Welcome to APM Communities where we deliver Local Area Coordination (LAC) services as a Partner in the Community on behalf of the NDIS/A.
The primary purpose of LAC is to provide information, guidance, and support to people with disabilities, their families, carers, and the broader community.
LAC helps you understand and access the NDIS, empowering you to exercise choice and control over your supports and services.
Throughout your journey with APM Communities, our LACs aim to empower you by providing education and capacity building opportunities.
We can help you develop skills, knowledge, and confidence to self-advocate, make informed decisions, and actively participate in your support planning and implementation processes.
LAC is a critical component of the NDIS in Australia. We are a service that operates at the community level and play a significant role in connecting people with disabilities to services and supports, assisting to access the NDIS, and supporting you throughout your NDIS journey.
APM Communities aim to empower individuals and communities by providing them with the resources, support, and networks to live a better life.
Regardless if you are eligible for NDIS funding, our LACs can assist you to find and connect with community and mainstream supports and services in your local area enabling you to make informed choices that align with your aspirations and needs.
We strive to ensure we provide access to up-to-date information on a wide range of topics including health services, education, employment, social programs, and more.
We understand some people may simply need information on supports in their local area and other may choose us to support to understand and navigate services.
This is where a Community Connections plan can be offered. This plan is tailored to your needs, preferences, and goals.
We will meet with you to develop your Community Connections Plan and access the services and supports you would like.
This may take a couple of conversations.
There are no limits to the number of times you can contact us to support with your Community Connections Plan.
You can find more information here.
There are many services outside NDIS that you can use.
Mainstream supports are the supports you can get from other government funded services, like health, mental health and education.
There are also many support services available through community organisations including supports from local councils, and not-for-profit organisations.
These are referred to as community supports. More information here.
For more information or to make an appointment, please call 1800 276 522.
APM Communities can assist you in accessing the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and navigate the application process.
Our LACs can provide you with information about the NDIS, its purpose, and eligibility criteria.
We can explain the types of disabilities and supports covered by the scheme and help determine if you meet the eligibility requirements.
If eligibility requirements are met, we can assist you in preparing and submitting your NDIS access request.
This is where we guide you in the types of evidence and information you need to provide, such as medical reports, assessments, and evidence of disability, to support the application process (known as the Supporting Evidence Form).
Our LACs are here to help you articulate your needs, goals, and aspirations in a way that aligns with the NDIS guidelines.
Our LACs act as a point of contact between you and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), the governing body of the NDIS.
We may communicate with the NDIA on behalf of you, provide additional information if required, and advocate for timely and fair decision-making.
If you are eligible for NDIS, the NDIA will prepare you NDIS plan and budget, based on the evidence provided in your access request, and information provided about your informal supports, community and mainstream services.
You will be notified by the NDIA of an access decision in 21 days and you will meet with the NDIA planner who develops and makes decisions on your NDIS plan.
More information can be found here.
For more information or to make an appointment, please call 1800 276 522.
Once your plan is approved by the NDIA, your LAC at APM Communities will meet with you to assist you to understand your plan, the different budgets within it, and how it is managed.
You are welcome to ask someone to come with you, such as a family member, friend, or carer.
We can help you to start using your funded supports in your plan as well as discuss other community and mainstream services that may be able to support your needs (Booklet 3 - Using your NDIS Plan).
Our LACs have in-depth knowledge of the local communities and the available support services.
We can assist you in accessing appropriate resources, such as healthcare, education, housing, employment, and social services.
Our LACs act as a bridge between individuals and service providers, helping to navigate complex systems and coordinating multiple services.
We can also help you develop decision-making skills, problem-solving abilities, and self-advocacy capabilities. We can provide guidance, information, and support to empower you to make informed choices and overcome obstacles.
Overall, our LACs act as facilitators, navigators, and advocates, working alongside you and communities to implement plans that promote independence, well-being, and inclusion.
We play a vital role in ensuring that plans are person-centred, effective, and responsive to your unique needs and aspirations.
For more information or to make an appointment, please call 1800 276 522.
APM Communities will continue to support you after your NDIS plan is implemented.
We will monitor your plan's progress, ensure that your goals are being met, and address any concerns or issues that may arise.
We will do this by scheduling regular ‘check-in’ meetings with you to assess progress, address any concerns, and provide ongoing support.
These check-ins can be conducted in person, over the phone, or through video calls, depending on your preference and needs.
The frequency of these varies depending on your needs, sometimes an annual check in is sufficient if you are achieving your goals through your plan.
Our LACs can work closely with you to monitor your progress towards achieving your goals and outcomes outlined in your plan.
We can review the goals, assess your progress, and provide guidance and support to help you stay on track.
Our LACs provide ongoing support and guidance to you to ensure the effective implementation of your plan.
We are a consistent point of contact, offering assistance in problem-solving, and can help you to achieve your goals and improve your overall well-being.
At check-ins, we will ask how you are progressing towards achieving your goals, including using your NDIS funds, informal, community and mainstream supports and work with you to update these and the statements in your plan.
If your plan is working well, we won’t need to make any changes.
However, if it is not meeting your needs, we may need to make some changes.
This could be a minor change in your current plan which APM Communities can support you with, or your plan may need to be reassessed and replaced with a new one.
For more information or to make an appointment, please call 1800 276 522.
At certain points in time, your plan will need to be reassessed.
APM Communities will contact you to discuss the need for a plan reassessment and if required, schedule an appointment with your LAC.
A reassessment can happen for a variety of reasons:
Our LACs aim in assisting with your plan reassessment to help ensure that your plan remains responsive to your evolving needs and aspirations.
We will work in partnership with you to adjust your plan to ensure you have the appropriate supports and services you need.
We will review your current plan – your goals, supports, and services.
We will gather information about your progress, including any areas where adjustments to your supports may be necessary.
Our LACs will work with you to identify and document new goals or modifications to existing goals and support needs.
This information will be used to update your plan.
At APM Communities, our LACs can advocate for you to ensure your needs and preferences are respected during the plan reassessment process. We will provide information, guidance, and support to help you make informed decisions and have your voice heard.
If your plan requires minor adjustments, your LAC can make these adjustments to your plan and continue to support you to implement your plan to achieve your goals.
If your plan requires a more comprehensive reassessment, your LAC will support you to gather the changes to your support needs and provide this information to the NDIA who will then conduct a planning meeting with you.
For more information or to make an appointment, please call 1800 276 522.
There are 3 situations that can trigger you leaving the NDIS. These are outlined below:
For more information or to make an appointment, please call 1800 276 522.