Link February 2019 Volume 28 Issue 1 | Page 40

plan management Kara and her cat Taro. the supports she needs funded in her NDIS plan. Julia also sources and directs all of Melissa’s supports and with Manage It’s help, makes sure she stays on track with her budgets. The NDIS journey has been a challenging one for Melissa and Julia. Although Julia is highly resourceful, she found that self-management was an overwhelming and stressful experience during Melissa’s first plan, and she struggled to cope. It was only after Melissa’s support coordinator introduced Julia to Manage It that she learned about Building capacity A busy teenager who loves her cats, gaming and books, Kara is supported by her mum Trish to utilise her NDIS funding to get the best value for money. K With Manage It’s support, Julia has developed a better understanding of Melissa’s NDIS budgets, and obtained many new skills over the past two years. Julia employs Melissa’s support workers directly and gets assistance from ara’s first NDIS plan was Thanks to the support from provider managed, and Manage It, Trish now feels ready to the family found that take on self-managing Kara’s next away’ is that she can now confidently NDIS plan. communicate with Government the funding did not cover Kara’s support needs adequately. But thanks to NDIS-registered plan management agency Manage It, Trish now understand Kara’s plan Manage It when she needs it. Julia said that one big ‘take “I am completely confident, Departments such as the ATO and even excited about taking on all my the NDIS, mainly because she has budgets next year,” Trish said. learned to “speak their language”. “I know more now than I did six Manage It’s team is highly better and has built skills to help months ago, but I also know that if I experienced in supporting her access services that suit Kara’s don’t, there is help a phone call away participants with their NDIS lifestyle, schedule and budget. or an email that gets answered within plans. With the agency’s support, 24 hours.” participants gradually build Manage It helps customers by building participants’ capacity in 40 plan management. Another customer Manage It has their understanding of NDIS financial and plan management. The supported is Melissa, an active young plans, and in turn confidence in agency provides specialist support woman who enjoys a busy schedule managing everything themselves and online tools to prepare customers of activities and work. Her friend and once they are ready. to self-manage their NDIS plan. advocate Julia helped Melissa to get plan management www.manageit.com.au linkonline.com.au