{"id":"F2016L00544","name":"National Disability Insurance Scheme (Becoming a Participant) Rules 2016","slug":"national-disability-insurance-scheme-becoming-a-participant-rules-2016","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":129099,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2016L00544-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"National Disability Insurance Scheme (Becoming a Participant) Rules 2016","content":"![Commonwealth Coat of Arms](image.001.png)\n\nNational Disability Insurance Scheme (Becoming a Participant) Rules 2016\n\nmade under sections 22, 23, 25, 27 and 209 of the\n\nNational Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013\n\nCompilation No. 4\n\nCompilation date: 27 February 2018\n\nIncludes amendments up to: National Disability Insurance Scheme (Becoming a Participant) Amendment Rules 2018 \\- F2018L00148\n\nAbout this compilation\n\nThis compilation\n\nThis is a compilation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Becoming a Participant) Rules 2016 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 27 February 2018 (the compilation date).\n\nThe notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.\n\nUncommenced amendments\n\nThe effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.\n\nApplication, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments\n\nIf the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.\n\nModifications\n\nIf the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.\n\nSelf‑repealing provisions\n\nIf a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.\n\nContents\n\nNational Disability Insurance Scheme (Becoming a Participant) Rules 2016\n\n[Part 1 What these Rules are about 3](#_Toc447096661)\n\n[Part 2 Outline of these Rules 4](#_Toc447096662)\n\n[What happens once a person has become a participant 5](#_Toc447096663)\n\n[Part 3 When does a person meet the age requirements? 6](#_Toc447096664)\n\n[Part 4 When does a person meet the residence requirements? 7](#_Toc447096665)\n\n[The additional residence requirements – general 7](#_Toc447096666)\n\n[The additional residence requirements – Western Australia 8](#_Toc447096667)\n\n[Part 5 When does a person meet the disability requirements? 9](#_Toc447096669)\n\n[When is an impairment permanent or likely to be permanent for the disability requirements? 9](#_Toc447096670)\n\n[When does an impairment result in substantially reduced functional capacity to undertake relevant activities? 10](#_Toc447096671)\n\n[Part 6 When does a person meet the early intervention requirements? 11](#_Toc447096672)\n\n[When is an impairment permanent or likely to be permanent for the early intervention requirements? 12](#_Toc447096673)\n\n[Deciding whether provision of early intervention supports is likely to benefit the person 12](#_Toc447096674)\n\n[Part 7 Assessing whether a person meets the disability or early intervention requirements 14](#_Toc447096675)\n\n[Specification of assessment tools in guidelines 14](#_Toc447096676)\n\n[Part 8 Other matters 15](#_Toc447096677)\n\n[Citation 15](#_Toc447096678)\n\n[Interpretation 15](#_Toc447096679)\n\n[Schedule A – Additional age and residence requirements 18](#_Toc447096680)\n\n[South Australia 18](#_Toc447096681)\n\n[Tasmania 19](#_Toc447096682)\n\n[Queensland](#_Toc447096683) 20\n\n[New South Wales 21](#_Toc447096684)\n\nVictoria [22](#_Toc447096684)\n\nAustralian Capital Territory 23\n\nNorthern Territory 23\n\nWestern Australia 24\n\n[Schedule B 28](#_Toc447096686)\n\n[NDIS Areas – South Australia 28](#_Toc447096687)\n\n[NDIS Areas – NSW 30](#_Toc447096688)\n\n[NDIS Areas – Victoria](#_Toc447096689) 34\n\nNDIS Areas – Queensland 36\n\n[NDIS Areas – Northern Territory](#_Toc447096687) 38\n\nNDIS Areas – Western Australia 39\n\nPart 1 What these Rules are about\n\n 1.1 The NDIS is being implemented nationally, to enable persons seeking to become participants to be transitioned into the scheme, in accordance with the additional access requirements set out in in this Instrument.\n 1.2 This Instrument provides rules about becoming a participant in the NDIS, which is part of the process towards developing a personal goal-based plan, which may provide for supports for participants in the NDIS.\n 1.3 The Act sets out a number of objects and principles for the NDIS. The following are particularly relevant to this Instrument:\n\nObjects\n\n (a) to provide reasonable and necessary supports, including early intervention supports, for participants in the NDIS;\n (b) to facilitate the development of a nationally consistent approach to the access to, and the planning and funding of, supports for people with disability;\n\nPrinciples\n\n (c) people with disability should be supported to participate in and contribute to social and economic life to the extent of their ability;\n (d) people with disability and their families and carers should have certainty that people with disability will receive the care and support they need over their lifetime;\n (e) people with disability should be supported to receive reasonable and necessary supports, including early intervention supports.\n\nPart 2 Outline of these Rules\n\n 2.1 A person, or someone who is able to act on their behalf, may make a request under the Act to become a participant in the NDIS (an access request). Once a person becomes a participant, they can develop a personal goal-based plan which may provide for supports for the participant. A number of principles apply in relation to the preparation and management of a participant's plan, which are set out in section 31 of the Act.\n 2.2 This Instrument assists the CEO to determine who becomes a participant. Separate rules determine reasonable and necessary supports that a person may get, including support in the nature of early intervention.\n 2.3 A person becomes a participant in the NDIS on the day the CEO of the Agency decides they meet the access criteria.\n 2.4 A person meets the access criteria if the CEO is satisfied that they meet each of the following, as they apply in the area in which the person resides:\n (a) the age requirements (see Part 3);\n (b) the residence requirements (see Part 4);\n (c) either the disability requirements or the early intervention requirements (see Parts 5 and 6).\n 2.5 Generally speaking:\n (a) a person will meet the disability requirements if they have a disability that is attributable to an impairment that is permanent or likely to be permanent and that results in substantially reduced functional capacity;\n (b) alternatively, a person can access the NDIS through the early intervention requirements without having substantially reduced functional capacity. Instead, the early intervention requirements consider the likely trajectory and impact of a person's impairment over time and the potential benefits of early intervention on the impact of the impairment on the person's functional capacity. The CEO may consider a range of evidence in deciding the potential benefit of early intervention on a person's impairment. The CEO may consider existing evidence or information from an individual or their family or carer. Where a young child has an impairment resulting in developmental delay, or resulting from a condition on a list published by the CEO for which the benefits of early intervention have already been established, no further evidence of the benefit of early intervention supports to the child is required to meet the early intervention requirements. A young child or other person can still meet the early intervention requirements without having one of these conditions, provided there is evidence that the requirements are satisfied.\n 2.6 Part 7 deals with the use of assessment tools in assessing whether a person meets the disability requirements or the early intervention requirements.\n 2.7 Part 8 deals with other matters, including interpretation of this Instrument.\n\nThe above summarises aspects of Part 1 of Chapter 3 of the Act.