For Kristy, Mondays are busy. There’s Zumba, bowling and plenty of laughter along the way.
“I like them a lot,” Kristy says of the activities she enjoys through her supports. “All of them.”
Behind the scenes helping make sure everything runs smoothly is her dad, Boris.
Boris plays a big role in organising Kristy’s supports. Without a Support Coordinator, he manages her appointments, transport, calendar and day-to-day planning himself. It’s a role he takes seriously – but it’s one that’s much easier with the right team around him.
That’s where plan management comes in.
“When the NDIS first started, it was a bit of a challenge,” Boris explains. “In the beginning Kristy was assessed with next to nothing. We had to appeal and go through the process again to get the right level of funding.”
Since then, Kristy’s supports have grown and so has her independence. Today she takes part in a range of activities and community outings through her NDIS support providers, including trips to the movies, Darlington Park and even trying surfing for the first time.
“That was fun,” Kristy says.
For Boris, having a trusted plan manager has made a huge difference.
When someone receives an NDIS plan, they can choose how their funding is managed. Some people prefer to self-manage their funding, some choose NDIA-managed plans, while others choose plan management to help with paying invoices and keeping track of budgets.
Boris chose plan management for Kristy’s plan.
He doesn’t use a computer, so keeping on top of invoices, payments and NDIS administration could easily become overwhelming.
Instead, he relies on Ability Options Plan Manager Angie to help keep everything organised.
“It takes a lot of work away from me,” Boris says. “There are house duties, appointments and lots of things to organise. But with plan management, at least I know Kristy’s plan is being managed well and the payments for her supports are taken care of.”
Angie ensures Kristy’s provider invoices are processed, payments are made and emails and follow-ups are handled. She also sends Boris a regular mailed statement so he can clearly see where Kristy’s funding is going.
For Boris, that simple step makes all the difference.
“It gives you peace of mind,” he says. “You know everything is being looked after.”
Communication is key to making the arrangement work. Boris sees everyone involved in Kristy’s supports as part of a shared team.
“We look at it as teamwork,” he says. “Communication and cooperation – that’s what makes it work. Everyone keeps each other up to date.”
That teamwork means Kristy can focus on the things she enjoys most – spending time with friends, joining in activities and exploring new experiences.
From recreation trips to community outings, she rarely says no to an adventure.
“Kristy wants to go on all the trips,” Boris laughs.
For families navigating the NDIS and making the decision about how to manage their plan, Boris has simple advice.
“I would highly recommend plan management,” he says. “When you have a plan manager, you’re part of a team. And the end result is the participant – making sure they’re supported and things run smoothly.”
For Kristy and Boris, that support has helped turn the complexity of the NDIS into something much simpler – creating space for more of the moments that matter.
Do you need Plan Management?
If managing your NDIS funding feels confusing or stressful, you don’t have to do it alone. Ability Options’ Plan Management team is here to help make things simpler, clearer and more manageable.
