Thank you for visiting this website. In the period preceding an election, the Australian Government assumes a caretaker role.

The Department of Social Services hosts this website and the department will manage it in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions.

For people with disability

  • Australian Disability Parking Scheme
    The Australian Disability Parking Scheme helps eligible people park nearer to their destination.
  • Better Start for Children with Disability initiative
    The Better Start for Children with Disability (Better Start) initiative aims to assist eligible children with developmental disabilities to access funding for early treatment, diagnostic and management services.
  • BSWAT Payment Scheme
    The Business Services Wage Assessment Tool (BSWAT) Payment Scheme will provide a one-off payment in certain circumstances to eligible supported employees with an intellectual impairment whose wages were assessed and paid using the BSWAT.
  • Community Mental Health
    Provides assistance to people with mental illness and their families and carers to manage the impacts of mental illness on their lives and improve their overall wellbeing.
  • The Disability Gateway
    The Disability Gateway connects you with information, support and services for areas of life such as employment, education, aids and equipment, finance and COVID-19. Contact the Disability Gateway by calling 1800 643 787 Monday – Friday 8am – 8pm AEDT or visit www.disabilitygateway.gov.au.
  • Disability Royal Commission support services
    The Australian Government is funding free and independent counselling and advocacy support for people with disability that have experienced violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, as well as their families and carers, and anyone affected by the Disability Royal Commission.
  • Disability Employment Services
    The Australian Government is committed to ensuring people with disability receive opportunities to reach their potential through participating in the community and the workforce.
  • Family Mental Health Support Services
    This service provides improved mental health outcomes for children and young people, and their families.
  • Helping Children with Autism
    This package is for support and services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. It includes support for parents, families, carers and children from diverse cultural, linguistic and Indigenous backgrounds and living in rural and remote areas.
  • Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) program
    ILC provides funding to organisations to deliver projects in the community that support all people with disability, regardless of whether or not they are eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. 
  • International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD)
    IDPwD is a United Nations sanctioned day that occurs annually on 3 December and celebrates and recognises the achievements, contributions and abilities of people with disability.
  • National Auslan Interpreter Booking and Payment Service (NABS)
    The National Auslan Interpreter Booking Service provides accredited Auslan (Australian Sign Language) interpreters to deaf Auslan users free of charge when they attend private medical consultations.
  • National Companion Card
    The National Companion Card scheme enables eligible people with disability to participate at venues and activities without incurring the cost of a second ticket for their attendant carer.
  • National Disability Advocacy Program
    The National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) funds organisations to provide advocacy support to people with disability that promotes, protects and ensures their full and equal enjoyment of all human rights, enabling community participation.
  • National Disability Conference Initiative
    Funding is provided each year to eligible conference organisers to enable them to support the attendance of people with disability at disability-focused conferences.
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme
    The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) supports people with a permanent and significant disability that affects their ability to take part in everyday activities.
  • NDIS Appeals
    The NDIS Appeals (previously known as External Merits – Support Component) provides funding for support services to assist applicants in navigating the process of Administrative Appeals Tribunal review of National Disability Insurance Agency decisions.
  • NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework
    The NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework provides a nationally consistent approach to help empower and support NDIS participants to exercise choice and control, while ensuring appropriate safeguards are in place and establishes expectations for providers and their staff to deliver high quality supports. Further information and related fact sheets on the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
  • Postal Concessions for the Blind Program
    The PCB Program enables blind people and eligible organisations that service the needs of blind people, to send eligible material through Australia Post. The Department reimburses Australia Post for the postage costs of eligible material.
  • Print Disability Services
    The Department funds four print disability service providers to produce digital masters of printed material. The digital masters can easily be converted into the alternate format of choice for people with print disability.
  • Supported Employment
    Supported employment plays a vital role in improving the social and economic participation of many people with disability in Australia.
  • Younger People in Residential Aged Care
    The Australian Government is committed to minimising the need for younger people aged under 65 years of age to live in aged care facilities.

More Information

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