Naomi* is a 10-year-old girl who lives with her family on a cattle property in rural Queensland.
Naomi loves to spend time with her family travelling, riding trikes, horse riding, kayaking, quad biking and joining in community activities.
Due to Naomi’s complex disability which includes acquired brain Injury, cerebral palsy, global developmental delay, chromosomal micro-deletion, hearing loss and stigmatism, she requires significant support from other people and assistive technologies for all aspects of her daily life.
Naomi received her first National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plan and it fell short of her required supports in the areas of core supports (support workers), capacity building (therapies) and capital (assistive technologies and car modifications).
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) advised that the additional requested supports were ‘parental responsibility’ and did not meet s 34(1) (e) of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act.
Queensland Advocacy Incorporated’s NDIS Appeals Advocate Service supported Naomi’s family through the Internal Review process. The Advocate worked with Naomi’s family to obtain doctors’ letters and therapy reports, as well as detailed statements of supports outlining Naomi’s daily routines.
After several months of reminding the NDIA that the review was yet to be completed, Naomi received her new NDIS plan.
Naomi’s NDIS plan includes funding for daily support workers, regular therapies and vehicle modifications.
With this support, Naomi was able to go on a family holiday to the beach.
(*not their real name)