Devoted dad, Nathan, said the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has changed his family's lives and opened up a world of possibilities for his 11-year-old daughter.
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An only child, Charlotte, is non-verbal with cerebral palsy. Not in a financial position to buy equipment, let alone build a new house to meet his daughter's needs, Nathan has welcomed the incredible support his family has received from the NDIS.
Since joining the scheme in April 2018, Nathan said they've be so grateful for a raft of supports, including ramps around their home, car modifications, power assist fastening wheelchair wheels and a surround bed so Charlotte is safe and secure at night.
"Charlotte also has funding for regular physio, speech and occupational therapies, and support workers to come to the house, between 5pm and 8pm, to assist her. Then it's our time," he said.
"I'm into cycling so it means I can go and train or go to the gym because I don't have to be at home caring for Charlotte. We can have a life now and we are less dependent on family and friends.
"It also means I can spend quality time with my daughter in a range of social settings rather than being her full-time carer. I can be her Dad and we can do fun stuff together."
Nathan said prior to the NDIS it was tough for him and partner Carolyn - financially, physically and emotionally - without adequate supports.
"We would get to the end of the day and we were just exhausted after feeding, changing, dressing and bathing Charlotte ... we just didn't have the energy for spending quality time with her," he said.
"That's where the NDIS has been life-changing. It has given us back quality time to spend with Charlotte and time for ourselves."
Nathan said supports such as the car modifications have opened up a world of possibilities and now Charlotte is exposed more to the outside world.
"We can drive to the shops as a family, we can go to the movies, take Charlotte to all her medical appointments and do a lot of other social activities we just haven't been able to do before," he said.
Nathan said his parents also help take care of Charlotte, but prior to NDIS supports they felt they didn't have the ability to take their granddaughter out.
"Now, if I have to go away for work, or they feel like taking Charlotte out, they can come and get the car. They can take her to medical appointments for me, or just take her out for a treat to get some donuts. She loves donuts," Nathan said with a laugh.
Now ramps are installed around the family home, and Charlotte has power assist wheels, which fasten to her wheelchair so she doesn't have to exert herself, Nathan says she's a lot more independent.
"Now she wheels herself out the front door and onto the school bus. She doesn't need us anymore. It means I can get ready for work and not have to rush around to get her out the door," he said.
"My parents also live four doors down so we say why don't you go and visit Nanny and Granddad and she's off, out the door. Now, she has the ability to visit them without us."
The NDIS provides Australians under the age of 65 with a permanent and significant disability the supports they need to live an ordinary life and to increase their social and economic participation. The NDIS now provides support to more than 79,000 Victorians and nationally, over 300,000 Australians.
For more information on the NDIS, visit www.ndis.gov.au.