course there are challenges and challenges around funding.

SPEAKER_00 19:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:45

Uh, but yeah, it's still growing, it's still one of the best industries uh I would recommend.

SPEAKER_00 19:51

Uh what is it, Medicare?

SPEAKER_01 19:53

It's still, but with with the current trend of funding being cut, so it might it might go down below Medicare. Um, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:03

Yeah, so because it's a um growing industry, what kind of careers and opportunities are emerging in this sector?

SPEAKER_01 20:12

I think the career opportunities in this industry is um it's it's amazing because there's a lot you can do. You can work in the industry as a support worker, meaning that you are supporting a person with disability to go out to go about their daily life, daily activities. Uh, you can work as a nurse. If you're a registered nurse, you can work again. If you're a social worker, you can work in this industry. If you are an occupational therapist, you can work in industry, in this industry, let's say all I health professionals. So it's it's it's catered to everyone who really um anyone who is looking for um job, if you're qualifying that perspective in their areas, in the community sector, it's just one of the best industry. So it has a lot of career opportunities for everybody.

SPEAKER_00 21:03

Um so the final questions I'm gonna ask you one word to describe the NDIS sector right now.

SPEAKER_01 21:12

It's one of the best schemes in the world that is actually helping. It's one of the best in the world that is helping uh people with disability. Not in Australia, it's one of the best. In the world, it's one of the best because there's no other scheme in the world that is as comparable to uh the NDIS in Australia. So it's the best.

SPEAKER_00 21:33

Um this is just like out of my own own interest, but is it like NDIS in other countries or is it just Australia?

SPEAKER_01 21:40

It's in other countries, but it's not as as good as Australia.

SPEAKER_00 21:44

Right.

SPEAKER_01 21:44

Australia is very generous. Um, so the NDIS in the whole world, Australia is number one.

SPEAKER_00 21:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:51

Yeah. Right in terms of this project, people disability.

SPEAKER_00 21:54

And also, do you have any advice to people entering the sector?

SPEAKER_01 21:59

I think my humble advice to people entering the sector, particularly those that want to become a provider, um always seek expert advice. Um, if you want to set up properly, um, you don't want to run around aroundabout, around the roundabout, it's best that you seek expert advice. And when I say expert advice, take advice from people who have worked in the industry for many years, they've accumulated a lot of experiences, knowledge. Um, they are doing what you are about to get into. I think that would be my humble advice. It's always the case. So always seek advice from the expert in the industry. And not just the expert, sometimes I say this experience is the key.

SPEAKER_02 22:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:45

Um, and and and and the reason why I'm saying that is don't go to someone in the industry for help when they are not better than you in terms of what you want to get into. For example, I give you a very simple example. Let's say um you have a uh two personal uh trainers, okay, and you have a belly fat and you want to get your belly fat out.

SPEAKER_03 23:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:12

And those two trainers, you have the other one, has a belly fat, and you other if you have the other one doesn't have a belly fat. But they both are claiming that they can help you get rid of a belly fat. Who would you go with? The one without the belly fat because there's the evidence there, correct? So because the one with the belly fat doesn't demonstrate why is it that he has a belly fat that he hasn't been able to get rid of his belly fat? How is he gonna help you get rid of your belly fat, correct? Yeah, so uh yeah, so the my humble advice is always expert advice, that's the most important thing.

SPEAKER_00 23:44

Expert with actual verified, verifiable evidence, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:48

Alright, verifiable evidence. So let's say, for example, if someone said they are NDI consultant, for example, um, what you should be interested in is understanding what have they done. Um, have they set up their own NDIS scheme before?

SPEAKER_03 24:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:05

Right? Um, because that will help you, that will help you to say, okay, yeah, this is the right person to help me because they've already set up their own business. So meaning that I can learn from their um their failures, their challenges that they face, I can learn from that. Rather than going to someone who doesn't have the practical experience, yeah, and just rely on theoretical experience. I can tell you this without practical experience in the NDIS, it's very hard for you to actually um help anyone uh successfully.

SPEAKER_00 24:35

Yeah, I think that's the end of all the questions that I wanted to ask you. Thank you. Thanks for coming today. My pleasure. Yeah.