The Apoio Pulse – Issue 73 – Charging Travel Vs Therapy Hours
Plan Smart, Work Smart: Making the Most of NDIS Funding!
When it comes to NDIS funding, it’s not just about the bucket of money participants receive—it’s about how well that bucket is managed. While participants have the power of choice and control, the allocation of funds is carefully planned to ensure that therapy needs are met throughout the year. For instance, a child might be allocated 90 hours of therapy annually, spread across three different therapists: a Psychologist, an Occupational Therapist, and a Speech Therapist. Each therapist gets roughly 26 hours, but what happens when travel time and administrative costs start eating into those hours?
A Balancing Act
Imagine you’ve agreed to 26 therapy sessions with travel time on top. Suddenly, your available therapy hours drop to just 17 because of the additional half hour travel charges. This isn’t just a math problem—it’s about ensuring the participant can benefit fully from each type of therapy. If one therapist’s hours run over, it could mean less time with other essential therapists, impacting the overall success of the plan.
Core Funding Considerations
The same principles apply to Core funding. Participants are given a ‘weekly’ budget, and if travel is being charged, it’s important to consider how this affects the hours left for other essential supports. While we’re not suggesting that travel shouldn’t be charged, it’s crucial to stick to the allocation rather than assuming the plan can flex around these additional costs.
Respect the Plan, Reduce the Stress
We’re here to help you understand the importance of sticking to the agreed allocations. It’s about more than just following the rules—it’s about respecting the participants’ plans and ensuring they get the most out of their NDIS funding. Overrunning hours doesn’t just strain the plan; it can also add stress to participants and their families, leading to more manual claims for the NDIA to process.
Reports: Your Secret Weapon
If you believe a participant’s plan is underfunded, the best course of action is to use reports to advocate for more hours. Increasing the hours without official approval may seem like a quick fix, but it can lead to long-term issues. Let’s work together to ensure participants receive the support they need—without breaking the bank or the plan.
With a little planning and a lot of respect, we can all make sure that NDIS funding goes the distance!
