The NDIS is a national disability support system that helps children with disability, autism, developmental delay or other additional needs.
The NDIS does fund services and supports that are reasonable and necessary and that will help your child work towards achieving their goals.
However, the NDIS does not fund supports that your child can get from other community and government services or informal supports from family and friends.
This guide outlines services and support that fall outside the scope of the NDIS, which all children with additional needs can get.
All children with disability can find services in their communities with the help of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) by calling 1800 800 100. You could also speak to your early childhood partner or local area coordinator (LAC) if you have one. The Carer Gateway, a disability association or an advocacy organisation could also help.
The process of applying for non NDIS-funded support for children with disability can be complex. However, there are a few things that you can do to make it easier on yourself. First, make sure that you are prepared to spend time talking on the phone, filling in forms and making appointments. It is also important to keep records of your conversations with service providers and make notes about what you spend on support for your child. Applying for support can be complex. It helps to get organised. You can prepare by spending time talking on the phone, filling in forms and making appointments. Keep records of your conversations with service providers and make notes about what you spend on support for your child. This will give you a better chance of getting the right support for your child. If you have any questions or need assistance with the process, contact your child’s doctor or another professional for help.There are different types of support that children with disability, autism, developmental delay or other additional needs may be able to access. These include support that is paid directly to the family, allocated to the child and paid directly to a service provider, or offered as concession rates on certain goods and services. However, in order to access any of this support, you will need to apply for it. This can be a complex process, so it's important to get organised and be prepared to spend time talking on the phone, filling in forms and making appointments. It's also a good idea to keep records of your conversations with service providers and make notes about what you spend on support for your child. By doing these things, you will be in a much better position to navigate the support system and get the help that your child needs. If you have any questions or need assistance with the process, don't hesitate to reach out to your child's doctor or another professional.
Children with disability, autism, developmental delay or other additional needs might be able to get NDIS-funded and non NDIS-funded support. The NDIS doesn’t fund support that children can get from family, friends and other community and government services. This support includes Centrelink payments and community, education, employment, family and health services.
Applying for support can be complex. It helps to get organised. You can find more information on the Department of Human Services website or speak to a Centrelink representative. Centrelink payments and other supports can make a big difference to families caring for children with disability. It is important to know what you are entitled to and to apply for support as soon as possible.
If you're looking for support with your child who has a disability or additional needs, there are a number of community services and supports available. These include child and family health centres, GP services, local councils and libraries, as well as other parents and carers. You can also find information on the NDIS website about what is and isn't funded under the scheme.
Looking for more information on community services and supports for children with disability? Visit the NDIS website today. You can also contact your local child and family health centre, GP or other health professional, or neighbourhood house for more information about what's available in your area. And remember - if you need help, just ask! There are plenty of people who are happy to assist.
The NDIS doesn't fund all the support that children with disability can get from family, friends and other community and government services. This support includes Centrelink payments and community, education, employment, family and health services. Applying for support can be complex. It helps to get organised.
There are other services available that the NDIS does not fund such as disability assessments and hearing services. Disability assessments are free of charge and can be accessed through your state or territory disability or autism association or the NDIS. There might be waiting lists for these services so it is best to get organized and contact these organizations for more information.
In addition to these services, there are also local and state government disability services, state autism associations and disability-specific organisations that can provide support and information. By getting in touch with these organisations, you can explore all the options available to you and your family.
It is important to remember that you are not alone in this process. There are many supports available through community organizations, government agencies, and private providers. Taking the time to research all your options will ensure that you get the best possible care for your child. If you have any questions or need help getting started, please feel free to contact us.
The NDIS doesn't fund all the support that children with disability can get from family, friends and other community and government services. This support includes things like Centrelink payments and community, education, employment, family and health services. Applying for support can be complex. It helps to get organised.
There are a range of government and non-government services that provide support for children with disabilities, autism, developmental delay or other additional needs. These services can include things like Centrelink payments, education and employment services, family support services and health services.
It can be complex to apply for these supports. It's a good idea to get organised and understand what's available before you start looking for help.
One place to start is by talking to your child's school. Schools have support and funding available for children with disabilities. They can tell you about the services and supports that are available in your area.
You can also contact the disability and education agencies or departments in your state or territory for more information. Each state and territory has different services and supports available, so it's important to find out what's available in your area.
Some of the services and supports that are available include:
Centrelink payments: Centrelink provides a range of payments and services for people with disabilities, including carers allowance, disability support pension and mobility allowance. You can find out more on the Centrelink website or by calling them on 13 27 17.
Community services: There are a range of community services available for children with disabilities, including respite care, early intervention services and support groups. Contact your local community centre or disability organisation to find out what's available in your area.
Education services: Schools have support and funding available for children with disabilities. They can tell you about the services and supports that are available in your area. You can also contact the disability and education agencies or departments in your state or territory for more information.
Employment services: There are a range of employment services available to help people with disabilities find and keep a job. These services can include job coaching, resume writing and interview training. Contact JobAccess on 1800 54 0800 or visit their website to find out more.
Family support services: There are a range of family support services available, including respite care, counselling and support groups. Contact your local community centre or disability organisation to find out what's available in your area.
Health services: There are a range of health services available for children with disabilities, including early intervention services, therapy and specialist medical care. Contact your local doctor or specialist clinic to find out what's available in your area.
Applying for supports can be complex. It helps to get organised and understand what's available before you start looking for help. Talk to your child's school or contact the disability and education agencies or departments in your state or territory to find out more about the services and supports that are available in your area.
