Living with a disability, or supporting someone who does, can feel overwhelming when navigating the NDIS.
That’s why it’s so important to know your rights, understand self-advocacy, and learn where to find support.
This guide will help you feel more confident when making decisions and speaking up in the NDIS.
What is Self-Advocacy?
Self-advocacy simply means speaking up for yourself in a clear, respectful, and informed way.
It’s about:
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Knowing what you need
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Communicating your needs
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Taking part in decisions about your life
The Independent Mental Health Advocacy model suggests a six-step process to guide self-advocacy:
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Identify the issue
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Know your rights
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Identify your solutions
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Make a plan
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Act on the plan
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Review what happened
By using these steps, you can engage with the NDIS more effectively and make sure your voice is heard.
Your Rights under the NDIS
As an NDIS participant, you have the right to:
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Access safe and quality services
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Make choices and decisions about your plan
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Have control over your NDIS funding and service agreements
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Choose providers and supports that suit your needs
SSI’s Rights Path Project
The SSI Rights Path Project was funded by the Department of Social Services to make rights more accessible.
They created videos and guides in multiple languages (Khmer, Punjabi, Urdu, Vietnamese, and English) to help participants:
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Understand their rights
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Speak up with confidence
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Navigate NDIS services
SSI is a trusted not-for-profit that has supported communities across NSW, QLD, and Victoria for more than 20 years
Know Your Rights
In this video, you’ll learn your rights as an NDIS participant, including how to:
- make choices about your NDIS plan,
- provide feedback on services, and
- resolve issues with providers.
The video also explains how to access language support and gives reassurance that all feedback is handled confidentially and respectfully.
How to Give Feedback
Giving feedback is a key part of making the NDIS better for you and others.
This animated video explains how to:
- raise concerns with your service provider,
- seek advocacy support,
- make a formal complaint to the NDIS Commission.
You’ll also learn about:
- Understand your rights to quality care,
- the options available to resolve issues, and
- how to access language assistance when needed.
Sources