FAQ - Footprints Advocacy

1300 556 780

1. What do you do?

Footprints Advocacy helps support parents and carers through the NDIS journey. We provide support from the very start of your journey, right through to reviews and the AAT.

2. My child does not have a diagnosis of ASD, however it has been recommended that I approach the NDIS for funding support, what is the best Footprints Advocacy package for me?

If you have not yet started any therapies (such as Speech and OT), I recommend our Starter Package as you are just commencing your journey with the NDIS and therapies. The Starter Package will give you an excellent understanding of what to expect in your planning meeting and what the next steps are after your planning meeting (eg. How to start using your funding or how to apply for an internal review).

3. My child has been receiving private Speech and OT for a number of months now, but I am just starting to contact the NDIS, which Footprints Advocacy package is best for me?

If you have evidence (therapy reports), then the Standard, Comprehensive or Premium Package will suit your needs. If your child has been attending therapy for 6 months or more and you are wanting to achieve greater than 2 hrs of therapy per week (standard NDIS package plan), then I would be recommending the Premium package.

4. English is my second language, I am not good at writing. How do I get my message across to the NDIS?

With our Premium Package, I will help support you in writing a powerful Family Impact Statement. We will spend many hours together on the phone and going through reports to be able to write your Family Impact Statement.

5. I am a very busy professional and trying to do the best by my child – what is the best Footprints Advocacy package for me?

If you are able to write your own Family Impact Statement and don’t want support with this, then the Comprehensive Package will provide you with everything you need. However, if as a busy professional and parent and are looking for some pointers on how to write the most powerful family impact statement to get your message across, or do not have time to read through your reports and check them, then the Premium Package is for you. Footprints Advocacy will go through everything you have with your supporting evidence with a ‘fine tooth comb’ and provide you with recommendations on how to move forward with your evidence.

6. What type of review should I apply for?

If you are within the first 90 days of your plan (90 days from the START date of your plan), then you can apply for an internal review (S100). This is the easiest form of review.

If your child has received an NDIS plan under Developmental Delay and has now received a formal diagnosis of ASD Level 2 or 3, you can apply for a Change in Circumstances.

If you are outside of the 90 days or can’t apply for a change in circumstances, you can apply for an unscheduled review, however there is less guarantee that the NDIS will consider this request within a short period of time.

7. How long does it take to prepare my evidence with support from Footprints Advocacy?

This is very dependent on which package you purchase, how much time you have left before it must be submitted and how quickly you can work. Typically, I like to have 30 days to work with a family as writing a Family Impact Statement takes many hours for you to write and once completed, there can be many versions before we are happy with the final product. You also have to allow therapists time to prepare reports and some organisations have a 2-3 week turn around. Therefore, it can take 30-40 days between the two of us.

8. Can I use my NDIS Funds to pay for your support?

Unfortunately Capacity Building funding (therapy) does not cover Advocacy support for families. However, the NDIS are well aware that if a parent or participant has an advocate, the participant is likely to receive a more reasonable and necessary plan.

9. Why do you help families?

The NDIS journey can be very challenging to most people and after experiencing it myself with my adult brother, I wanted to help families with young children be able to access the right supports. The NDIS pathway can be very stressful and by taking away that stress. you are able to focus on your child and their needs. Footprints Advocacy helps support parents and carers right from the very beginning, through to reviews, scheduled planning meetings and the AAT. With our Premium and AAT Packages, we will hold your hand right through the process, so that you feel like you have a ‘coach in your court’.