In Australia, elder care ranges from basic home Support to full-time care in an aged care facility. 

Although most elderly care is provided in homes (or other communities), people prefer to stay close to their families for as long as possible. Still, residential care represents the most significant share of aged care spending. 

The care needs of older people may become more complex as they age since they often require help with household chores, such as gardening and shopping.

Depending on a person’s needs, temporary and permanent care options are available. 

In this program, individuals are provided with entry-level services to support their independence at home and in the community.

During 2019–20, about 245,000 people lived permanently in residential aged care facilities. Home care clients represented approximately 840,000 members of the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).  

Understanding the requirement of the elderly care, Wise Choice provides aged care and NDIS services. The services provided are explained below: 

 

 

NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) in Australia  

 

Introducing Australia’s first national disability support scheme, NDIS. Through NDIS, individuals can receive direct funding.

In the NDIS, eligible individuals with intellectual, physical, sensory, cognitive, and psychosocial disabilities receive supporting services.  

Special needs children and people with disabilities may also qualify for early intervention support.

NDIS provides funds to eligible participants based on their individual needs in an effort to help them improve their skills and independence over time. 

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) aims to provide support to disability, and families.

A joint effort made by the Australian Government including territory governments and participating states. The NDIS was introduced across Australia from 2016, July.  

The number of people with disabilities in Australia is estimated to be 4.3 million.  

Over the next five years, approximately 500,000 Australians with permanent and significant disabilities will receive financial support from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Most of them will be receiving disability support for the first time. 

 

NDIS: What is it?

 

• National: The NDIS is being rolled out gradually in all states and territories. 
• Disability: Those with intellectual, physical, sensory, cognitive, or psychosocial disabilities are eligible for the NDIS. Those with disabilities or children with developmental delays may also be eligible for early intervention support. 
• Insurance: The NDIS offers all Australians peace of mind that if they, their child or loved one acquire a severe and permanent disability, they will be able to receive the support they require. 
• Scheme: Unlike welfare, the NDIS is not a government program. As people gain skills and become more independent, the NDIS is designed to help them achieve their goals. 

As part of the NDIS, people with disabilities can access a variety of community services, including doctors, sports clubs, support groups, libraries, and schools, as well as assistance from local governments. 

Australian and state/territory governments jointly fund and oversee the national disability insurance scheme.  

State and territory governments will no longer provide disability support services as they do now under the scheme.

On behalf of the Australian government, the NDIS is administered by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). 

What is the purpose of the establishment of NDIS? 

 

The NDIS provides participants with the option of managing their funds, or it is possible to nominate another person to oversee their support, when they receive it and who provides it.  

Access to community and other government services is still available to those not eligible for the NDIS.

With the NDIS, people with disabilities, their families and carers can access information about community services and other government assistance. 

Who is a NDIS participant?

A participant is someone who meets these requirements. Participants in the NDIS planning process may also include caregivers and family members. 

They are required to create an individual plan listing their goals. Getting a job, meeting new people, or volunteering are achievable goals. Funding for these goals is available through the NDIS. 

NDIS availability inside Australia  

All Australians have access to the NDIS. Information about the NDIS in your state or territory can be found on the NDIS website. 

 

NDIS: Eligibility for the NDIS scheme

Disabilities can mean a variety of things. Access to the NDIS has certain requirements. The following criteria must be met to avail the NDIS funding: 

 

1. Eligibility checklist

You can get help understanding the NDIS, applying, and connecting with other government and community support if you are between the ages of 7 and 65. 

A child’s early childhood partner can support children under seven years old and assist the family in determining whether the NDIS is appropriate for their child. 

 

2. Age requirement

The age to avail the NDIS scheme plan is between 7 to 65. Any individual below 7 years or above 65 years cannot avail the NDIS scheme. However, MyAged Care applies over the age of 65.  

 

3. Residence Requirements

No general individual can avail the support. The NDIS is available to: 

• Australian citizens:  

The only way you can live in Australia is to have Australian citizenship or one of two types of visas. 

• A permanent visa  

However, if you reside in Australia, you need to show evidence of residence. You need to give permit to the NDIS agency to access the Centerlink record that shows the evidence of residence in Australia.  

The consent permits the NDIS agency to access the residential information. From the applicant end, the following question needs to be answered: 

The place of residence 

The existence of the family  

The work status in Australia  

The property or assets information in Australia  

The time duration spent outside Australia  

• A special category visa (available for the New Zealand citizens).  

Under the Migration Act, New Zealand citizens residing in Australia under the non-protected Special Visa category are considered as the temporary residents. 

Any children born from the New Zealand parents holding SCV are denied from getting the Australian citizenship, so they cannot avail the NDIS scheme until they attain the age of 10 years and get eligible for applying the Australian citizenship.  

 

4. Disability requirements

 

The NDIS is available to only those who have disability caused by permanent impairment. The situation can be cognitive, intellectual, neurological, or psychological. 

One also need to be disability specific supporting the everyday daily activities.  

