If you have just had a plan approved, or you are about to, the NDIS jargon can be its own full-time job. This is a quick orientation, just enough to make the next few weeks less foggy. It is not legal or financial advice. It is a practitioner's plain-language run-through of the bits I get asked about most often.
The three ways an NDIS plan can be managed
NDIS plans are managed in one of three ways. Self-managed means you, or a family member, handle the invoices and claims yourself. You can choose any provider, registered or not, and this option allows you to manage your plan in a hands-on way. Plan-managed means a third-party plan manager handles the invoices and claims on your behalf. You still choose any provider, registered or not, but someone else manages your plan for a fee covered by the NDIA. Agency-managed, sometimes called NDIA-managed, means the agency pays providers directly and you can only use NDIS-registered providers.
Wild Springs accepts plan-managed and self-managed clients. I am not currently NDIS-registered, so agency-managed plans can't book me directly. If that is your situation, self-management or moving to plan-management is the path, and your plan-manager or LAC can walk you through it.
Which part of a plan pays for OT?
OT sits under your Capacity Building budget, specifically Improved Daily Living. That is the bucket that pays for therapies, allied health, and assessments. If you are not sure how much is in your bucket, your plan-manager or LAC can usually tell you in a couple of minutes. Fees at Wild Springs Therapy are priced in accordance with NDIA guides and indexing, and therapy assistant sessions are also billed from Improved Daily Living. The practical impact is that families navigating funding limits can have more sessions for the same plan spend by mixing my contact with Sam's.
Three NDIS myths worth clearing up
A few myths worth clearing up. No referral is required to access occupational therapy services. You have the choice and control to spend your NDIS budget on providers you choose. Not all NDIS providers are NDIS-registered. Registered just means a practice has gone through the Commission's registration process. Plenty of providers are unregistered, including Wild Springs, and work with plan-managed and self-managed clients every day. And switching from agency-managed to plan-managed mid-plan doesn't cost you funding. The funding stays. You just change who handles the admin, and your plan-manager or LAC can talk you through the change.
Where to start if you are new
If you are new and not sure where to start, a simple order helps. First, find out how your plan is currently managed by looking at the plan PDF or asking your LAC. Second, decide which of the three pathways you want to be on. Plan-managed is usually the easiest first step if you are new. Third, identify the providers you want to start with, and book an initial consult before committing to anything longer-term. Fourth, if you have a plan-manager, have them start paying invoices once sessions begin.
If any of this feels overwhelming, that is normal. The NDIS process trips up experienced families too. The NDIS is built around choice and control. The plan is yours, the goals are yours, the providers are yours. The admin can be brutal, but the autonomy is real. If I can support your plan, I will say so. If I am not the right fit, I will say that too. You can find the official detail at ndis.gov.au, and you are welcome to reach out before you book if it would help to have someone walk you through the OT-specific bits.