\n\nWhat happens once a person has become a participant\n\n 2.8 Once a person has become a participant, their plans will be prepared in accordance with the Act and relevant rules made under section 32A of the Act. The participant’s supports, if any, will be determined in accordance with the Act and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Supports for Participants) Rules 2013. Where necessary, decisions under the Act (e.g. about supports) will be made with a nominee or a child's representatives (see the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Nominees) Rules 2013 and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Children) Rules 2013).\n\nPart 3 When does a person meet the age requirements?\n\n 3.1 Generally, a person meets the age requirements if the person was aged from birth up to 65 when the access request in relation to the person was made.\n\nThis summarises paragraph 22(1)(a) of the Act.\n\n 3.2 However, additional age requirements apply, as set out in Schedule A to this Instrument.\n 3.3. Additional age requirements do not apply to a person who, on 1 July 2016, resides in Tasmania and is accessing Tasmanian funded Supported Accommodation.\n\nPart 4 When does a person meet the residence requirements?\n\n 4.1 A person meets the residence requirements if they:\n (a) reside in Australia; and\n (b) are either an Australian citizen, the holder of a permanent visa, or a special category visa holder who is a protected SCV holder; and\n (c) meet the additional residence requirements—see paragraphs 4.3 to 4.6.\n\nParagraphs 4.1(a) and (b) summarise paragraphs 23(1)(a) and (b) of the Act. (A range of factors are relevant to whether a person resides in Australia: see subsection 23(2) of the Act). Paragraph 4.1(c) is made for the purposes of paragraph 23(1)(c) of the Act.\n\n 4.2 The residence requirements in paragraphs 4.1(a) and (b) apply when a person seeks to become a participant in the NDIS, and continue to apply after the person becomes a participant. If a person stops meeting these residence requirements, their status as a participant in the NDIS can be revoked.\n\nThis summarises paragraph 30(1)(a) of the Act.\n\nThe additional residence requirements – general\n\n 4.3 Schedule A sets out when a person meets the additional residence requirements by virtue of residence.\n 4.4 Despite paragraph 4.3, a child also meets the additional residence requirements if:\n (a) at least one of the child’s birth parents who cares for that child resides in an NDIS area set out in Schedule A on or after the relevant date specified in Schedule A; or\n (b) the child comes to be in the care of a person who has ongoing parental responsibility for that child and who resides in an NDIS area set out in Schedule A on or after the relevant date specified in Schedule A; or\n (c) in the case of a child whose parents are separated and who spends time with each parent, at least one of the child’s parents resides in an NDIS area set out in Schedule A on or after the relevant date specified in Schedule A.\n 4.5 Additional residence requirements do not apply to a person who on or after 1 July 2016 resides in Victoria and is on the list provided by the Victorian Government to the CEO that will comprise:\n (a) persons on the Victorian Disability Support Register who have been assessed by the Victorian Government as requiring an urgent need for support; or\n (b) children on the Early Childhood Intervention Service Waitlist administered by the Victorian Government.\n\nThe additional residence requirements – Western Australia\n\n 4.6 A person meets the additional residence requirements if, on or after 1 December 2017, they are an Existing WA NDIS Participant.\n\nNote: Existing WA NDIS Participant is defined in paragraph 8.4 of this Instrument.\n\nPart 5 When does a person meet the disability requirements?\n\n 5.1 The Act sets out when a person meets the disability requirements. The requirements are met if:\n (a) the person has a disability that is attributable to one or more intellectual, cognitive, neurological, sensory or physical impairments, or to one or more impairments attributable to a psychiatric condition; and\n (b) the person’s impairment or impairments are, or are likely to be, permanent (see paragraphs 5.4 to 5.7); and\n (c) the impairment or impairments result in substantially reduced functional capacity to undertake, or psychosocial functioning in undertaking, one or more of the following activities: communication, social interaction, learning, mobility, self-care, self-management (see paragraph 5.8); and\n (d) the impairment or impairments affect the person’s capacity for social and economic participation; and\n (e) the person is likely to require support under the NDIS for the person’s lifetime.\n 5.2 In relation to the above, an impairment that varies in intensity (for example because the impairment is of a chronic episodic nature) may be permanent, and the person is likely to require support under the NDIS for the person's lifetime, despite the variation.\n\nParagraphs 5.1 and 5.2 summarise section 24 of the Act.\n\n 5.3 This Part sets out rules relating to some of the elements in paragraph 5.1 above, however, in order to meet the disability requirements, all of the requirements in that paragraph need to be satisfied.\n\nWhen is an impairment permanent or likely to be permanent for the disability requirements?\n\n 5.4 An impairment is, or is likely to be, permanent (see paragraph 5.1(b)) only if there are no known, available and appropriate evidence-based clinical, medical or other treatments that would be likely to remedy the impairment.\n 5.5 An impairment may be permanent notwithstanding that the severity of its impact on the functional capacity of the person may fluctuate or there are prospects that the severity of the impact of the impairment on the person's functional capacity, including their psychosocial functioning, may improve.\n 5.6 An impairment may require medical treatment and review before a determination can be made about whether the impairment is permanent or likely to be permanent. The impairment is, or is likely to be, permanent only if the impairment does not require further medical treatment or review in order for its permanency or likely permanency to be demonstrated (even though the impairment may continue to be treated and reviewed after this has been demonstrated).\n 5.7 If an impairment is of a degenerative nature, the impairment is, or is likely to be, permanent if medical or other treatment would not, or would be unlikely to, improve the condition.\n\nParagraphs 5.4 to 5.7 are made for the purposes of paragraph 27(a) of the Act.\n\nWhen does an impairment result in substantially reduced functional capacity to undertake relevant activities?\n\n 5.8 An impairment results in substantially reduced functional capacity of a person to undertake one or more of the relevant activities—communication, social interaction, learning, mobility, self-care, self-management (see paragraph 5.1(c))—if its result is that:\n (a) the person is unable to participate effectively or completely in the activity, or to perform tasks or actions required to undertake or participate effectively or completely in the activity, without assistive technology, equipment (other than commonly used items such as glasses) or home modifications; or\n (b) the person usually requires assistance (including physical assistance, guidance, supervision or prompting) from other people to participate in the activity or to perform tasks or actions required to undertake or participate in the activity; or\n (c) the person is unable to participate in the activity or to perform tasks or actions required to undertake or participate in the activity, even with assistive technology, equipment, home modifications or assistance from another person.\n\nParagraph 5.8 is made for the purposes of paragraph 27(b) of the Act.\n\nPart 6 When does a person meet the early intervention requirements?\n\n 6.1 A person does not meet the early intervention requirements if the CEO is satisfied that early intervention support for the person is more appropriately funded or provided through another service system (service systems is defined in paragraph 8.4) rather than the NDIS.