An NDIS referral is how you ask a provider to consider supporting a participant. At Kindora Connect, a Registered NDIS Provider in Adelaide, the referral gives our team enough detail to call the right person, understand what is being asked for and work out whether we can help. This guide walks through who can refer, what to prepare and what the form asks for.
Who can make an NDIS referral?
Participants can refer themselves. Family members, carers, support coordinators, plan managers, allied health professionals and hospital staff often refer too. Whoever fills in the form, the participant should know about it and agree to be contacted. If someone else makes decisions for the participant, such as a nominee or child representative, include their details.
For a child under 18, the NDIS usually deals with a child representative, a person with parental responsibility who can make decisions on the child’s behalf. Referrals for children should come from, or be agreed with, that person.
What should you prepare before you start?
A few minutes of preparation saves back-and-forth later. Use this checklist:
- the participant’s name, date of birth and preferred way to be contacted
- the suburb where support will happen, such as home, work or a day program
- the supports you are asking about, for example personal care, transport or community participation
- how the plan is managed: self-managed, plan-managed or NDIA-managed
- the participant’s NDIS number, if you have it and they are happy to share it
- any times or days that suit, and anything that does not
- communication needs, such as an interpreter, Auslan or plain-language information
- a second contact, such as a family member or support coordinator
Plan management matters because it changes who pays the provider. The NDIS explains that funding can be self-managed, plan-managed or NDIA-managed, or a mix of these. Our guide to NDIS plan management options explains the difference.
How do you make a referral to Kindora Connect, step by step?
- Open the NDIS referral form and choose “NDIS referral”. The questions change depending on the pathway you pick.
- Enter the participant’s details and your relationship to them, if you are referring on their behalf.
- Tick the supports you are asking about. You can choose more than one.
- Add the suburb, preferred support times, plan management type and an emergency contact.
- Confirm the participant has agreed to the referral, then submit.
- Keep your phone nearby. Our team contacts the person named on the referral to talk it through.
If you would rather talk first, call us instead. A phone call is often easier for families who are not sure which supports to ask for.
How do you choose the right pathway?
Use the NDIS pathway when the person is an NDIS participant, or is applying to become one. Support at Home is the Australian Government’s in-home aged care program for older people, and it runs separately from the NDIS.
The NDIS eligibility criteria include being under 65 when you apply. Older people who need help at home usually go through My Aged Care and Support at Home instead. If you are unsure, describe the situation and we will point you to the right pathway. Our guide on how family members can enquire about support covers this in more detail.
What details help us respond faster?
The more specific the referral, the quicker we can work out whether we are a good fit. Instead of “needs support at home”, try “help with showering and dressing on weekday mornings before 8am in Modbury”. Mention any goals the supports relate to, such as getting back to work or joining a local group.
It also helps to tell us what has not worked before. If a participant finds new people stressful, or needs a female worker, say so. That information shapes who we would suggest and how we would plan a first meeting.
What should you leave out?
Only share what is needed to start the conversation. You do not need to attach full plans, medical reports or reports from other providers at this stage. If more information is needed, we will explain why, ask for consent and suggest a secure way to send it.
What happens next?
We review the referral, then call the contact person to talk about the participant’s needs, location, timing and plan. Sometimes we can help; sometimes another provider is a better fit, and we will say so. You can read more in what happens after an NDIS referral.
Common supports people refer for include NDIS personal care, transport support and community participation.