Disabilities Services Australia

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

The majority of government funded disability support services in Australia are now provided through the National Disability Insurance scheme (NDIS). The NDIS has largely replaced the previous National Disability Agreement (NDA) services.

Although government funded support through the NDIS is the centre-piece of all disability support in Australia, it is nonetheless only one part of a broader network of disability support available.

The NDIS aims to provide Australians with permanent and significant disability with "the reasonable and necessary support needed to participate in everyday life." By early 2022, there were around 519,000 NDIS participants in Australia.

The types of disability services the NDIS funds include:

• transport and social support to assist with wellbeing

• help in the home with everyday activities, including cooking, cleaning and tidying

• personal care including hoist and sling transfers and catheter care

• home nursing

• creative therapies such as art and music therapies

• home and vehicle modification

• mobility equipment

These disability services are usually provided by a service provider such as Focus Care. If you're not happy with your current service provider, there are many options available.

Financial Assistance

Disability Support Pension: The Disability Support Pension (DSP) is an income payment for people over 16 but under 66 who have a diminished capacity to work because of their disability. The DSP is means tested and applications are made through Centrelink.

National Companion Card: The National Companion Card program is for people with disability who need significant care in the community. The card allows support persons to enter participating venues and events for free.

Other Financial Assistance: People with disability may also be eligible for other forms of government financial help. These include: The Mobility Allowance, Concession cards, Payments to cover medical expenses, Continence aid payments.

Applications for these payments can be made through Services Australia.

Help Finding Work

People with disabilities may face specific challenges related to their work life. As a result, JobAccess offers help for people with disability who are looking for work and it also assists people who have a job to get more training and better workplace skills. JobAccess also provides information on Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers.

Finding an Advocate

Access to a disability advocate can help ensure you have full and equal enjoyment of your human rights and full community participation. They can also help you if you find yourself in a dispute.

You can find advocacy services through the Department of Social Services website.

Local Area Coordinators

Local area coordinators have strong connections in the community and can help people with disability to connect to local disability services that are available, including community groups, recreational activities and sporting clubs.

They can also help people with disability to access the NDIS, find an advocate or connect with other services such as Centrelink.

State Disability Services

Each state provides its own set of additional disability supports.

For example, in New South Wales, these include:

• Support persons travelling for free if your concession or Opal card is marked 'plus attendant'.

• Your assistance animal travelling with you free of charge on all New South Wales metro, train, bus, ferry, light rail, taxi, private bus and private ferries.

• The Mobility Parking Scheme (MPS), that provides parking concessions to people with mobility disability.

• The Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme (TTSS), that assists NSW residents who are unable to use public transport because of disability.

More Information

The Disability Gateway is a great Australian Government website where you can find more information about the disability services relevant to you.

How can Focus Care help?

Focus Care is a registered NDIS service provider, offering assistance tailored to your needs, including services for complex and high needs. If you are looking for a service provider which offers Support Coordination, help with daily life, creative therapies, and more, contact us today.