Employment services and supports can help your child find work and keep a job. Disability Employment Services (DES) specifically help people with disability find and maintain work. There are many organisations that offer these services, which can include writing a resume or practising for job interviews. DES can also help assess your child's eligibility for the Disability Support Pension (DSP). Other services that may be of assistance are job capacity assessments and links to organisations that specialise in employment for young people with additional needs. You can find more information on these services in our guide to employment services for young people with additional needs.
Organising and applying for support
Applying for support can be complex, so it helps to get organised. Our guide has hints and tips on how to make the process easier. It includes a list of the documents you might need, who to talk to and where to get help.
You can also use the online tool, My Access Checker, to see what government services and payments your child might be eligible for.
Our guide has hints and tips on how to make the process of applying for support easier. This includes a list of the documents you might need, who to talk to, and where to get help. My Access Checker is an online tool that can show you what government services and payments your child might be eligible for. Applying for support can be complex, so it is helpful to use all the resources available to make sure you have everything you need.
Next steps
Now that you know what kind of support is available, you can start exploring your options. If you're not sure where to start, our Support Finder tool can give you tailored information about services in your area. You can also contact us for more information and advice.
The Support Finder tool can give you tailored information about services in your area. This is a helpful next step if you are not sure where to start. You can also contact us for more information and advice. With all of the available resources, you should be able to find the support your child needs.
There are a few different ways to get support for your family if you have a child with disability, autism or another additional need. Here are some options:
Family and carer services and supports
Carers Australia provides resources for carers and families. Their website has information on counselling, respite care, home help, equipment and other services.
Carer Gateway helps carers find counselling, peer support groups, respite care, home help, equipment and other services. You can search for services in your area on their website.
Centrelink payments
If you have a child with disability, autism or another additional need, you might be eligible for Centrelink payments. Payments available include:
- Carer Allowance
- Carer Payment
- Disability Support Pension
- Double Orphan Pension
- Income support payments
For more information, visit the Centrelink website or call 13 27 17.
Community services
There are a range of community services available to families who have a child with disability, autism or another additional need. These services can provide support and respite care. To find out what’s available in your area, contact your local council or state government department responsible for disability services.
Education support services
If your child has difficulty learning at school, they might be able to get help from an education support service. Education support services can help with things like:
- Learning difficulties
- Behaviour problems
- Bullying
- Absenteeism
To find out what’s available in your area, contact your local school or education department.
Employment support services
If you have a child with disability, autism or another additional need, they might be able to get help from an employment support service. Employment support services can help with things like:
- Job seeking
- Training and development
- Workplace modifications
For more information, visit the jobaccess website or call 1800 422 377.
Health services
There are a range of health services available to families who have a child with disability, autism or another additional need. These services can provide diagnosis, treatment and support. To find out what’s available in your area, contact your local GP or state government department responsible for health.
These are just some of the support services and payments that might be available to you if you have a child with disability, autism or another additional need. Applying for support can be complex. It helps to get organised. For more information on NDIS-funded and non-NDIS-funded supports, visit the National Disability Insurance Scheme website or call 1800 800 110.
The Medicare Benefits Schedule lists Medicare services that the Australian Government subsidises through Medicare rebates. This includes some assessment and diagnosis sessions.
The Medicare Safety Nets help with high out-of-pocket costs for some Medicare services. Once you’ve spent a certain amount on approved services in a calendar year, you might be able to get more money back on your payments for the rest of the year.
The Better Access initiative gives your child up to 20 sessions per year with mental health professionals (psychologists, mental health occupational therapists and some social workers) using the Medicare rebate. You might also be able to claim some group therapy sessions.
Chronic Disease Management – GP services allow your GP to refer your child to allied health professionals – like psychologists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, dietitians or podiatrists – for up to 5 sessions each year that you can claim at the Medicare rebate.
Ask about any out-of-pocket costs when you make an appointment.
Some of the services above may attract a gap payment. This is the difference between the Medicare rebate and the fee charged by the health professional. Not all health professionals bulk bill, which means they don’t accept the Medicare rebate as full payment. If this is the case, you may have to pay the full fee for the service and claim back the Medicare rebate from Medicare. You can ask your health professional if they bulk bill before making an appointment.
If your family has a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, you might be able to get some free or low cost health services through other programs like:
The Community Health Program – offers a range of health services for families who hold a Health Care Card
The School Dental Program – offers free dental care for eligible children aged between five and 17 years old, through the public dental system
The Victorian Immunisation Scholarship Scheme – provides $200 to help with the cost of immunisations for children whose families hold a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card.
You can find out more about these programs by contacting your local community health centre or Medicare office.
Different states and territories offer different types of concessions for utility costs, public transport, vehicle registration, and taxi fares. Most of these concessions are available only to children who have a Health Care Card. Eligible people with permanent disability can get a Companion Card for their companion to attend participating attractions and events for no cost. You can find more information on these programs by searching your state or territory government websites using the keywords ‘concessions’ or ‘subsidies.’ Different states and territories offer different types of concessions for utility costs, public transport, vehicle registration, and taxi fares. Most of these concessions are available only to children who have a Health Care Card. Eligible people with permanent disability can get a Companion Card for their companion to attend participating attractions and events for no cost. You can find more information on these programs by searching your state or territory government websites using the keywords ‘concessions’ or ‘subsidies.’
If you have any questions about these programs or other services and supports available to children with disabilities, please don't hesitate to contact us.
