Australian Family Support
Bringing NDIS and primary health care together
What makes us different
We are bringing our vision to life by bridging the gap between the Medicare services and the NDIS services for those who need NDIS support.
This company was founded by two General Practitioners. Our aim is to strengthen NDIS participants with their disability support requirements while also providing access to GP services when necessary. Our group is guided by the highest ethical standards.
We will support you to assess NDIS eligibility and help you through the process to obtain NDIS funding. Our friendly team will hold your hand through this journey to coordinate and provide the relevant services, catering to your individual needs.
We aim to increase the access of the participants with NDIS plans to quality health services by working alongside primary healthcare. By strengthening and expanding the NDIS participants’ access to services we can comprehensively cover all aspects of a participants’ goals, health, employment, educational and social support needs.
It is a core aim of AFS to help you achieve your full potential over the time it takes. We plan a journey of improvement. Our commitment and dedication to continuously improving ourselves and the quality-of-service delivery is always assured.
The Australian Family Support difference
Value of being a participant with AFS
At AFS, we encourage active participation from participants so that they, and our organisation, can work together in achieving agreed goals. We aim to assist in creating more opportunities resulting in increased personal capacity. We aim to help in achieving improvements in the participant’s current social environment and strengthen external support at multiple levels. Active participation and engagement of participants in decision making and actions taken at the local level and the next stages are important fundamentals if we want to build comprehensive care and encourage self-determination in a participant. With our support we hope to see the participants change not only their own life but also their family, society, and environment.
How we can help you
- We provide improved access to quality health services and integrate our NDIS services with primary health care support.
- We work together with you to achieve your goals.
- We create more opportunities for you to increase your personal capacity.
- We help you achieve improvements in your current social environment and strengthen your external support.
- We guide you through the NDIS eligibility assessment process and provide practical support to help you through the processes required to obtain NDIS funding and program support catering to your individual needs.
- We will help you achieve your full potential, through all life stages.
Our NDIS Services:
Our General Practices services:
Our vision is to:
- Provide high-quality, person-centered, best in class, services to our NDIS participants and their families
- Continuously seek opportunities to improve our services and service delivery
- Be a leading and respected NDIS service provider in South Australia
Our values:
Australian Family Support exists to empower people with disabilities and those with long term health challenges to identify and engage in opportunities to develop themselves in a supported and inclusive environment so that they can take control of their lives and achieve their full potential. We do this with:
Every effort will be made to listen to your needs, understand your circumstances and create solutions that work for you.
Your individuality, your needs and your choices will always be respected.
AFS is led by family doctors and clinicians with many years of providing health care. Ethical professional care is integral to what we do. We understand the complexities of health care and support delivery, and the impact of illness and disability on the whole family. We bring this in-depth understanding to everything we do.
Our directors are doctors, committed to ethical and socially accountable health care delivery.
It is our aim to see you achieve your potential over whatever time this takes. We actively plan for your journey of improvement. We are fully committed and dedicated to improving our services so that you receive the best care possible.
Our NDIS Leadership Team
Dr Bryan Simon
Dr Symon has been a GP for 47 years. The NDIS attracted him in that it offered an opportunity to provide more complete care.
There are many situations faced by Drs that the normal model of care does not fit. By expanding our range of services to include NDIS we provide a wider range of services to a wider range of people.
Dr Dennis Benedict
Dr Benedict is a General Practitioner with over 25 years’ experience in medicine. He combines a focus on personalised care with expertise in diabetes, aged care, and complex medical conditions.
Chamin Lenora
Sarah Azni
Sarah is an Registered Nurse with experience in diverse nursing settings with a focus on disability care and aged care. Sarah is committed to the provision of high quality, person-centred care and aims to make a difference for her participants every day.
Chamin Lenora
Sarah Azni
Sarah is an Registered Nurse with experience in diverse nursing settings with a focus on disability care and aged care. Sarah is committed to the provision of high quality, person-centred care and aims to make a difference for her clients every day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everyone has questions about NDIS support. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. If you have other questions, please contact us. We are here to assist.
You may eligible for the NDIS if you answer yes to all or some of these questions:
- Are you aged between 7 and 65?
- Do you live in Australia and have Australian residency?
- Do you usually need support from a person because of a permanent and significant disability?
