Carer Adjustment Payment

This is a one-off payment to families who can’t get other income support when the family is going through significant adjustment because of the care needs of a child. You might be able to get this payment if you care for a child aged under 7 years who has recently been diagnosed with severe disability or a severe medical condition.

Australian Thalidomide Survivors Support Program (the Program)

If you are a thalidomide survivor registered with the Program, the Thalidomide Support Service can help you with accessing support under the Program, including claiming from the Extraordinary Assistance Fund (EAF) and the Health Care Assistance Fund (HCAF). The Thalidomide Support Service can also help survivors to register and receive support from the NDIS and other relevant services and schemes.
 

COVID-19 support for Disability Support Pension (DSP) recipients

Event

Disability Support Pension (DSP) recipients may soon receive a text message through the Australian Government’s Disability Gateway offering assistance with COVID-19 vaccinations and medicines. 

This is a genuine text message sent by the Australian Government.

Legitimate government SMS communications will not use URLs as a means to update your personal details, or ask you to confirm your personal details.

The text message will provide information on how to access the Disability Gateway to get help booking your booster.

$31 million to boost readiness for educational environments for children with disability or developmental concerns

Media release
The Albanese Labor Government has today announced grants of $16 million under the National Early Childhood Program (NECP) and an additional $15 million under the Information Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) program.

Read more about: $31 million to boost readiness for educational environments for children with disability or developmental concerns

Assistance Dogs Australia

If you have cerebral palsy, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis or other serious injuries you may be able to access a specially trained dog through the Assistance Dogs Australia 'People with physical disabilities' program.

Assistance Dogs Australia also has programs for training dogs to help with conditions such as autism and posttraumatic stress disorder.

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

The NDIS can help you modify your house and vehicle to make it easier for you to move around and do the things you want to do.

Protecting people living with disability from the latest COVID-19 wave

Media release
The Albanese Labor Government is committed to protecting people living with disability and their carers from the latest COVID-19 winter wave and will launch a targeted text message campaign to protect their health.

Read more about: Protecting people living with disability from the latest COVID-19 wave

Chair of NDIA Board resigns

Media release

I have received the resignation of The Hon. Dr Denis Napthine AO as Chair of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Board.

Read more about: Chair of NDIA Board resigns

Improving access to conferences for people with disability

Media release

The Australian Government has today announced 33 conference organisers will share in $315,000 in funding to maximise the inclusion and participation of people with disability.

Each conference organiser will receive a grant of up to $10,000 to support participation at disability-related conferences in 2022-23.

Read more about: Improving access to conferences for people with disability

Calling on recruits for new Winter Relief Workforce to help protect NDIS participants

Media release
The Hon. Bill Shorten MP, Minister for the NDIS and Government Services, is calling on qualified disability support workers to join a register to cover potential workforce shortages and critical shifts over the winter months.

Read more about: Calling on recruits for new Winter Relief Workforce to help protect NDIS participants