Embark – Wrap up of 22/23 & Announcements.

Thanks for joining us in our Embark blogpost series, where we share some of our tips for supporting people to access the NDIS. Embark provides support to people with disability living in the Sydney Metropolitan area that are living with a mental health condition and experiencing (or at risk of) homelessness, to access the NDIS. [You can make a referral to our free service via: www.icla.org.au/embark/]

You can also get in touch for support – via Embark Upskill, we facilitate free workshops across NSW, open to anyone who wants to improve their confidence and understanding of the NDIS in order to support people with a mental illness to access the NDIS and obtain the supports they need. [Make an enquiry via: www.icla.org.au/embark/upskill] 

 

As we approach the conclusion of another successful year at ICLA’s Embark program, we would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the significant milestones achieved and extend our heartfelt appreciation to the participants, referrers, and all those who have supported us throughout this period of support –

Throughout the year, our blog series covered multiple topics, including the following:

  • Crafting effective and concise supporting letters.
  • Drafting legally sound consents for the individuals we assist.
  • Requesting relevant and comprehensive medical documentation for the individuals we support.
  • Utilizing Embark’s invaluable resource, the ‘I can prepare’ booklet.
  • Demonstrating functional impairments when compiling an NDIS application.
  • Emphasizing the significance of ‘choice and control’ when seeking access to the scheme.
  • Dispelling common misconceptions and clarifying the intricacies and access requirements of the NDIS.
  • Further delved into NDIS first planning meetings
  • Defined – What is a substantial functional impairment?
  • How to fill the NDIS access request form and NDIS evidence of psychosocial disability form

We sincerely hope that this very useful information has proven beneficial to you both now and in the future, as you navigate the process of assisting individuals living with psychosocial disabilities in accessing the NDIS.

While it is true that Embark, like any organization or service, has faced its share of challenges and triumphs, we are proud to report that we have achieved remarkable outcomes for the individuals we support. Throughout the year, we have conducted numerous upskill sessions for providers across Sydney and NSW, expanded the capabilities of the consumers and referrers we have collaborated with, and successfully advocated for over 85 consumers living with psychosocial disabilities who were at risk of homelessness, enabling their access to the NDIS.

If your one to keep up with recent media attention, it is evident that the NDIS has become a significant topic of discussion, often for less than favourable reasons. The landscape is fragile, at times inconsistent, and a cause for concern for many. Although the decisions and guidelines outlined the NDIS lie beyond our control, we remain confident in our ability to empower some of the most vulnerable individuals within our communities to flourish within the NDIS framework. Our track record demonstrates high success rates for the applications we have supported, and we have witnessed real success stories that have transformed the multi-faceted and intricate application process into something truly remarkable!

On that note, we are thrilled to announce that the Embark project has secured funding from the NSW Ministry of Health, ensuring the continuation of our program throughout the 23/24 financial year. This accomplishment would not have been possible without the support of our referrals, workshop attendees, and all those who have stood by us, contributing to yet another year of exceptional outcomes for the individuals we assist.

We encourage you to remain engaged as we go ahead into another year, as there are exciting developments around the corner. If you have any questions, ideas, thoughts, or simply wish to connect and gain insights into the world of NDIS access, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at embark@icla.org.au. We are always eager to extend our support in preparing NDIS applications and offer any assistance needed.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates!

MORE RESOURCES 

Thanks again for joining us. Please be in touch with any questions or suggested topics for future content via embark@icla.org.au. 

ICLA’s Embark program is funded by the NSW Ministry of Health to support people with a mental health condition who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness to access the NDIS.