5. Early intervention requirements

The eligibility shall get tested where the supports can get reduced for the future needs for the support.  

The family members support also gets tested when taking the NDIS support from the local coordinator.  

You can check the eligibility for the NDIS plan here. 

 

NDIS Support Fund: Types of budgets available for NDIS

 

The NDIS funds everyday activities that make life easier. Typically, most NDIS participants’ plans include Core supports, the main category of NDIS support. NDIS participants may receive the following types of support: 

 

• personal daily activities 
• involving transportation that facilitates participation in everyday social, economic, and community activities 
• Help in the workplace that enables a participant to be successful in getting or keeping employment on the open or supported employment market 
• through therapeutic support, including behaviour support 
• services and assistance with household tasks to ensure a comfortable home life 
• assistance to a participant in determining whether they need aids and equipment, setting it up and training it 
• during the home modification process 
• relating to mobility equipment 
• and modifications to vehicles. 

  

Supports not funded by NDIS in Australia  

 

Participants with eligibility for NDIS funding receive funding based on their needs.

NDIS participants who need daily support are included in the core support budget, whereas participants who need capital-building support focus on improving their lifestyle conditions. 

It is not simple to understand how the NDIS operates. Providing NDIS support is the responsibility of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). 

Under the NDIS Act, rules and regulations govern the use of NDIS funding. Before taking advantage of NDIS support, one should perform a NDIS plan review. 

The NDIS Act rules out the support for the participants under the following circumstances: 

• Community service or the responsibility of another government agency 
• Not related to the disability of the individual 
• The cost of Living that is unrelated to support needs, or 

• Poses a risk to others or causes harm to the participant. 

 

Types of Core Support available for the NDIS scheme  

 

Depending on the support you receive from your family, friends, and community and government agencies, your funding will be based on what is deemed to be ‘reasonable’ and ‘necessary’ to pursue your goals. 

In a NDIS plan, you may receive funding for three distinct types of support budgets. 

There are diverse needs for each person living with a disability. As part of the NDIS, your funding is designed to provide you with the support you need for your disability and help you reach your goals. 

 

Core support budget  

 

You have four support categories in your Core budget: 

• Daily activities: Related to assistance with self-care throughout the day.  
• Community participation: Provide support to engage the NDIS participants towards recreational or social activities.  

• Transportation: Transportation allowances to the NDIS participants for easy commute.  
• Consumables: Purchase everyday consumables items.  

The NDIS participants can use the core budget to allocate support to category to purchase supports under another category.

One can use the fund to: 

• Pay compensation  
• Take SDA (Special Disability Accommodation) 
• Therapy or transportation facilities 
• Assistance in Shared Living 

 

Capital Support Budget  

 

The budget is assigned to take up supportive approaches such as home modifications, or assistive technology. Unlike the core support budget, one cannot use the allocated budget for other purpose.  

The capital support budget includes two categories: 

• Home modifications  
• Assistive technology  

This support includes personal care, wheelchair or vehicle modifications or bathroom rails. 

 

Capacity building  

The budget is spread across eight categories. One can choose it according to your goal plans. You can decide how you can spend the fund, but you cannot decide the allocation of fund.  

The Capacity Building includes support to the following categories: 

• Daily activity (aimed for capacity building) 

• Choice & control (planning support and training) 
• Health & Well-being (physical fitness) 
• Employment (Counselling sessions) 
• Relationship building (Support towards living a positive life) 
• Home living (SDA/SIL accommodation) 

• Community participation (Skill development, Social and Recreational participation) 
• Learning (Moving from the high school to university) 

 

NDIS Plan: What does it look like? 

 

Plans for the NDIS vary for each participant, however the examples below will give you an idea about what to expect and how your own Plan may look. 

The NDIS has been described as an extremely helpful program. We hear from many people who wish they had prepared better for their planning discussions.

Here are some examples of NDIS plans that Wise Choice has built, so you can understand what a good plan is and what each part is supposed to cover.

You can use these examples to learn more about NDIS plans. 

Depending on your own preferences and needs, every NDIS plan will be different for you.

You will receive a NDIS plan based on your personal circumstances, goals, and resources. 

As the NDIS plan appears from time to time, the examples here are consistent with what the NDIA uses for headings and sections. 

We have developed some other NDIS plan resources based on the feedback you provided, in addition to looking at these examples. Link to Wise Choice NDIS planning resources. 

The NDIS plan includes name, NDIS number, contact details, NDIS commencement & ending date and NDIS review date.  

Before that, one needs to prepare the plan, meeting checklist, NDIS plan & budget, Goal setting, proper NDIS fund management, Compensation and Receiving approved plan.  

 

NDIS: Home & Living support  

 

NDIS participants can live independently with its assistance. A home and living goals discussion can be part of the planning conversation between the participants and their families.

The NDIS will provide participants with support funded by the program and the support they will require through their housing system. 

Among the daily living expenses of NDIS participants are rent, groceries, utilities, phones, and the internet.

The same is true for general household items, such as beds, refrigerators, and cooking utensils. NDIS may pay for these costs in certain limited circumstances. 

