Australian Government and shared government services

Here you can find out what service the Australian government delivers nationally. There is also a list of services the Australian Government and state and territory governments share responsibility for delivering.

Services the Australian Government provides

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC)

NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission

Employment services

Income support payments

Federal justice system

Australian Federal Police

Child Care Subsidy

Medicare Benefits Schedule

General practitioners

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations

Aged Care system

My Aged Care

Veterans’ Care system

Universities

Hearing Services Program

Commonwealth Ombudsman

Australian Human Rights Commission

Who is responsible for disability policy in my community?  

State Governments, local councils, and the Australian Government all help support people with disabilities. This section shows you where to find information about what policies and programs they have in place.

Australian Capital Territory - The ACT Disability Strategy

New South Wales - NSW Disability policies and guidelines

South Australia - Inclusive SA - Our Work

Victoria - Inclusive Victoria: state disability plan (2022–2026)

Queensland - Queensland's Disability Plan 2022-27

Tasmania - Tasmania’s Disability Strategy 2025-2027

Western Australia - State Disability Strategy 2020-2030

Access services near you

There are many support services available across Australia. Whether you’re looking for healthcare, help with accessibility, specialised care, or financial assistance, the Disability Gateway can connect you to services in your area. Visit the Gateway and find the support you need.  

Check out the quick overview table below to see what help for people with disabilities is offered by the Australian government, state governments, and local authorities around Australia. 

Services all governments do together

Mental health supports and services

Disability advocacy services – individual and systemic

Concessions for government services

  • Community infrastructure
  • Arts and cultural funding and support
  • Public museums, galleries and performance facilities

Useful links

States, Territories and Local Government Website Quick Entry Points

Department of Social Services

Disability policy reforms | Department of Social Services

National Disability Gateway

Intergovernmental agreements on the NDIS

National Housing and Homelessness Strategy

Quick overview table

This table shows what services are mainly delivered by the different levels of government.  

Services the Australian Government deliversServices state and territory governments deliver
Services local governments deliver***Services with shared delivery across levels of government
  • NDIS* (administration)
  • Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC)
  • NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
  • Employment services
  • Income support payments
  • Federal justice system
  • Australian Federal Police
  • Child Care Subsidy
  • Medicare Benefits Schedule
  • General practitioners
  • Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
  • Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations
  • Aged Care system
  • My Aged Care
  • Veterans’ Care system
  • Universities
  • Hearing Services Program
  • Commonwealth Ombudsman
  • Australian Human Rights Commission
  • Public, social and community housing
  • Public hospitals
  • Community health services
  • Home and Community Care programs for under 65s****
  • Public transport services
  • Public primary and secondary schools
  • TAFE / Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Kindergartens and pre-schools
  • Jurisdictional court systems and correctional centres
  • State/Territory Police
  • Guardianship, Public trustees and Ombudsman
  • Child protection
  • Community visitors programs for disability**
  • Domestic and family violence services
  • Major sporting facilities
  • State and territory human rights/anti-discrimination bodies
  • Urban planning/design of the built environment
  • Accessible buildings
  • Local development planning
  • Local roads, bikeways and footpaths
  • Local parks and recreational facilities
  • Local sports grounds
  • Public toilets
  • Playgrounds
  • Council run childcare and aged care centres
  • Municipal services
  • Parking regulation
  • Public libraries, community halls
  • NDIS* (funding and shared governance)
  • Mental health supports and services
  • Disability advocacy services – individual and systemic
  • Concessions for government services
  • Community infrastructure
  • Arts and cultural funding and support
  • Public museums, galleries and performance facilities

Note: This list of roles and responsibilities is not comprehensive and some responsibilities may change over time.

* The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a nationally based scheme jointly governed and funded by the Australian, state and territory governments. Delivery of the NDIS is the responsibility of the National Disability Insurance Agency, a Commonwealth Corporate Entity.

** Not all states have community visitors programs for disability (e.g. Tasmania, Western Australia).

*** Local governments are established by state and territory governments (except the ACT) to deliver a range of municipal services and infrastructure, which is determined by each state and territory government. Listed examples of key responsibilities of most local governments are not representative of the responsibilities of all local governments.

**** Not all state and territory governments have existing HACC programs.