Victoria Art Therapy is an approved NDIS Registered Provider, assisting participants in securing National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) art therapy funding. Our registration class of support falls under “Therapeutic Supports”, with our services charged per the published NDIS price guidelines.
Art Therapy for Disability
Disabilities manifest in many forms, including intellectual, physical, sensory and mental illness. Disability is also not clear-cut; two people with the same type of disability may not have the same symptoms and experiences.
To accommodate this diversity, Victoria Art Therapy (NDIS) in Melbourne provides experienced art therapists who have completed a Master of Art Therapy and are registered with the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA) or an affiliated professional body upholding a code of ethics.
These principles serve as a guideline for the professional conduct of creative arts therapists, ensuring integrity and a high standard of creative arts therapy practice. The code affirms the appraisal of ethical issues and their implications and the pursuit of professionally responsible actions, promoting ethical services in clients’ best interest.
In addition, people with a disability can be funded by the NDIS and benefit significantly from engaging in creative expression.
NDIS and Art Therapy
The NDIS supports those with significant and permanent disabilities affecting their ability to participate in daily activities, implemented by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
The initiative helps people with a disability live a more fulfilling life by helping to:
- Bypass verbal requirements to encourage self-expression and communication.
- Calm the mind and reduce stress.
- Use creative tools modified to accommodate various fine motor skill challenges.
- Decrease feelings of helplessness.
- Decrease feelings of hopelessness.
- Boost relaxation for people with chronic pain
- Improve motor function, supporting cognitive retraining for those with brain injuries.
- Improve cognitive function and quality of life.
- Encourage self-discovery and emotional growth.
- Provide emotional and physical integration.
- Explore feelings and mental health issues.
- Encourage socialising.
- Teach daily living skills to people with developmental disabilities.
How the NDIS Works With Art Therapy
As creative art therapy benefits people with physical or mental disabilities in numerous ways, it can be accessed as support through the NDIS budget.
NDIS participants set life goals that form part of their NDIS plan. This plan is evaluated by the NDIS, which then grants a budget based on this assessment.
This budget is managed by a plan manager and can be supported by a support coordinator. Alternatively, people with disabilities or their families can control the budget themselves.
How the NDIS Funds Art Therapy
When a participant lists art therapy as one of the supports they wish to receive to help them reach their goals, a service agreement is set up between Victoria Art Therapy and the participant.
This service agreement outlines the details of the art therapy that will be provided, including the name of the NDIS-registered art therapist, the frequency of sessions, the cost and the payer.
Invoices are sent to your plan manager if your NDIS budget is plan managed or the participant if funding is self-managed.
Take note of the following:
- Once funded by NDIS, you will need to complete the Victorian Art Therapy service agreement so we have your NDIS details. We can then update your account accordingly.
- When completing your enrolment form or service agreement with Victorian Art Therapy, you must let us know how your fees will be paid. In other words, is your budget NDIA, self, or plan managed, or do you have a financial intermediary? This ensures that invoices can be processed efficiently and your participant can gain ready access to our service.
Your payment options are:- NDIA Managed: This option means Victoria Art Therapy can access your NDIS funds directly via the NDIA portal. You will still receive an invoice for your information, but you do not pay us directly.
- Self–Managed (NDIS): In this option, you are an NDIS participant but manage all payments yourself. You will be invoiced and pay the NDIS rate directly, then apply to the NDIA for reimbursement.
- Plan-Managed: Plan-managed payment means an agency handles all your invoices and pays Victoria Art Therapy directly.
- Financial Intermediary: If you are an NDIS participant or are yet to come under the scheme and have funding through another support agency acting on your behalf, please note this on your Victorian Art Therapy enrolment form or service agreement.
All invoices will then be sent to your financial intermediary, who will distribute your funding accordingly.
- The NDIS price for services is set by the NDIA and is reviewed annually.
- Note that NDIS prices are subject to change per term and each financial year. Hence, Victorian Art Therapy reserves the right to change the price of its services per any changes the NDIA makes to service pricing.
How Can You Use Your NDIS Funds for Creative Art Therapy?
When you attend your planning meeting with your designated NDIA planner, you will need to discuss your individual goals. The planner will then work with you to identify supports and services that can assist you in meeting those goals.
It is important to note that the NDIS is designed to give you, the participant, “choice and control” over selecting services to meet your needs as outlined in your life goals. However, the NDIA is also mandated to decide what requested participant supports are a “reasonable and necessary” use of government funding.
Why Is It Important to Engage a Registered NDIS Provider?
As an accredited disability provider under the NDIS, Victoria Art Therapy has undergone a rigorous accreditation and compliance process with the National Standards for Disability Service (NSDS).
As a result, all aspects of service delivery are compliant and standardised so that Victoria Art Therapy provides the highest level of disability support to all participants.
In addition, we are proud to confirm that the audit recommends Victoria Art Therapy for verification, a process occurring every three years.
Victoria Art Therapy receiving this recommendation means that you, as the client, can have absolute confidence in the quality of the art therapy and counselling we provide, our processes, and our NDIS registered associates.
Absences
The NDIA introduced a significant change regarding notification of absences in the latest release of the price guide, which came into effect on 1 July 2019.
Victoria Art Therapy has adopted this cancellation policy.
It delineates that if a participant cancels within 24 hours before the service, the service provider can charge up to 90% of the agreed price for the cancelled appointment.
Beyond this NDIA rule, Victorian Art Therapy’s policy regarding cancellations, “no-shows”, and notification of absences applies and can be found on our service agreement.
How to Apply for NDIS Funding
- If you want to find out more about accessing NDIS funding, you can learn more here:
- To apply for NDIS funding, please click on the below link to download the access form:
