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Intellectual disability support · Western Sydney
Intellectual disability support in Western Sydney
Patient, respectful support that helps you learn new skills, make your own choices and take part in community life across Blacktown, Mount Druitt, Rooty Hill, St Marys and Penrith.
Intellectual disability is lifelong and can affect communication, memory, understanding, problem solving and self-care.
Source: Inclusion Australia
In NSW, the life expectancy of adults with intellectual disability was 27 years lower than the general population.
Source: UNSW Sydney
38% of deaths of people with intellectual disability in NSW were from potentially avoidable causes.
Source: UNSW Sydney
Understanding intellectual disability
Understanding intellectual disability
Intellectual disability is a lifelong condition. It can affect communication, memory, understanding, problem solving and self-care, as well as social, emotional and physical skills. It looks different for every person.
Day to day, this might mean needing more time to learn a new task, help to read letters or bills, or support to plan a trip and stay safe. In NSW, adults with intellectual disability die much younger than other people, and many of those deaths could be avoided, so help to get to health appointments and speak up really matters.
People with intellectual disability have the same feelings, rights and goals as everyone else. Our job is to give the right amount of help: enough to make things possible, and no more than you want.
Everyday life
Everyday life with intellectual disability, made simpler
Intellectual disability can affect memory, communication, problem solving and self-care, and it looks different for every person. These are common everyday areas where the right amount of help makes a real difference.
Making your own choices
Some people need extra help to make their own decisions, from what to wear and eat to where to live. We explain options in plain English, give time to think and respect the choice the person makes.
Cooking and looking after home
We do tasks with you, not for you. Cooking, cleaning and laundry are broken into small steps with picture checklists, so you can take on more of each job over time.
Money and bills
Practise using a bank card, comparing prices, keeping receipts and checking a weekly budget, with written or picture reminders you can keep at home.
Health appointments
People with intellectual disability can get a yearly health assessment funded by Medicare. We can help book appointments, travel there with you and write down questions to ask the GP.
Getting around safely
Learn a regular route by bus, train or on foot, one step at a time, including what to do if something goes wrong, until you can make the trip with less support.
Friends, groups and work
Join group activities, community events or a job, with support to settle in. We help you practise social skills and build friendships, and our support steps back as your confidence grows.
How we help
How Skillwise can help
Every support is planned around your goals and what your NDIS plan funds. Start with what you need now, and change it as your plan grows.
Learning new skills
Step-by-step help with cooking, shopping, money, phones and travel, using pictures, checklists and plenty of practice until each skill sticks. Daily living & life skills →
Help at home
Support with everyday personal care, getting ready, meals and daily routines, done your way and at your pace in your own home. Personal care →
Groups and new friends
Join group and centre activities where you can try new things, practise social skills and spend time with people your own age. Group & centre-based programs →
Big life changes
Support when leaving school, moving out of the family home or starting something new, with clear steps and someone beside you while you settle in. Life stage transitions →
Living at home
Living at home with the right support
Supported Independent Living (SIL) is help with, or supervision of, everyday tasks at home, so a person can build skills and live as independently as possible. It is for people who need a lot of support through the day, often in a home shared with other NDIS participants. Someone who needs less help may do well with drop in support while they keep learning.
Inclusion Australia says people with intellectual disability often have little voice or choice about where they live or how their support is delivered. In the homes we support, the person helps set their own routines, takes part in cooking and chores and is supported to make decisions. SIL funds support workers, not rent, groceries or bills, and the NDIA decides whether SIL is in a plan.
Families and carers
Supporting families and carers
Families often know the person best, and many have been the main support for years. We work with you, share updates in the way you prefer and help your family member build the skills and confidence to do more for themselves.
When a young person is getting ready to leave school or move out, we can plan the change together in clear steps. Our team speaks English, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Arabic, Dari and Pashto.
Tip 1
Talk with your family member directly about their goals, and give them time to answer in their own way.
Tip 2
Ask the GP about a yearly health assessment, which Medicare funds for people with intellectual disability.
Tip 3
Keep a simple folder with the NDIS plan, health details and any behaviour support plan to share with workers.
Tip 4
Let your family member try new tasks, even if they take longer at first. Practice builds confidence.
Good to know
What good support looks like
What we don’t provide. We do not provide nursing, therapy, high intensity supports such as PEG feeding or complex bowel care, or behaviour support plan writing. We work alongside the person’s GP, therapists, behaviour support practitioner, support coordinator and family so care stays joined up.