- Do you use special equipment because of a permanent and significant disability?
- Do you need some supports now to reduce your future needs?
Find out more about your eligibility link
If you think you are eligible for the NDIS, we will connect with your GP for retrieve relevant medical information. We can also connect you to your local NDIS Office or local NDIS partner and ask them to support you to connect with local disability supports or to apply to the NDIS if eligible. Alternatively, you can phone the NDIS on 1800 800 110 to be supported to apply to the NDIS.
Support coordination can be included in your NDIS plan. To access this service, inform NDIS that you require some assistance with your plan during your plan development. Where reasonable and necessary, support coordination will be included in the Capacity Building budget.
Find out more about support coordination here.
We can help you to connect to your local area coordinator or the NDIA to request for a plan reassessment, including for when your situation or details have changed. We will support you throughout your journey and assist you with completing your forms.
Find out more about NDIS Change in Circumstances here.
During our onboarding session with you, our staff will get to know you and learn your preferences and needs. We will try to match our support workers to you. Our friendly team will hold your hand through this journey to coordinate and provide the relevant services, catering to your individual needs. However, if you are not happy with the selection of support workers, we will try our best to find a suitable candidate to your preferences. You have the choice and control.
Our support workers all have relevant vocational qualifications and are supported to continue their skills development. Team members have First Aid and CPR certificates and current Working with Children Check, Police Check, NDIS worker screening check, current driver’s license and access to a vehicle.
Our support workers also receive ongoing in-house training as part of our commitment to providing high quality, person-centered, best in class services to our participants and their families. Our commitment and dedication to continuously improving ourselves and the quality of service delivery is always assured.
AFS is led by family doctors and clinicians with many years of providing health care. We understand the complexities of health care and support delivery and the impact of illness and disability on the whole family. Our sister company, Australian Family Care provides easy access to General Practitioners, via our two clinics: Kensington Park Medical Clinic and Campbelltown Family Care.
Where you provide Australian Family Support Pty Ltd. with less than four (4) business days’ notice you will be charged 100% of the service fee that was scheduled in your roster.
A cancellation is considered to be a short notice cancellation if the participant:
- Does not show up for a schedule support within a reasonable time, or is not present at the agreed place and within a reasonable time when the provider/support worker is travelling to deliver the support; or
- Has given less than 4 clear business days’ notice for a support that meets both of the following conditions
- The support is less than 8 hours continuous duration; AND
- The agreed total price for the support is less than $1,000.00
Australian Family Support will only claim from a participants plan for a short notice cancellation of the delivery of a support item to a participant if all of the following conditions are met:
- The provider has the agreement of the participant in advance by way of this Service Agreement being signed by the participant or documented Advocate
- The provider was unable to find alternative billable work for the relevant worker and are required to pay the worker for the time that would have been spent providing the support.
- Claims for a short notice cancellation will be made using the same support item as would have been used if the support had been delivered, using the “Cancellation” option in the MyPlace Portal.
There are no set limits on the number of short cancellations (or ‘no shows’) for which Australian Family Support Pty Ltd can claim in respect to each participant. However, Australian Family Support Pty Ltd have a duty of care to their participants and, where a participant has an unusual number of cancellations, then we would seek to understand why this is occurring.
The NDIA monitor claims for cancellations and may contact Australian Family Support Pty Ltd who have a participant with an unusual number of cancellations.
If you have a concern, a complaint, or wish to provide some feedback about the provision of support and services, please write, email, or call our Complaints Manager.
The Complaints Manager
Australian Family Support Pty Ltd
84 Shipsters Road, Kensington Park, SA 5068
Phone:
Chief Executive Officer: 0426 449 795
Practice Nurse: 0405 648 717
Email: link
If you wish to exit Australian Family Support NDIS service to move to another provider, we request that you provide Australian Family Support Pty Ltd with 2 weeks’ notice in writing. We can help connect you with another provider if you like.
There are no fees to exit the services of Australian Family Support Pty Ltd, unless you provide less than 7 business days’ notice to exit our services, where the Short Notice Cancellation Policy will be applied.
Yes, you can change your service provider at any time, but you may need to provide notice as per the service agreement that you have signed and agreed upon.
You can review your service agreement, provide written notice (if required) and discuss the transition with them.
AFS will try to minimise disruptions by coordinating with both providers.