Ask a Plan Manager: Pace and changes to the NDIS

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The new NDIS PACE system and recent changes to the NDIS can be confusing. It can be hard to stay on top of it all, let alone work out how it might impact your child’s NDIS Plan.

Experienced Leap in! plan manager, Tabitha is on hand to help. Tabitha answers some frequently asked questions about how PACE and NDIS changes may impact your child’s plan and budget.

What is PACE?

PACE is the name of the new NDIS computer system, which was introduced at the end of 2023. It replaces the previous system the NDIS used to communicate with you and manage your child’s NDIS Plan. NDIS participants are progressively being moved onto the PACE system as plans are renewed. All first plans are created in PACE.

The NDIS says the new system is designed to:

• Improve the participant and provider experience
• Provide clearer and more consistent information about how decisions are made
• Make systems and processes more consistent nationally
• Make it easier to implement recent changes to the NDIS Act.

How will the new PACE system change the way my child’s plan is reassessed?

With PACE, reassessing your child’s plan becomes a more collaborative process. During a reassessment, you’ll sit down with your NDIS partner (usually an early childhood partner or local area coordinator) to discuss and decide if any changes are necessary to better support your child’s needs. This is designed to ensure the plan remains as effective as possible as your child grows and their needs evolve.

Will my child have a longer NDIS Plan?

The short answer is maybe! If your child has stable support needs, their NDIS Plan may be up to three years long. However, most children and teens will have a shorter plan period to meet their dynamic needs. Multi-year plans will have annual amounts to spend on supports and services your child needs each year. The funds for multi-year plans are released each year.

Have NDIS support categories changed?

The NDIS has updated its support framework, increasing the number of categories and introducing new types of supports:

There will now be four support types instead of three:

• Core
• Capacity Building
• Capital
• Recurring (new).

There have also been six new support categories added:

• Home and living (Core)
• Behaviour support (Capacity Building)
• Assistive technology repairs and rental (Capital)
• Specialist disability accommodation (Capital)
• Transport (Recurring)
• Young people in residential aged care YPIRAC) (Core).

Will support budgets be more flexible?

The new structure allows for more flexibility within each budget category. For example, under Core supports, your child’s budget can be used flexibly across any related category, whether it’s for daily living, community participation or consumables. This means you can allocate funds more flexibly based on your child’s priorities and needs.

Capacity Building and Capital supports budgets may have stated support categories. Stated supports are less flexible and can only be used for items or services within that support category.

How do I endorse a plan manager under the new PACE system?

There are a few ways you can endorse a plan manager for your child’s NDIS Plan:

• Inform your child’s NDIS partner during your planning or reassessment meeting that you wish to endorse a plan manager
• Call the NDIS on 1800 800 110 and ask them to endorse your chosen plan manager
• Some plan managers, like Leap in! can be contacted directly and they can request to be endorsed through the PACE system. The NDIS will then contact you to confirm this, or you can call the NDIS to approve it.

Do you have any tips for choosing and endorsing a plan manager on the PACE system?

When endorsing a plan manager for your child’s plan, ensure they’re included specifically as the “plan manager” and not just a “plan provider”. Use the start date of your child’s current plan as the endorsement start date to ensure all invoices are processed without issues. It’s also a good idea to confirm with the person on the phone that the endorsement is complete to avoid any misunderstandings. If you’re continuing with the same plan manager for a new plan, mention this during your discussion to confirm their ongoing role.

When will my child move onto the new PACE system?

The new system has been in place for all new NDIS participants who have joined the scheme since late 2023 and rollout of the system will take up to 18 months. Existing participants can also expect to be moved to the new system at the time of their next plan reassessment.

Want trusted information you can rely on?

At Leap in! we’re your partners in navigating the NDIS. Like Tabitha, our experienced plan management team can help you get the most from your child’s plan.

Leap in! has designed a web page specifically for parents and carers to simplify PACE and other NDIS changes, and their potential impact on your child’s NDIS Plan. Our page is regularly updated to bring you the latest insights and changes. View the page here.

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DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE US TO ANSWER IN THE NEXT EDITION OF SOURCE KIDS? WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. SEND YOUR QUESTION TO [email protected]

Call Leap in! on 1300 05 78 78 or email [email protected] to speak with a team member experienced in the NDIS and assistive technology.