\n 6.2 However, a person meets the early intervention requirements if:\n (a) the person:\n (i) has one or more identified intellectual, cognitive, neurological, sensory or physical impairments that are, or are likely to be, permanent (see paragraphs 6.4 to 6.7); or\n (ii) has one or more identified impairments that are attributable to a psychiatric condition and are, or are likely to be, permanent (see paragraphs 6.4 to 6.7); or\n (iii) is a child who has developmental delay; and\n (b) the CEO is satisfied that provision of early intervention supports for the person is likely to benefit the person by reducing the person’s future needs for supports in relation to disability (see paragraphs 6.8 to 6.11); and\n (c) the CEO is satisfied that provision of early intervention supports for the person is likely to benefit the person by:\n (i) mitigating or alleviating the impact of the person's impairment upon the functional capacity of the person to undertake communication, social interaction, learning, mobility, self-care or self-management; or\n (ii) preventing the deterioration of such functional capacity; or\n (iii) improving such functional capacity; or\n (iv) strengthening the sustainability of informal supports available to the person, including through building the capacity of the person’s carer (see paragraphs 6.8 to 6.11).\n\nParagraph 6.1 summarises subsection 25(3) of the Act. Paragraph 6.2 summarises subsection 25(1) of the Act.\n\n 6.3 This Part sets out rules relating to some of the elements in paragraph 6.2 above, however, in order to meet the early intervention requirements, all of the requirements in that paragraph need to be satisfied.\n\nWhen is an impairment permanent or likely to be permanent for the early intervention requirements?\n\n 6.4 An impairment is, or is likely to be, permanent (see paragraphs 6.2(a)(i) and (ii)) only if there are no known, available and appropriate evidence-based clinical, medical or other treatments that would be likely to remedy the impairment.\n 6.5 An impairment may be permanent notwithstanding that the severity of its impact on the functional capacity of the person may fluctuate or there are prospects that the severity of the impact of the impairment on the person's functional capacity may improve.\n 6.6 An impairment may require medical treatment and review before a determination can be made about whether the impairment is permanent or likely to be permanent. The impairment is, or is likely to be, permanent only if the impairment does not require further medical treatment or review in order for its permanency or likely permanency to be demonstrated (even though the impairment may continue to be treated and reviewed after this has been demonstrated).\n 6.7 If an impairment is of a degenerative nature, the impairment is, or is likely to be, permanent if medical or other treatment would not, or would be unlikely to, improve the condition.\n\nParagraphs 6.4 to 6.7 are made for the purposes of paragraph 27(a) of the Act.\n\nDeciding whether provision of early intervention supports is likely to benefit the person\n\n 6.8 Where paragraph 6.2(a) applies to a person, the main way in which the CEO can determine whether the provision of early intervention supports is likely to benefit the person in the ways set out in paragraphs 6.2(b) and (c) above is to consider evidence going to those matters, as indicated in paragraph 6.9 below. However, young children who have an impairment resulting in developmental delay (see paragraph 6.10) or resulting from a particular condition (see paragraph 6.11) will not need to provide further evidence of the matters in paragraphs 6.2(b) and (c).\n\nParagraph 6.8 is made for the purposes of paragraph 27(d) of the Act.\n\nWhere evidence is required\n\n 6.9 In deciding whether provision of early intervention supports is likely to benefit the person in the ways mentioned in paragraphs 6.2(b) and (c) above, it is expected that the CEO would consider:\n (a) the likely trajectory and impact of the person's impairment over time; and\n (b) the potential benefits of early intervention on the impact of the impairment on the person's functional capacity and in reducing their future needs for supports; and\n (c) evidence from a range of sources, such as information provided by the person with disability or their family members or carers. The CEO may also in some cases seek expert opinion.\n\nParagraph 6.9 is made for the purposes of paragraph 27(d) of the Act. It does not compel the CEO to take the actions mentioned in that paragraph in any particular instance.\n\nEarly intervention in early childhood\n\n 6.10 The CEO is taken to be satisfied that provision of early intervention supports for a child under the age of 6 is likely to benefit the child in the ways mentioned in paragraphs 6.2(b) and (c) above if one or more of the child's impairments is a mental or physical impairment which, by itself or in combination with other mental or physical impairments, results in developmental delay.\n\n> Note: Developmental delay is defined in section 9 of the Act as a delay in the development of a child under 6 years of age that:\n\n> Note: (a) is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or a combination of mental and physical impairments; and\n\n> Note: (b) results in substantial reduction in functional capacity in one or more of the following areas of major life activity:\n\n> Note: (i) self-care;\n\n> Note: (ii) receptive and expressive language;\n\n> Note: (iii) cognitive development;\n\n> Note: (iv) motor development; and\n\n> Note: (c) results in the need for a combination and sequence of special interdisciplinary or generic care, treatment or other services that are of extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated.\n\n 6.11 The provision of early intervention supports is likely to benefit a child aged 6 or under in the ways mentioned in paragraphs 6.2(b) and (c) above in the circumstance that one or more of the child's impairments results from a condition which is on a list of conditions published by the CEO for which evidence has established that early intervention supports will have these benefits.\n\nParagraph 6.10 is made for the purposes of subsection 25(2) of the Act. Paragraph 6.11 is made for the purposes of paragraphs 27(d), (e) and (f) of the Act.\n\nPart 7 Assessing whether a person meets the disability or early intervention requirements\n\n 7.1 In deciding whether a prospective participant meets the disability requirements or the early intervention requirements, the CEO may, if the CEO considers it appropriate, conduct an assessment, which is to be done using an assessment tool specified in operational guidelines in accordance with this Part from time to time.\n\nSpecification of assessment tools in guidelines\n\n 7.2 The CEO may specify, in operational guidelines, assessment tools that may be used for the purposes of deciding whether a person meets the disability requirements or the early intervention requirements.\n 7.3 A tool specified under paragraph 7.2 may be the same as a tool specified under paragraph 4.4 of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Supports for Participants) Rules 2013.\n 7.4 Without limitation, the CEO may specify:\n (a) different tools to be used for adults and children; and\n (b) tools that are specifically tailored to particular impairments.\n 7.5 A tool must:\n (a) be designed to ensure the fair and transparent assessment of whether a person meets the disability requirements or the early intervention requirements; and\n (b) have reference to areas of activity and social and economic participation identified in the World Health Organisation International Classification of Functions, Disability and Health as in force from time to time.\n\nThis Part is made for the purposes of subsection 209(2A) of the Act.\n\nPart 8 Other matters\n\nCitation\n\n 8.1 This Instrument may be cited as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Becoming a Participant) Rules 2016.\n\nInterpretation\n\n 8.2 This Instrument includes text that summarises provisions of the Act. The boxed notes identify such text, which does not form an operative part of this Instrument.\n 8.3 Terms and expressions that are used in the Act have the same meaning in this Instrument unless this Instrument displays a contrary intention—see the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 and the Legislation Act 2003, which include definitions and rules of interpretation that apply to all Commonwealth legislation. For convenience, the more important definitions from the Act are identified or reproduced in paragraph 8.4.