Is your child about to turn 18? This milestone birthday brings lots of changes, especially for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants.
Legally able to vote, register as an organ donor, and – if you choose – have a cheeky drink in a pub or club, turning 18 is a milestone birthday and one to remember.
And if you’re the parent of a teenager about to legally become an adult in the eyes of the law, well, congratulations! What a journey!
However, the road to adulthood and independence may have a few more twists and turns on it when you have a child with disability, especially if they’re an NDIS participant. And there are some steps you’ll need to take well before your child celebrates their coming of age, to ensure they can continue to receive the best support possible – from the NDIS and from you.
The timing can be important and it’s best to be prepared.
In most cases, one or both parents are child representatives for NDIS participants aged under 18. However, your role as a child representative automatically ends when your child turns 18.
The National Disability Insurance Agency says it will contact you and your child about three months before their 18th birthday to talk about support and how to plan for this big change. If your child chooses, they can nominate you to be one or both of the below:
If your child doesn’t want you to be a nominee, but they find it very difficult to make their own decisions or they’re unable to do so – even with support – the NDIA may appoint a nominee on their behalf.
Find out more about NDIS nominees here.
The lead up to a milestone birthday is the perfect time for your child to take a look at their NDIS goals, have a chat to you (or other support people in their world), and decide what changes, if any, need to be made.
Turning 18 isn’t a magical overnight transformation into adulthood for anyone, but it can signify the end of school, so it’s worth starting the discussion about what your child might want to pursue after school’s out forever.
Work, further education, vocational training, volunteering, travelling, moving out of the family home… the opportunities that await them are endless. That’s why it’s important to help your child make sure their NDIS plan includes everything it needs to in order to reflect the goals of a brand new adult.
Here’s some great advice about setting NDIS goals.
Speaking of work, is your child thinking about taking the next steps in their career?
The DREAM Employment Network, run by Children and Young People with Disability Australia, offers free online workshops to help get job-ready, build confidence, and expand horizons. It also offers online networking with potential employers.
As your child enters adulthood, they can be assisted to make their own decisions with supported decision making. This process brings trusted adults and supporters together alongside the person with disability so they can be empowered to make choices about their own life, big and small.
Supported decision making isn’t just a ‘nice thing to do’, it’s integral to Australia’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
You can find out more about supported decision making in our article here, and access free online resources from Inclusion Australia here.
When your child turns 18, there’s lots of administration work to get done. It’s not always fun, but it’s definitely necessary. We’ve listed below some of the key things to consider and start actioning before the big day.
You might like to start by helping them to look at some of the most popular free email providers in Australia – including Gmail, Outlook (formerly Hotmail) and Yahoo.
Does your child have their own email account? They’ll need an email address to set up some other accounts, including myGov, so it’s definitely worth investigating.
Your child will need their own myGov account before they turn 18, and they’ll need an email account (see above) to set this up.
Here’s how to go about setting up a myGov account.
Having their own myGov account will help if they want to apply for a Medicare card (which can be done from the age of 15). Find out more about how to do that here. If you both agree you need to act on your child’s behalf when it comes to Medicare, you’ll need to fill out this form.
Again, if you both agree it’s needed, your child can add you as a nominee to their Centrelink account as well. Find out more here.
If your child doesn’t have a learner’s permit (a precursor to their driver’s licence) or passport, it’s a good idea that they apply for a Proof of Age card to use as identification. Search online for ‘proof of age card Australia’ to find the relevant information for your state or territory.
While they’re at it, your child might like to consider applying for a Companion Card, if they don’t yet have one (there’s no minimum or maximum age). A Companion Card ensures people with disability who require support can attend sporting and entertainment venues and activities without having to pay for a second ticket for their carer or support worker.
In Australia, anyone aged 18 and older must enrol to vote and vote in state and federal elections. People aged 16 and 17 can enrol so they’re ready to vote as soon as they turn 18.
To enrol, your child will need to provide a driver’s licence, passport, Medicare card or Australian citizenship number, or have someone who’s already enrolled to vote confirm their identity. Proof of Age cards aren’t accepted when enrolling to vote.
Find out more about enrolling to vote here.
Information about accessible voting, including Easy Read guides and details about postal voting, can be found here.
Now, is it time to get this party started? Let’s light the 18 candles and celebrate!