- Plain English, pictures and time to ask questions
- One step at a time, with lots of practice and encouragement
- The person makes the choices, with help to understand the options
- Support to get to health appointments and speak up
Behaviour support plans. Some people have a behaviour support plan written by an NDIS behaviour support practitioner. We do not write these plans, but we follow them closely, including any authorised restrictive practices, and support the goal of using them less over time.
NDIS funding
How NDIS funding can help
NDIS plans can include Core, Capacity Building and Capital budgets. Core supports cover everyday activities, such as help with daily life, social and community participation and transport. Capacity Building supports focus on building independence and skills, such as improving living arrangements and finding and keeping a job. People with intellectual disability may use these budgets for the kinds of support Skillwise delivers, depending on their plan.
Every plan is different. The NDIA decides who can access the scheme and which supports are funded, so we cannot promise any particular funding. If you disagree with a decision in your plan, you can ask for a review, and in NSW the Intellectual Disability Rights Service offers free help, including with appeals of NDIA decisions. We can go through your current plan with you and explain what we can deliver.
How it works
Getting started with Skillwise
Four simple steps. Bring a family member, carer or support coordinator along if you like.
1. Call or send a referral
Ring 0474 151 264 or make a referral online. We usually reply within one business day.
2. A friendly first chat
We talk about your goals, your daily routine and any health, behaviour support or mealtime plans you already have.
3. Your plan, explained
We go through your NDIS plan and service agreement in plain words, in the language that suits you.
4. Support that fits you
We match you with support workers who suit you, and keep checking in as your needs change.
Kind words
What participants and families tell us
Skillwise made our NDIS experience simple and stress-free. Their team truly listens and supports us every step of the way. I always feel my daughter is in safe and caring hands.
The Skillwise team helps me live more independently and with confidence. They are patient, respectful and always ready to assist. I’ve grown so much since joining their support program.
Skillwise staff treat me like family. They’re kind, reliable and genuinely care about my goals. Their support has made a real difference in my daily life.
Questions
Intellectual disability NDIS support: common questions
Can’t see your question? Call us on 0474 151 264 and talk to a real person.
What NDIS supports can help someone with intellectual disability?
It depends on the person’s plan and goals. Skillwise can help with daily living, life skills, community and group activities, work, transport and Supported Independent Living. We can go through the plan with you and explain which parts we can deliver.
Can you help my adult son or daughter move out of home?
Yes. We support young adults through this change with life skills practice, short visits and a clear plan. If the NDIS funds Supported Independent Living, we can support people in a shared home with help available all day and overnight.
How do you explain things so they are easy to understand?
We use plain English, short steps, pictures and checklists, and we check the person has understood before moving on. We speak to the person directly, not just to their family, and give them time to answer.
Can we talk to your team in our own language?
Yes. Our team speaks English, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Arabic, Dari and Pashto. Families can share needs, routines and worries in the language they are most comfortable with.
How do we get started with Skillwise?
Call 0474 151 264 or send us a message. We will talk about goals, routines and the NDIS plan, then meet at home or somewhere comfortable. Family, carers and support coordinators are welcome to join.
What is an annual health assessment?
People with intellectual disability can get a yearly health assessment funded by Medicare. It helps make sure the person is getting the care they need and can pick up changes in health. Ask your GP about it. We can help book the visit and travel there with you.
Can my family member make their own decisions?
Yes. Everyone has the right to make their own choices. Some people need extra help to do this, which is called supported decision making. We explain options simply, involve the people the person trusts and respect their decision, from what to eat to bigger life choices.
Do your workers do tasks for the person or with them?
Mostly with them. We support people to take part in everyday tasks like cooking, cleaning and shopping, at their own pace. Doing tasks together builds skills and confidence, and we give more hands-on help when it is needed.
More help
Organisations that can help
Inclusion Australia: The national voice of people with an intellectual disability and their families.
Council for Intellectual Disability: NSW organisation that advocates for the rights of people with intellectual disability, with Easy Read pages.
Intellectual Disability Rights Service: Free NSW service for people with intellectual or other cognitive impairment, including legal help and advocacy.
Other conditions
We also support
Skillwise supports people with a range of disabilities across Western Sydney. See all conditions we support.
Supports we provide
Ten ways we can help
From daily living at home to work, community and life changes, find the support that fits your NDIS plan.
Get started
Support that helps you do more
Call us, send a referral or drop into our Rooty Hill office. We’re open Monday to Saturday, 8am to 5pm, and our team speaks English, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Arabic, Dari and Pashto.