\n 8.4 In this Instrument:\n\n> 2013 NDIS launch area means:\n\n (a) South Australia;\n (b) Tasmania;\n (c) the areas that comprise the following municipal districts of Victoria as at \n 1 July 2013:\n (i) Colac-Otway Shire;\n (ii) City of Greater Geelong;\n (iii) Borough of Queenscliffe;\n (iv) Surf Coast Shire;\n (d) the areas that comprise the following areas of New South Wales constituted under the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) as at 1 July 2013:\n (i) Lake Macquarie City;\n (ii) Maitland City;\n (iii) Newcastle City.\n\n> 2014 NDIS launch area means:\n\n (a) the areas that comprise the following districts of Western Australia declared under section 2.1 of the Local Government Act 1995 (WA) as at 1 July 2014 (those areas, together, are known for the purposes of this Instrument as Perth Hills):\n (i) Shire of Kalamunda;\n (ii) Shire of Mundaring;\n (iii) City of Swan;\n (b) the area that comprises the Barkly Region in the Northern Territory as defined under section 9 of the Local Government Act (NT) as at 1 July 2014 (that area is known for the purposes of this Instrument as the Barkly Region);\n (c) the Australian Capital Territory.\n\n> Note: reference to the Australian Capital Territory in this Instrument does not include the Jervis Bay Territory.\n\n> 2015 NDIS early transition area means:\n\n> (a) the areas that comprise the following areas of New South Wales constituted under the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) as at 1 July 2015:\n\n (i) City of Blue Mountains;\n (ii) City of Hawkesbury;\n (iii) City of Lithgow;\n (iv) City of Penrith.\n Act means the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013.\n\n> Agencysee section 9 of the Act.\n\n> CEOsee section 9 of the Act.\n\n> childsee section 9 of the Act.\n\nExisting WA NDIS Participant means a person who:\n\n> (a) is a participant of the WA NDIS Model (whether or not that participant already has a plan prepared in accordance with the Disability Services Commission’s requirements); and\n\n> (b) resides, or resided at any time on or after 1 July 2014, in the area of Western Australia that comprises any of the following:\n\n> (i) Kimberley-Pilbara service region;\n\n> (ii) South Metro service region;\n\n> (iii) Augusta-Margaret River, Boyup Brook, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Busselton, Donnybrook-Balingup, Manjimup, and Nannup districts of the South West service region;\n\n> (iv) Central South Metro service region;\n\n> (v) Wheatbelt service region; or\n\n> (vi) North East Metro service region.\n\nNote: The Disability Services Commission is established under the Disability Services Act 1993 (WA) and in the context of the WA NDIS Model, a ‘participant’ is a participant under that Act.\n\n> Instrument (or Rules) means these National Disability Insurance Scheme (Becoming a Participant) Rules 2016.\n\n> NDIS means the National Disability Insurance Scheme (see section 9 of the Act).\n\n> NDIS areas means the NDIS launch areas, NDIS early transition areas and NDIS areas specified in Schedule A to this Instrument.\n\n> NDIS launch area means the 2013 NDIS launch areas, together with the 2014 NDIS launch areas, and the 2015 NDIS launch areas.\n\n> NDIS rules means the National Disability Insurance Scheme rules (see section 9 of the Act).\n\n> parental responsibilitysee section 9 of the Act.\n\n> participantsee section 9 of the Act.\n\n> service systems means general systems of service delivery or support services offered by a person, agency or body, or systems of service delivery or support services offered:\n\n(a) as part of a universal service obligation; or\n\n(b) in accordance with reasonable adjustments required under a law dealing with discrimination on the basis of disability.\n\nVictorian Government means the State of Victoria.\n\n> WA NDIS Model means the disability supports and services model designed to mirror the NDIS, funded or administered by the Department of Communities representing the State of Western Australia.\n\nSchedule A – Additional age and residence requirements\n\nSouth Australia\n\n For persons who reside in South Australia, additional age and residence requirements apply as set out below. The Districts referred to in column 1 below have the meaning set out in Schedule B.\n The effect of this table is that:\n • Any person under the age of 15 who resides anywhere in South Australia will meet the additional age and residence requirements from 1 January 2016.\n • Any person who will be under the age of 18 on 1 January 2017 and who resides anywhere in South Australia will meet the additional age and residence requirements from 1 July 2016.\n • From 1 January 2017, persons who reside in the specified areas will meet both the additional age and residence requirements from the dates set out below.\n\n| A person meets the residence requirement if they reside in… | at the following time (the date mentioned in row 1 is the ‘relevant date’ for South Australia)… | The additional age requirements for the person are… |\n| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| South Australia | on or after 1 January 2016. | the person is under 15 on the date the access request is made. |\n| South Australia | on or after 1 July 2016. | the person is under 18 on 1 January 2017. |\n| Barossa, Light and Lower North; orPlayford, Salisbury and Port Adelaide Enfield (East) | on or after 1 January 2017. | No additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request) |\n| Tea Tree Gully; orLimestone Coast; orMurray and Mallee | on or after 1 April 2017. | No additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request) |\n| Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island; orSouthern Adelaide; orEyre and Western; orFar North; orYorke and Mid North | on or after 1 July 2017. | No additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request) |\n| Remainder of South Australia | on or after 1 October 2017. | No additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request) |\n\nTasmania\n\n A person meets the additional residence requirements if they reside in Tasmania on or after the commencement of these Rules. The ‘relevant date’ for Tasmania is the day on which these Rules commence.\n For persons who reside in Tasmania there are additional age requirements that apply in the periods set out below. There is a single exception in that the additional age requirements do not apply to persons who, on 1 July 2016, reside in Tasmania and are accessing Tasmanian funded Supported Accommodation.\n The effect of the below table is that the range of ages at which a person meets the additional age requirements is progressively broadened until there are no additional age requirements in Tasmania by 1 July 2018.\n\n| For an access request made on or after (or received earlier but decided on or after): | The additional age requirement is that the person be: |\n| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| 1 February 2016 | at least 12, and under 25, on the date the access request is made. |\n| 1 July 2016 | at least 12, and under 29, on the date the access request is made. |\n| 1 January 2017 | at least 4, and under 29, on the date the access request is made. |\n| 1 July 2017 | at least 4, and under 35, on the date the access request is made. |\n| 1 January 2018 | under 50, on the date the access request is made. |\n| 1 July 2018 | under 65 on the date the access request is made (no additional age requirements apply). |\n\n \\*No additional age requirement applies in relation to persons who, on 1 July 2016, reside in Tasmania and are accessing Tasmanian funded shared Supported Accommodation.\n\nQueensland\n\n For persons who reside in Queensland additional age and residence requirements apply as set out below. The effect of this table is that persons in Queensland are eligible to become participants depending on where they live and, in some cases, how old they area. Schedule B defines the boundaries of particular districts mentioned in column 1 of the table.