Please note this FAQ is currently being reviewed and updated
A Carer Statement (sometimes called an Impact Statement) is a letter written by someone, usually a parent, family member or partner who cares for a person living with a disability.
A Statement of Lived Experience is usually written by a Participant directly to outline their own situation.
It details in depth how their disability is impacting their life and the lives of those around them. It is used to demonstrate the everyday difficulties experienced by the individual and their family and to verify how much care and support an individual may need.
A Carer Statement is not compulsory but can affect the level of funding received as it will provide a more accurate picture. The NDIA will not always ask for supporting letters/statements but these can help strengthen your application because it provides a clear picture of the supports that are needed.
Writing a carer statement can often be uncomfortable to mention all these things, but it is essential to give the NDIS a complete overview of what supports are needed and therefore the appropriate level of funding. Don’t hold back. It is important to remember you are not complaining or asking for too much –you are simply letting them know what you and your loved ones’ daily life. You should describe your worst day so that you communicate the maximum amount of support provided. Think of your day from the moment your loved one wakes to when they go to sleep.
How do I write a Carer / Impact Statement?
The NDIS does not specify any formal guideline or template to develop a Carer’s Statement. It could be an informal letter or a structured statement. It can be whatever you choose. Either way, it should include information about the person you care for:
- their disability and how it impacts their day-to-day functioning
- what they need support with, and what their carer does to support them
- your own needs and goals as a carer, and how the caring role affects you
- whether you can keep caring for them in the same way into the future
- what other informal supports they have, such as family or friends
- any other important information for the NDIA to know when assessing which supports they might require.
A weekly timetable like this can help outline the schedule of the person for funding purposes: https://www.spectrumspace.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/NDIS-Weekly-Schedule.pdf
Another way to formulate a statement is to address each of the main 8 categories within the NDIS and then explain what supports are provided, how often, the cost involved as well as the emotional impact that can sometimes occur.
These 8 categories are:
- Daily Living
- Home
- Health and Well-being
- Lifelong Learning
- Work
- Social and Community Participation
- Relationships
- Choice and Control
Carer Checklist
Carers Australia has created a Carer Checklist which is useful in helping you prepare for an NDIS planning meeting. This checklist is for people who provide unpaid care and support to a family member or friend with a disability who is a participant in the NDIS or who is eligible to be a participant. Here is the link to their list Carer Checklist. It can help you think about the type of care and support you currently provide for the person you care for and may help you consider all aspects of the person with disability’s needs.
Carer / Impact Statement and Templates
Here are a few examples of carer/impact statements
- Reimagine: Sample Carer Statement
- https://www.kiind.com.au/learn/ndis/ Template for developing a Carer Statement
- https://qai.org.au/ndis-resources/ Template for Carer or Lived Experience statement
- A sample template for a support coordinator to use
For further information please contact us: ddwa@ddwa.org.au or (08) 9240-7203.
Written by Leticia Grant, Advocacy Manager DDWA (last updated May 2024)