NDIS resources for the child and family system workforce

This page is designed to assist Child FIRST, Integrated Family Services, Child Protection and Out-of-Home Care providers to engage effectively with the NDIS in order to provide the best outcomes for children and families.

As the transition to the NDIS continues in Victoria, disability intake and referral services will be transferred to the Commonwealth.

Child and family system practitioners can strengthen their capacity to engage children and families experiencing disability and support their access to the NDIS.

The resources on this page will assist child and family services practitioners to:

  • Support and strengthen the capacity of vulnerable families to engage effectively with the NDIS while moving through the stages of access, planning, implementation and review
  • Promote collaborative practice between the child and family services sector and the NDIS
  • Understand the complex interplay of factors that contribute to vulnerability in families experiencing disability
  • Optimise opportunities the NDIS presents for vulnerable children, young people and families with a disability and capitalise on the additional investment in the system.

Resources                      

NDIS-child and family service system interface practice guidelines

These guidelines are intended for work forces in:

  • Child FIRST
  • The Orange Door
  • Integrated family services
  • Child protection
  • Out-of-home care. 

They will assist practitioners in the Victorian child and family system to work collaboratively with the NDIS planners, support coordinators, local area coordinators and Early Childhood Early Intervention partners. The guide will support the best possible outcomes for vulnerable families with disability and contains information to support your work with families with disability and your interface with the NDIS. 

Read the NDIS-child and family service system interface practice guidelines (word).

Child protection manual

The Child protection manual contains specific practice guidance for child protection practitioners and contracted case managers working with children with disability who require NDIS plans. New procedures to assist intake and case management staff support children with a disability and interact with the NDIS are now available.

Access the Child Protection manual.

Training for child protection staff

Department of Families, Fairness and Housing child protection practitioners can access NDIS training on the DFFH intranet or register for face-to-face training below.

Face-to-face training

The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare runs training for Child Protection, Family Services, Child FIRST/Orange Door and Out of Home Care workers to assist working with the NDIS.

Visit the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare training calendar webpage for current and planned training sessions.

Assistance with supporting families with NDIS participation

The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare has a range of additional resources to assist practitioners to support families with NDIS participation.  This project was funded by an NDIS Information, Linkages and Capacity Building Grant.

The NDIS Resources include 

  • NDIS support and advocacy Groups
  • Resources for intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and psychosocial disabilities
  • NDIS and culturally and linguistically diverse communities
  • NDIS and Aboriginal communities
  • Resources to support parents and carers and help prevent the breakdown of care of a child with a disability.

eLearning modules

The eLearning modules will help build your skills and confidence in working with families experiencing a disability and working with the NDIS funded sector.

The modules are interactive and each takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. Use the workbook that goes with each module. It provides an opportunity to apply what you have learnt and has helpful resources.

Complete the NDIS eLearning module as it will give you a basic understanding of the NDIS.

Each module builds upon the understanding of the previous one.

These eLearning resources were developed by the Parenting Research Centre for the Department. The Parenting Research Centre works with government and community organisations in the fields of health, education and welfare, to put the best evidence on parenting support into action.

Webinar 1 - Working with parents with intellectual disability

This webinar is designed for practitioners, team leaders and supervisors in the Chid FIRST, Child Protection, Family Services, and Care Services sectors.

The webinar discusses the challenges experienced by parents with intellectual disability in accessing and navigating the NDIS. The webinar also addresses the complexities that are common in lives of parents with intellectual disability and provides an understanding of their perspectives and their preferences for how they may wish to be communicated with.

Webinar 2 - Carer breakdown

This webinar is designed for practitioners, team leaders and supervisors in the Chid FIRST, Child Protection, Family Services, and Care Services sectors.

The webinar on carer breakdown and Voluntary Child Care Agreements provides an understanding of working with families of children with a disability where there has been a family or carer breakdown or there is a risk of breakdown due to the child’s complex disability needs.