\n\n| A person meets the residence requirement if they reside in… | at the following time (the day mentioned is the ‘relevant date’ for the area in column 1)… | The additional age requirements for the person are… |\n| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Townsville; orCharters Towers | on or after 16 March 2016 | the person is under 18 on 1 April 2016 (this includes children born on or after 1 April 2016). |\n| Palm Island | on or after 16 March 2016 | no additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request) |\n| Townsville Region, other than Townsville, Palm Island and Charters Towers | on or after 1 July 2016 | no additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request) |\n| Mackay | on or after 1 July 2016 | no additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request) |\n| Toowoomba | on or after 1 July 2016 | no additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request) |\n| Ipswich | on or after 1 January 2017 | no additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request) |\n| Bundaberg | on or after 1 April 2017 | no additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request) |\n| Rockhampton | on or after 1 July 2017 | no additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request) |\n| Beenleigh; orCairns; orBrisbane North; orBrisbane South; orMaryborough; orRobina | on or after 1 January 2018 | no additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request) |\n| Caboolture/Strathpine; orMaroochydore | on or after 1 July 2018 | no additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request) |\n\nFrom July 2016, the additional age requirements in the first row of the table cease to apply.\n\nNew South Wales\n\n For persons who reside in New South Wales additional age and residence requirements apply as set out below. The Districts referred to in column 1 below have the meaning set out in Schedule B.\n The effect of this table is that persons who reside in the specified areas will meet both the additional age and residence requirements from the dates set out.\n\n| A person meets the residence requirement if they reside in… | at the following time (the day mentioned is the ‘relevant date’ for the area in column 1)… | The additional age requirements for the person are… |\n| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Central Coast; orHunter New England; orNorthern Sydney; orSouth Western Sydney; orSouthern NSW; orWestern Sydney; orNepean Blue Mountains | on or after 1 February 2016 | no additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request) |\n| Remainder of New South Wales | on or after 1 January 2017 | no additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request) |\n\nVictoria\n\n For persons residing in Victoria additional age and residence requirements apply as set out below. The effect of this table is that persons who reside in the specified areas will meet additional age and residence requirements from the relevant dates set out. The Districts referred to in column 1 below have the meaning set out in Schedule B.\n\n| A person meets the residence requirement if they reside in… | at the following time (the day mentioned is the ‘relevant date’ for the area in column 1)… | The additional age requirements for the person are… |\n| ----------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| North Eastern Melbourne; orBarwon | on or after 1 April 2016 | No additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request). |\n| Central Highlands | on or after 1 July 2016 | No additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request). |\n| Loddon | on or after 1 November 2016 | No additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request). |\n| Inner Gippsland: orOvens Murray; orWestern District | on or after 1 April 2017 | No additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request). |\n| Inner Eastern Melbourne; orOuter Eastern Melbourne | on or after 1 May 2017 | No additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request). |\n| Hume Moreland | on or after 1 September 2017 | No additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request). |\n| Bayside Peninsula | on or after 1 October 2017 | No additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request). |\n| Southern Melbourne | on or after 1 March 2018 | No additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request). |\n| Brimbank Melton; orWestern Melbourne | on or after 1 April 2018 | No additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request). |\n| Remainder of Victoria | on or after 1 July 2018 | No additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request). |\n\n Australian Capital Territory\n\n| A person meets the residence requirement if they reside in… | at the following time (the day mentioned is the ‘relevant date’ for the area in column 1)… | The additional age requirements for the person are… |\n| ----------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Australian Capital Territory | on or after 1 July 2014 | no additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request) |\n\n A person only meets the additional residence requirements if they reside in the relevant area at the time their access request is decided. For example, a person can reside in the Australian Capital Territory at any time on or after 1 July 2014, so long as they are actually residing there at the time their access request is decided.\n However, if a person would meet the additional residence requirements by residing in a particular area on or after a particular date, the person also meets the additional residence requirements if they resided in that area at the time they made an access request and the access request is decided on or after the particular date.\n If a person would meet the additional age requirements by being a particular age on a particular date, the person also meets the additional age requirements if they were that age at the time they made an access request and the access request is decided on or after the particular date.\n Northern Territory\n For persons who reside in the Northern Territory, additional residence requirements apply as set out below. The Districts referred to in column 1 below have the meanings set out in Schedule B, other than the Barkly Region, which is defined in paragraph 8.4. \n\n The effect of this table is that persons who reside in the areas specified in column 1 will meet the additional residence requirements from the dates specified in column 2.\n\n| A person meets the additional residence requirements if they reside in… | at the following time (the day mentioned is the ‘relevant date’ for the area in column 1)… | The additional age requirements for the person are… |\n| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Barkly Region | on or after 1 July 2014 | no additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request) |\n| Darwin Urban supported accommodation services; orEast Arnhem | on or after 1 July 2016 | no additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request) |\n| Darwin Remote; orAlice Springs supported accommodation services; orKatherine | on or after 1 January 2017 | no additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request) |\n| Darwin urban, Alice Springs or any other part of Central Australia | on or after 1 January 2018 | no additional age requirements (the person is under 65 on the day of the access request) |\n\n Western Australia\n For persons who reside in Western Australia, additional residence requirements apply as set out below. The service regions and territories referred to in column 1 below are NDIS areas and are comprised of the districts and shires set out in Schedule B. \n\n The effect of this table is that persons who reside in the areas specified in column 1 will meet the additional residence requirements from the dates specified in column 2.