A child representative role is different to a nominee. As a child representative, you have some important duties and responsibilities. You need to give us information about the child participant and work with us to create the child's plan or make changes to the child's current plan.

You must:

• talk to and listen to the child and make sure you know their wishes
• help the child take part in deciding things, where possible
• do things that are in the best interest of the child
• encourage the child to do things in life and in the community.

When practical, you must consult with:

• the child’s guardian (if the child has one)
• other child representatives, or persons with parental responsibility for the child
• another person who helps the child to make decisions and manage day-to-day activities.

If you’re a child representative, you should always consider the best interests of the child. This means your decision-making is guided by the need to:

• protect the child from harm
• help them grow and develop in life
• help them work towards becoming as independent as possible
• strengthen, preserve and promote positive relationships in their life.

We will work with you to create the child’s NDIS plan. We will make sure they have the reasonable and necessary supports they need. If you manage the funding in the child’s plan, you will be responsible for spending the funding according to the child’s plan. Learn more about plan management options.

We’ll set up regular check-ins with you to discuss how the child’s plan and supports are going.

You will:

• attend planning meetings
• take part in regular check-ins for the child
• receive and respond to letters and emails from the NDIS and service providers about the child
• communicate with us and service providers
• request how you would like funded supports to be managed.

Learn more about how a child representative helps us to create a child’s plan.

How long does the role of child representative last?

The role of child representative usually lasts until the child turns 18 years old.

There may be times when a child representative role ends sooner than the child’s 18th birthday. The role may end sooner if:

• A Court or Tribunal decides you don’t have parental responsibility for a child anymore. Learn more about who can be a child representative.
• We decide to change a child’s representative for the purposes of the NDIS.
• We decide to revoke a child’s representative we previously appointed in writing.
• The Agency decides that the child doesn’t need a representative anymore and can represent themselves.

What happens when the child turns 18 years old?

We know that for many people turning 18 is a big step. The role of a child representative will automatically end on the child’s 18th birthday. Most people will be able to make decisions as an adult, but they may still need help.

We will talk with the participant about how to get support with decision making. If an adult participant can’t make decisions, even with help, we may look at appointing a nominee. But we do this in limited circumstances.