Childhood disability and parenting support
5-minute read
Key facts
- Support is available for parents and carers of children with disability.
- Support is available through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and government payments for carers.
- You may also get support through state and territory services or non-profit organisations.
What is disability and parenting support?
If you are caring for a child with disability, there is support available for you. Support services include:
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
- Carer Gateway — help with accessing counselling, coaching and respite care.
The government support you can get depends on where you live. Some payments and services are available to everyone in Australia, while others are offered by state and territory governments.
What is the National Disability Insurance Scheme?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) supports children with disability and their families.
The NDIS helps you and your child access support. This way, your child can get the best start in life and achieve the best outcomes throughout their life.
The NDIS is available across Australia including rural and remote areas. The NDIS allows higher price limits for some supports in remote and very remote areas.
You can check whether your child is eligible at the NDIS website.
What payments for carers are available?
Most financial support services are provided through Centrelink. You may be able to get the payments such as:
- Carer Payment — a payment for giving constant care to someone with disability.
- Carer Allowance — a payment for giving daily care to someone with disability.
- Carer Supplement — an annual payment if you get some payments and care for someone living with disability.
- Child Disability Assistance Payment — a yearly payment for looking after a child with disability or a medical condition.
- Carer Adjustment Payment — a one-off payment if you care for a child with severe disability.
- Child Care Subsidy — a payment to help make child care services more affordable, including for children with disability.
There is a range of other payments for carers. Visit the Services Australia website to learn more.
What financial support is there for health care?
In Australia, Medicare helps with the cost of health care. You can find out what Medicare will pay for on the Services Australia website.
If you have high out-of-pocket medical costs, you may be able to get more money back through the Medicare Safety Net. When you spend over a certain amount on medical costs in one calendar year, you get a higher amount back from Medicare.
You may be able to get a Health Care Card. This gives you discounts on prescription medicines. It may also give you discounts on things like public transport and electricity or water bills.
Am I able to get respite care?
You may be able to get respite care. Respite care is when someone takes care of your child so you can have a break. It can be done in a centre or in your home. It gives you a chance to relax or complete everyday activities.
Respite care can be for a few hours a week or for longer, such as overnight or for a weekend.
If you need emergency respite, call Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737.
Resources and support
You can visit the National Disability Gateway to find and access disability services across Australia.
Carer Gateway is a national online and phone service that has practical information, support and resources for carers. Search the Carer Gateway website or call 1800 422 737.
Carers Australia has information and support for carers in Australia. You can contact Carers Australia for more information.
NDIS has information and support for Auslan and languages other than English. If you need help contacting the NDIS, call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.
First Peoples Disability Network offers information and resources for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples with disability, their families and communities.
Support in your state or territory
There are other health and support services available. These depend on which state or territory you live in.
- Australian Capital Territory — People with disability: Children and young people
- New South Wales — Communities & Justice: Community inclusion
- Northern Territory — Office of Disability
- Queensland — People with disability
- South Australia — Care and Support: Disability
- Tasmania — Disability Services
- Victoria — Department of Families, Fairness and Housing: Disability
- Western Australia — Department of Communities: Disability services
Non-profit and charity support services
Reimagine Australia helps families of children with disability or developmental delay find support services.
Siblings Australia provides support, information and resources to siblings and families of children with a:
- chronic disease
- disability
- mental illness
Playgroup Australia is the national peak body representing playgroups.
Parent support groups
My Time provides information and resources for parents and carers of children with disability.
You can also visit Parentline for free, confidential counselling. If you live in:
- Queensland or the Northern Territory, visit the website or call 1300 30 1300
- New South Wales, visit the website or call 1300 1300 52
- Victoria, call Parentline on 13 22 89
Speak to a maternal child health nurse
Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.