\n\n| A person meets the additional residence requirements if they … | at the following time (the day mentioned is the ‘relevant date’ for the area in column 1)… | The additional age requirements for the person are… |\n| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------- |\n| Reside in the Perth Hills NDIA trial area, namely:(i) The Kalamunda, Mundaring and Swan districts in the North East Metro service region.Note: Persons who meet the above residence requirement are “Class 1” participants for the purposes of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Facilitating the Preparation of Participants’ Plans – Western Australia) Rules 2017. | On or after 1 July 2014 | no additional age requirements |\n| Reside in the 2017 expanded NDIA trial area, namely:(i) The Bassendean and Bayswater districts in the North East Metro service region;(ii) Chittering, Northam, Toodyay and York districts in the Wheatbelt service region.Note: Persons who meet the above residence requirement are “Class 1” participants for the purposes of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Facilitating the Preparation of Participants’ Plans – Western Australia) Rules 2014. | On or after 1 January 2017 | no additional age requirements |\n| Reside in:(i) Kimberley-Pilbara service region;(ii) South Metro service region;(iii) Augusta-Margaret River, Boyup Brook, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Busselton, Donnybrook-Balingup, Manjimup, and Nannup districts of the South West service region;(iv) Central South Metro service region;(v) All other districts of the Wheatbelt service region except the Chittering, Northam, Toodyay, and York districts. | on or after 1 January 2018 | no additional age requirements |\n| Reside in:(i) Goldfields-Esperance service region;(ii) North Metro service region;(iii) All other districts of the South West service region except Augusta- Margaret River, Boyup Brook, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Busselton, Donnybrook-Balingup, Manjimup, and Nannup districts. | on or after 1 April 2018 | no additional age requirements |\n| Reside in:(i) Midwest-Gascoyne service region;(ii) Great Southern service region;(iii) Central North Metro service region;(iv) South East Metro service region. | on or after 1 January 2019 | no additional age requirements |\n| Reside in:(i) Christmas Island territory;(ii) Cocos (Keeling) Islands territory. | on or after 1 January 2020 | no additional age requirements |\n\n Note: Existing WA NDIS Participants (including those aged 65 and over) may meet the NDIS access criteria if they meet the criteria prescribed in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Prescribed Program – Western Australia) Rules 2017.\n\nSchedule A is made for the purposes of paragraphs 22(1)(b) and 23(1)(c) of the Act.\n\nSchedule B\n\nNDIS areas – South Australia\n\n| District | Districts are comprised of the following local government areas of South Australia as at 1 January 2016 |\n| -------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Barossa, Light and Lower North | BarossaGawlerLightMallala |\n| PlayfordSalisbury and Port Adelaide Enfield (East) | PlayfordSalisburyPort Adelaide Enfield (East) |\n| Tea Tree Gully | Tea Tree Gully |\n| Limestone Coast | GrantKingstonMount GambierNaracoote and LucindaleRobeTatiaraWattle Range |\n| Murray and Mallee | Berri and BarmeraKaroonda East MurrayLoxton WaikerieMid MurrayMurray BridgeRenmark ParingaSouthern MalleeThe Coorong |\n| Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island | AlexandrinaKangaroo IslandVictor HarbourYankalilla |\n| Southern Adelaide | Holdfast BayMarionMitchamOnkaparinga |\n| Eyre and Western | CedunaCleveEllistonFranklin HarbourKimbaLower Eyre PeninsulaPort LincolnStreaky BayTumby BayWhyallaWudinna |\n| Far North | Anangu PitjantjatjaraCoober PedyFlinders RangesPort AugustaRoxby Downs |\n| Yorke and Mid North | Barunga WestClare and Gilbert ValleysCopper CoastGoyderMount RemarkableNorthern AreasOrroroo/CarrietonPeterboroughPort Pirie City and DistrictsWakefieldYorke Peninsula |\n| Adelaide Hills | Adelaide HillsMount Barker |\n| Eastern Adelaide | AdelaideBurnsideCampbelltownNorwood Payneham St PetersProspectUnleyWalkerville |\n| Western Adelaide | Charles SturtPort Adelaide Enfield (West)West Torrens” |\n\nNDIS Areas – NSW\n\n| District | Districts are comprised of the following areas of New South Wales constituted under the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) as at 1 January 2016 |\n| --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Central Coast | City of GosfordWyong Shire |\n| Hunter New England | Armidale DumaresqCity of CessnockDungog ShireGlen Innes SevernGloucester ShireGreat LakesCity of Greater TareeGunnedah ShireGuyra ShireGwydir ShireInverell ShireCity of Lake MacquarieLiverpool Plains ShireCity of MaitlandMoree Plains ShireMuswellbrook ShireNarrabri ShireCity of NewcastlePort StephensSingletonTamworth RegionalTenterfield ShireUpper Hunter ShireUralla ShireWalcha |\n| Nepean Blue Mountains | City of Blue MountainsCity of HawkesburyCity of LithgowCity of Penrith |\n| Northern Sydney | Hornsby ShireHunters Hill MunicipalityKu-ring-gaiLane Cove MunicipalityManlyMosman MunicipalityNorth SydneyPittwaterCity of RydeWarringahCity of Willoughby |\n| South Western Sydney | City of BankstownCamdenCity of CampbelltownCity of FairfieldCity of LiverpoolWingecarribee ShireWollondilly Shire |\n| Southern NSW | Bega Valley ShireBombalaCooma-Monaro ShireEurobodalla ShireGoulburn MulwareePalerangCity of QueanbeyanSnowy River ShireUpper Lachlan ShireYass Valley |\n| Western Sydney | City of AuburnCity of BlacktownCity of HolroydCity of ParramattaThe Hills Shire |\n| Illawarra Shoalhaven | Kiama MunicipalityCity of ShellharbourCity of ShoalhavenCity of Wollongong |\n| Mid North Coast | Bellingen ShireCity of Coffs HarbourKempsey ShireNambucca ShirePort Macquarie-Hastings |\n| Murrumbidgee | City of AlburyBerrigan ShireBland ShireBoorowaCarrathool ShireConargo ShireCoolamon ShireCootamundra ShireCorowa ShireDeniliquinGreater Hume ShireCity of GriffithGundagai ShireHarden ShireHay ShireJerilderie ShireJunee ShireLeeton ShireLockhart ShireMurray ShireMurrumbidgee ShireNarrandera ShireTemora ShireTumbarumba ShireTumut ShireUrana ShireCity of Wagga WaggaWakool ShireYoung Shire |\n| Northern NSW | Ballina ShireByron ShireClarence ValleyKyogleCity of LismoreRichmond ValleyTweed Shire |\n| South Eastern Sydney | City of Botany BayCity of HurstvilleCity of KogarahCity of RandwickCity of RockdaleSutherland ShireCity of Sydney - Inner and EastWaverleyWoollahra Municipality |\n| Sydney | AshfieldBurwoodCanada BayCanterburyLeichhardtMarrickvilleStrathfieldSydney - South and West |\n| Western NSW | Bathurst RegionalBlayney ShireBogan ShireBourke ShireBrewarrina ShireCabonneCobar ShireCoonamble ShireCowra ShireCity of DubboForbes ShireGilgandra ShireLachlan ShireMid-Western RegionalNarromine ShireOberonCity of OrangeParkes ShireWalgett ShireWarren ShireWarrumbungle ShireWeddin ShireWellington |\n| Far West | Balranald ShireCity of Broken HillCentral Darling ShireWentworth Shire |\n\nNDIS Areas – Victoria\n\n| District | Districts are comprised of the following municipal districts of Victoria as at 1 January 2016 |\n| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |\n| Barwon | Colac-Otway ShireCity of Greater GeelongSurf Coast ShireBorough of Queenscliffe |\n| North Eastern Melbourne | City of BanyuleCity of DarebinNillumbik ShireCity of WhittleseaCity of Yarra |\n| Central Highlands | Rural City of AraratCity of BallaratGolden Plains ShireHepburn ShireMoorabool ShirePyrenees Shire |\n| Loddon | Campaspe ShireCentral Goldfields ShireCity of Greater BendigoLoddon ShireMacedon Ranges ShireMount Alexander Shire |\n| Inner Gippsland | Bass Coast ShireBaw Baw ShireCity of LatrobeSouth Gippsland Shire |\n| Ovens Murray | Alpine ShireRural City of BenallaIndigo ShireMansfield ShireTowong ShireRural City of WangarattaCity of Wodonga |\n| Western District | Corangamite ShireGlenelg ShireHindmarsh ShireRural City of HorshamMoyne ShireNorthern Grampians ShireSouthern Grampians ShireCity of WarrnamboolWest Wimmera ShireYarriambiack Shire |\n| Inner Eastern Melbourne | City of BoroondaraCity of ManninghamCity of MonashCity of Whitehorse |\n| Outer Eastern Melbourne | City of KnoxCity of MaroondahYarra Ranges Shire |\n| Hume Moreland | City of HumeCity of Moreland |\n| Bayside Peninsula | City of BaysideCity of FrankstonCity of Glen EiraCity of KingstonMornington Peninsula ShireCity of Port PhillipCity of Stonnington |\n| Southern Melbourne | Cardinia ShireCity of CaseyCity of Greater Dandenong |\n| Brimbank Melton | City of BrimbankCity of Melton |\n| Western Melbourne | City of Hobsons BayCity of MaribyrnongCity of MelbourneCity of Moonee ValleyCity of Wyndham |\n| Goulburn | City of Greater SheppartonMitchell ShireMoira ShireMurrindindi ShireStrathbogie Shire |\n| Mallee | Buloke ShireGannawarra ShireRural City of MilduraRural City of Swan Hill |\n| Outer Gippsland | East Gippsland ShireWellington Shire |\n\nNDIS Areas – Queensland\n\n| District | Districts are comprised of the following local government areas of Queensland as at 16 March 2016 |\n| ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |\n| Townsville Region, other than Townsville, Palm Island and Charters Towers | BouliaBurdekinBurkeCarpentariaCloncurryDoomadgeeFlindersHinchinbrookMcKinlayMorningtonMount IsaRichmond |\n| Mackay | IsaacMackayWhitsunday |\n| Toowoomba | BalonneBullooGoondiwindiMaranoaMurwehParooQuilpieSouthern DownsToowoombaWestern Downs |\n| Ipswich | IpswichLockyer ValleyScenic RimSomerset |\n| Bundaberg | Bundaberg |\n| Rockhampton | BananaBarcaldineBarcooBlackall‑TamboCentral HighlandsDiamantinaGladstoneLivingstoneLongreachRockhamptonWintonWoorabinda |\n| Beenleigh | LoganRedland |\n| Cairns | AurukunCairnsCassowary CoastCookCroydonDouglasEtheridgeHope ValeKowanyamaLockhart RiverMapoonMareebaNapranumNorthern Peninsula AreaPormpuraawTablelandsTorresTorres Strait IslandWeipa Town AuthorityWujal WujalYarrabah |\n| Maryborough | CherbourgFraser CoastNorth BurnettSouth Burnett |\n| Robina | Gold Coast |\n| Caboolture/Strathpine | Moreton Bay |\n| Maroochydore | GympieNoosaSunshine Coast |\n| Townsville (not being Townsville Region) | Townsville |\n| Charters Towers | Charters Towers |\n| Palm Island | Palm Island |\n\n| District | Districts are comprised of the following postcodes within the Brisbane local government area as at 16 March 2016 |\n| -------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Brisbane North | 4000, 4005, 4006, 4007, 4008, 4009, 4010, 4011, 4012, 4013, 4014, 4017, 4018, 4025, 4029, 4030, 4031, 4032, 4034, 4035, 4036, 4051, 4053, 4054, 4055, 4059, 4060, 4061, 4064, 4065, 4066, 4067, 4068, 4069, 4070, 4072 |\n| Brisbane South | 4101, 4102, 4103, 4105, 4106, 4107, 4108, 4109, 4110, 4111, 4112, 4113, 4115, 4116, 4117, 4120, 4121, 4122, 4123, 4151, 4152, 4153, 4154, 4155, 4156, 4157, 4169, 4170, 4171, 4172, 4173, 4174, 4178, 4179, 4073, 4074, 4075, 4076, 4077, 4078, 4104, 4300, 4306 |\n\nNDIS areas – Northern Territory \n\n| Region | Regions are comprised of the following local government areas of the Northern Territory as at 1 June 2016 |\n| ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Alice Springs | Alice Springs |\n| East Arnhem | East Arnhem |\n| Central Australia | Alice SpringsCentral DesertMacDonnell |\n| Darwin Urban | BelyuenCoomalieDarwinLitchfieldPalmerstonWagait |\n| Darwin Remote | Roper GulfTiwi IslandsVictoria-DalyWest ArnhemWest Daly Region |\n| Katherine | Katherine |\n\nNDIS Areas – Western Australia\n\n| Service region | Service regions are comprised of the following districts, as constituted under the Local Government Act 1995 (WA) as at 1 December 2017 |\n| -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Central North Metro | CambridgeClaremontCottesloeMosman ParkNedlandsPeppermint GrovePerthStirlingSubiacoVincent |\n| Central South Metro | CockburnEast FremantleFremantleKwinanaMelvilleSouth Perth |\n| North Metro | JoondalupWanneroo |\n| North East Metro | BassendeanBayswaterKalamundaMundaringSwan |\n| South East Metro | BelmontCanningGosnellsVictoria Park |\n| South Metro | ArmadaleMandurahMurrayRockinghamSerpentine-Jarrahdale |\n| Kimberley-Pilbara | AshburtonBroomeDerby – West KimberleyEast PilbaraHalls CreekKarrathaPort HedlandWyndham – East Kimberley |\n| Midwest - Gascoyne | CarnamahCarnarvonChapman ValleyCoorowCueExmouthGreater GeraldtonIrwinMeekatharraMingenewMorawaMount MagnetMullewaMurchisonNorthamptonPerenjoriSandstoneShark BayThree SpringsUpper GascoyneWilunaYalgoo |\n| Wheatbelt | BeverleyBoddingtonBrooktonBruce RockChitteringCorriginCuballingCunderdinDalwallinuDandaraganDowerinDumbleyungGinginGoomallingKellerberrinKulinKondinin KoordaLake GraceMerredinMooraMount MarshallMukinbudinNarembeenNarroginNorthamNungarinPingellyQuairadingTamminToodyayTrayningVictoria PlainsWaginWanderingWest ArthurWestoniaWickepinWilliamsWongan-BalliduWyalkatchemYilgarnYork |\n| South West | Augusta-Margaret RiverBoyup BrookBridgetown-GreenbushesBunburyBusseltonCapelCollieDardanupDonnybrook-BalingupHarveyManjimupNannupWaroona |\n| Great Southern | AlbanyBroomehill-TambellupCranbrookDenmarkGnowangerupJerramungupKatanningKentKojonupPlantagenetWoodanilling |\n| Goldfields-Esperance | CoolgardieDundasEsperanceKalgoorlie-BoulderLavertonLeonoraMenziesNgaanyatjarrakuRavensthorpe |\n\n| Territory | Territories are comprised of the following shires as at 1 December 2017 |\n| ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Christmas Island | Shire of Christmas Island |\n| Cocos (Keeling) Islands | Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Island |\n\n> Note: Endnotes\n\n> Note: Endnote 1—About the endnotes\n\nThe endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.\n\nThe following endnotes are included in every compilation:\n\nEndnote 1—About the endnotes\n\nEndnote 2—Abbreviation key\n\nEndnote 3—Legislation history\n\nEndnote 4—Amendment history\n\nAbbreviation key—Endnote 2\n\nThe abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.\n\nLegislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4\n\nAmending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.\n\nThe legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.\n\nThe amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.\n\nMisdescribed amendments\n\nA misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe the amendment to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, the amendment is incorporated into the compiled law and the abbreviation “(md)” added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.\n\nIf a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the abbreviation “(md not incorp)” is added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.\n\n> Note: Endnote 2—Abbreviation key\n\n| | o = order(s) |\n| ---------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- |\n| ad = added or inserted | Ord = Ordinance |\n| am = amended | orig = original |\n| amdt = amendment | par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s) |\n| c = clause(s) | /sub‑subparagraph(s) |\n| C[x] = Compilation No. x | pres = present |\n| Ch = Chapter(s) | prev = previous |\n| def = definition(s) | (prev…) = previously |\n| Dict = Dictionary | Pt = Part(s) |\n| disallowed = disallowed by Parliament | r = regulation(s)/rule(s) |\n| Div = Division(s) | |\n| exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have | reloc = relocated |\n| effect | renum = renumbered |\n| F = Federal Register of Legislation | rep = repealed |\n| gaz = gazette | rs = repealed and substituted |\n| LA = Legislation Act 2003 | s = section(s)/subsection(s) |\n| LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003 | Sch = Schedule(s) |\n| (md) = misdescribed amendment can be given | Sdiv = Subdivision(s) |\n| effect | SLI = Select Legislative Instrument |\n| (md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment | SR = Statutory Rules |\n| cannot be given effect | Sub‑Ch = Sub‑Chapter(s) |\n| mod = modified/modification | SubPt = Subpart(s) |\n| No. = Number(s) | underlining = whole or part not |\n| | commenced or to be commenced |\n\n> Note: Endnote 3—Legislation history\n\n| Name | Registration | Commencement | Application, saving and transitional provisions |\n| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------- | ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |\n| National Disability Insurance Scheme (Becoming a Participant) Amendment Rules 2016 (No. 2) | 30 June 2016 | 01 July 2016 | |\n| National Disability Insurance Scheme (Becoming a Participant) Amendment Rules 2016 (No. 3) | 16 December 2016 | 17 December 2016 | |\n| National Disability Insurance Scheme (Becoming a Participant) Amendment Rules 2017 | 1 February 2017 | 1 January 2017 | |\n| National Disability Insurance Scheme (Becoming a Participant) Amendment Rules 2018 | 26 February 2018 | 27 February 2018 | |\n\n> Note: Endnote 4—Amendment history\n\n| Provision affected | How affected |\n| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Part 1, paragraphs 1.1-1.3Part 2, paragraphs 2.2, 2.7Part 3, paragraph 3.2Part 4, paragraphs 4.1, 4.3Part 4, paragraphs 4.3, 4.6-4.11Part 4, paragraphs 4.6Part 4, paragraphs 4.7-4.12Part 8, paragraphs 8.1Part 8, paragraphs 8.2-8.3Part 8, paragraph 8.4Part 8, paragraph 8.4, definition of 2016 NDIS early transition areas | am; F2018L00148am; F2018L00148am; F2018L00148am, F2018L00148rs.; F2016L01972am; F2018L00148rep.; F2018L00148am.; F2018L00148rs.; F2018L00148am.; F2018L00148rep.; F2016L01122 |\n| Part 8, paragraph 8.4, definitions of Existing WA NDIS participant, Instrument, Victorian Government and WA NDIS ModelSchedule A, QueenslandSchedule A, Northern Territory | ad.; F2018L00148rs., ad,; F2016L01122ad.; F2016L01972 |\n| Schedule BSchedule B, Northern Territory | ad,; F2016L01122ad.; F2016L01972 |\n| Schedule A, South AustraliaSchedule A, Western AustraliaSchedule B, Western Australia | ad.;FL2017L00088ad; F2018L00148ad; F2018L00148 |","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"source":"grok-batch-everything"},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":8,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Rules have grown well beyond the original 2013 launch-area focus. Amendments added detailed Western Australian transitional classes, expanded NDIS areas for every jurisdiction, and incorporated special fast-track provisions for early childhood developmental delay. What began as uniform national access criteria has become a complex mosaic of historic rollout dates, region-specific age windows and transitional participant categories that reflect bilateral agreements between the Commonwealth and each state and territory."},"complexity_factors":["State-by-state and territory-by-territory phased rollout tables in Schedule A containing different relevant dates, age bands and geographic boundaries","Nested definitions of permanence that distinguish between the disability requirements and early intervention requirements while cross-referencing s 24 and s 25 of the NDIS Act","Detailed functional-capacity criteria in paragraph 5.8 that list three alternative pathways (assistive technology, assistance from others, or impossibility even with assistance)","Extensive interpretation provisions in Part 8 that incorporate and expand definitions from the NDIS Act plus launch-area definitions that changed with each amendment","Multiple layers of exceptions for children, existing WA participants, Victorian waitlist people and Tasmanian supported-accommodation residents","Permission for operational guidelines to specify assessment tools without placing those tools inside the legislative text"],"plain_english_summary":"**Who can join the NDIS and how they qualify**\n\nThese Rules explain the tests a person must pass to become a participant in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The NDIS is a national system that funds reasonable and necessary supports for people with significant and permanent disabilities.\n\nTo qualify, a person must meet **four** main tests that apply in the part of Australia where they live:\n\n- **Age test**: Generally, they must be under 65 when they ask to join. Extra age limits applied during the gradual rollout in each state and territory (set out in Schedule A).\n- **Residence test**: They must live in Australia, be an Australian citizen (or hold a permanent visa or protected special category visa), and satisfy extra residence rules that phased in the scheme area-by-area.\n- **Disability test** (Part 5): Their disability must come from one or more intellectual, cognitive, neurological, sensory, physical or psychiatric impairments that are permanent (or likely to be), cause substantially reduced ability to do everyday activities (communication, social interaction, learning, mobility, self-care or self-management), affect social and economic participation, and mean they will probably need NDIS supports for life.\n- **Early intervention test** (Part 6): For people who do not meet the full disability test, especially young children, the NDIS can step in early if supports are likely to reduce future needs, improve function or strengthen informal supports. Special fast-track rules exist for children under 6 with developmental delay or listed conditions.\n\nThe Rules give the NDIS CEO detailed guidance on how to assess permanence of impairments (no known effective treatment that would fix them), what counts as substantially reduced functional capacity, and when evidence is needed. Part 7 allows the CEO to use approved assessment tools listed in operational guidelines. Schedules A and B map out exactly which suburbs, districts and service regions were opened at which dates between 2014 and 2020.\n\nIn plain terms, the Rules act as the gatekeeper: they turn the broad eligibility words in the *National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013* into practical, evidence-based decisions so that the right people enter the scheme at the right time and receive a personalised plan."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":8,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original rules applied only to limited launch areas and age groups, but subsequent amendments have progressively expanded geographic coverage and age eligibility, ultimately extending to the entire country and all persons under 65."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple defined terms (e.g., '2013 NDIS launch area', 'Existing WA NDIS Participant')","Extensive cross-references to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013","Detailed schedules for each state/territory with tables of areas and dates","Nested conditions for different age groups and geographic rollouts","Exceptions (e.g., children with conditions on a CEO list, existing WA participants)","Overlapping and phased commencement dates"],"plain_english_summary":"This set of rules determines who can join the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). To become a participant, a person must be under 65 years old, live in Australia, and meet either the 'disability requirements' or the 'early intervention requirements'.\n\n**Disability requirements** mean the person has a permanent impairment that substantially reduces their ability to do everyday activities like communicating, socialising, learning, moving around, self-care, or managing themselves. The impairment must be likely to need NDIS support for life.\n\n**Early intervention requirements** apply when a person has a permanent impairment or developmental delay (for children under 6) and getting support early is likely to reduce their future needs or improve their abilities.\n\nThe rules also include extra age and residency requirements that depend on where the person lives. These extra requirements are gradually being removed across different parts of Australia. For example, in some states, only people under a certain age could join at first, but now almost all areas and ages are covered over time.\n\nThe rules list specific dates and geographic areas in schedules (like which local government areas are included) and explain how the NDIS Chief Executive Officer (CEO) decides if someone qualifies. They also describe how assessments are done using approved tools."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/national-disability-insurance-scheme-becoming-a-participant-rules-2016","history":"/api/acts/national-disability-insurance-scheme-becoming-a-participant-rules-2016/history","analysis":"/api/acts/national-disability-insurance-scheme-becoming-a-participant-rules-2016/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/national-disability-insurance-scheme-becoming-a-participant-rules-2016/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/national-disability-insurance-scheme-becoming-a-participant-rules-2016/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/national-disability-insurance-scheme-becoming-a-participant-rules-2016/documents"}}