Having a child with a disability can be expensive. There can be extra expenses such as therapy, aids and equipment. There are a number of funding options available. Some of these are listed below:
- Caring for a child under 16 yrs of age – Carer Payment (caring for a child under 16 years) can provide you with income support if you are unable to support yourself through substantial paid employment while you are providing care to a child aged under 16 years with a severe disability or severe medical condition: http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/carer_child.htm)
- Caring for a person 16 years or over – Carer Payment (caring for a person 16 years or over) can provide you with income support if you are unable to support yourself through substantial paid employment because you are caring for someone aged 16 years or over on a daily basis who has a severe disability, medical condition or who is frail aged: http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/carer_adult.htm)
- Carer allowance (caring for a person 16 years or over) is a supplementary payment that may be available if you are a parent or carer who provides daily care and attention for a person aged 16 years or over with a disability, medical condition or who is frail aged: http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/carer_allow_adult.htm
- If you qualify for a Carer payment, you may be entitled to other payments and benefits: http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/carer_adult_benefits.htm
- Information about the Helping Children with Autism Package: Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA). The Helping Children with Autism package is to help address the need for support and services for children with ASD. The package includes access to Autism advisors, funding for early intervention services, playgroups and family workshops: http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/disability/progserv/people/HelpingChildrenWithAutism/Pages/default.aspx
- Medicare rebates for therapy – Access up to 5 private therapy sessions per calendar year (eg. 4 occupational therapy sessions, 1 session with a speech-language pathologist) – ask your GP. “The allied health initiative allows chronically ill people being managed by their GP under a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Plan to access Medicare rebates for allied health services”: http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/incentives/allied-health.jsp
- The ‘Better Start’ initiative: Children up to 6 years old who are diagnosed with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, fragile X syndrome, or moderate or greater vision or hearing impairment (including deaf blindness), can be registered for Better Start services. They are able to access early intervention services—such as speech pathology, audiology, occupational therapy, orthoptics, physiotherapy and psychology: http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/disability/progserv/people/betterstart/Pages/better_start_early_intervention.aspx
MORE Mueller Videos
