NDIS & Social Work
How Social Work Can Support You Through the NDIS
The NDIS can fund supports that help people with disability build skills, increase independence and work towards their goals. Social Work brings a holistic perspective to disability support. Rather than focusing only on a diagnosis or individual challenge, Social Work considers the broader social, emotional and practical factors that can influence a person's wellbeing, relationships, independence and participation. Felune provides individualised Social Work support to NDIS participants who are self-managed or plan-managed, where the proposed support is appropriate to the participant's disability-related needs, goals and funding arrangements. Support is tailored to each person's circumstances and may include Therapeutic Social Work, psychosocial support, capacity building, advocacy and service navigation, and working alongside families and carers where appropriate.
If you're unsure whether Social Work may be appropriate for your NDIS goals, you are welcome to get in touch to discuss your circumstances and the type of support you are looking for.
Social Work Therapeutic Supports
Social Work is recognised by the NDIS as a therapy support. Therapy supports can help participants build skills and independence in areas including psychosocial functioning, problem-solving and decision-making, communication, interpersonal relationships and community living. The NDIS specifically lists Social Work as a capacity-building therapy support.
At Felune, therapeutic Social Work is individualised to the participant's circumstances, goals and support needs. Support may focus on areas such as:
Emotional wellbeing and adjustment to disability or life transitions
Developing coping and problem-solving skills
Decision-making and self-advocacy
Relationships and communication
Social and community participation
Building confidence and independence
Navigating complex social and life circumstances
Connecting with appropriate services and supports
NDIS-funded therapy supports must be appropriate to the participant's disability-related needs and meet the applicable NDIS requirements. The NDIS also notes that therapy supports need to have sufficient evidence of good functional outcomes related to the participant's disability.
Source: NDIS – Therapy Supports
Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living
Improved Daily Living is a Capacity Building support category that can fund eligible therapy supports intended to help participants build skills and independence. The NDIS currently lists social work among the types of therapy supports it may fund where the applicable criteria are met. However, having Improved Daily Living funding does not automatically mean that every Social Work activity is claimable. The specific support must be appropriate to the participant's disability-related needs and goals and comply with the applicable NDIS funding and claiming requirements. Whether a particular Social Work service can be funded therefore depends on the participant's individual circumstances, plan and funding arrangements.
Source: NDIS – Capacity Building Supports
Who can access Felune through the NDIS?
Felune is currently an unregistered NDIS provider and provides NDIS-funded Social Work support to participants whose relevant funding is self-managed or plan-managed.
Self-managed participants can choose between registered and unregistered providers for most NDIS supports and can negotiate the cost of their supports.
Plan-managed - Plan-managed participants can choose registered or unregistered providers. Their registered plan manager manages payments and financial administration on their behalf.
NDIA-managed - Felune is currently an unregistered NDIS provider, so NDIS-funded services cannot be provided to NDIA-managed participants. NDIA-managed participants must use a registered provider for NDIS-funded supports.
Some NDIS supports have additional provider requirements. Participants should check the requirements that apply to their particular support.
Source: NDIS – Managing your funding
How it works
If you're interested in accessing Social Work through your NDIS plan, the first step is to get in touch with Felune.
1. Enquire - Complete the enquiry form with some basic information about yourself and the support you're looking for.
2. Initial conversation - We'll arrange a brief phone conversation to discuss your circumstances and whether Felune's Social Work services may be appropriate for you.
3. Confirm your funding - If Felune appears to be a suitable service, we may ask you to provide relevant information from your NDIS plan so we can discuss whether the proposed support is appropriate to your funding arrangements.
4. Service Agreement - Once the service and funding arrangements are confirmed, a Service Agreement will be provided outlining the agreed services, fees and other arrangements.
5. Begin support - Once the agreement is in place, we can arrange your first Social Work session and begin working together.
NDIS Funding
Whether Social Work support can be funded through your NDIS plan depends on your individual circumstances, plan and funding arrangements, the type of support being provided and the applicable NDIS rules. Felune does not guarantee that a service will be funded by the NDIS. Participants remain responsible for ensuring that the supports they purchase are consistent with their plan and applicable NDIS requirements. The NDIS also states that participants remain responsible for ensuring their funding is used in line with their plan, regardless of how their funding is managed. If you are unsure whether your current funding may be suitable, Felune can discuss your circumstances with you and help you understand what information may be needed before services commence.
Further information
For further information about Social Work and the NDIS, the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) provides information about Social Work within the NDIS.
Learn more about Social Work & the NDIS →
The information on this page is based on publicly available information from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). NDIS rules and funding arrangements may change, and participants should refer to the current NDIS information relevant to their individual circumstances.