 

Among the services provided by the NDIS are: 

 

Special Disability Accommodation (SDA) 

 

Specifically designed for those with severe functional impairment or high support needs, special disability accommodation (SDA) refers to a range of housing options.  

The accessibility features of SDA dwellings help residents live more independently, while other supports are provided more effectively and safely. 

 

Participant eligibility: 

• Severe disabilities or need for very intensive support. 
• Needs to satisfy the NDIS’s criteria for specialist disability accommodation. 

 

Pricing of SDA (Support Independent Living) 

 

Price guides and other pricing arrangements that apply to Specialist Disability Accommodation under the NDIS are summarized in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements for Specialist Disability Accommodation (previously the Price Guide for Specialist Disability Accommodation). 

The prices for the SDA are subject to change as per the Australian Government, official website can be checked by the individuals for SDA pricing.  

 

Support Independent Living (SIL) 

 

Rent and groceries are not considered part of supported independent living funding.  

People with higher needs for support, who require constant care at home, can live independently with supported independent living. 

A person with a disability may need assistance with daily tasks, such as taking care of themselves or preparing meals. Providing such aid enables you to maintain your independence as much as possible. 

Living independently with support is one way to remain in your home. 

People with disabilities with higher support needs are better suited to support independent living. 

That means you require a great deal of assistance throughout the day. You will also need help during the night. 

When you live with other NDIS participants, you can receive support for independent living, while even if  you live alone, you get supported for independent living. 

 

Eligibility for SIL (Support Independent Living) 

 

SIL funding is awarded based on the criteria that “reasonable and necessary supports” are provided. Eligibility criteria include those listed below: 

• Assign a support coordinator to prepare a report on the Identifying Housing Solutions program. 
• Documentation demonstrating that you require 24/7 support. The Functional Assessment Report (FAR) is prepared by an Allied Health professional. 

 

Pricing of SIL (Support Independent Living) 

 

Support services in a shared living environment include assistance with, or supervision of, daily tasks, with an emphasis on developing the skills of each individual to live as autonomously as possible. 

Individual needs are met by each person living in the shared arrangement.  

The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits list the items listed under the Supporting Independent Living category as Assistance with Daily Life. 

  

Individualised Living Options

 

Choosing the proper ILO funding depends on your preferences, strengths, support needs, informal networks and community connections. 

The goal of ILO is to support you in living in a way that is most suited to your personality. You will get a personal ILO and funding tailored to your needs.  

An ILO is a set of supportive services that lets you choose how and where to live according to what fits you best. You do not receive funding for housing under an ILO.  

With the Individualised Living Options, you can design a complete support package allowing one to live in the way you choose. One can also explore the living way with the host and family.  

Individualised living option supports the required service one needs, but it is not a group home unlike SDA or SIL where the participants are allowed to choose their living partner.

It is also not a shared accommodation and does not reflect the participants preferences.  

 

Support for individualised living options is typically integrated into your plan in two phases. 

 

1.Individualised living option Stage 1 –

First, you must explore and design your support package. The mission is to help you determine where you wish to live, who you want to live with, how much support you will need and whom you wish to support. 

 

2. Individualised living option Stage 2 Supports –

Put in place the supports that are part of your individualised living option. The support can be monitored and adjusted as needed as your needs change. It is only after Stage 1 that we consider this. 

 

Eligibility for Independent Living Options (ILO)  

 

Your age must be 18 or older to participate in ILO. At least 6 hours of support are needed at home each day, but normally not all day long.

There are many potential options available to you as you examine your home and living needs. 

Your NDIS plan will include individualised living option supports.

Make sure you discuss with your provider how much money they will be claiming from your allocated funding while your individualised living option supports are being created.

While transitioning to individualised living options, you may pay a reduced amount. 

 

Pricing for Independent Living Options (ILO)

 

Using your funded support to live the way that is most comfortable for you is the goal of an individualized living option.  

Assistance is provided with personal hygiene, skills development, or household chores such as cooking or shopping.

Friends and family may also offer service. Individual support is provided. The apartments will be designed to make you feel at home and a part of the community and promote independence. 

Participants can receive fund for Individual Living Options up to $3000 or $5000 or $10,000 based on the individual requirement.  

 

Short term accommodation (STA)

 

Short-term accommodation, including respite, provides support when you must live away from home for a brief period. Your carers and you can use short-term accommodation funding to support respite.  

 

Your provider and you should monitor and review your individualised living arrangement regularly once it is in place.  

 

Support will be set up and there will be people to support you. Your provider will assist you with finding people to support you. Individualised living options will be paid for by your provider.  

 

Eligibility for Short Term Accommodation (STA) 

 

Please consult with your Support Coordinator, LAC (Local Area Coordination), Early Childhood Partner, or planner if you would like to learn more about Short Term Accommodation.  

The coordinator will reassess your plan (review) if you need Short Term Accommodation. 

One can include STA in their NDIS plan through a proper documentation received from the Occupational Therapist. However, if the participants are searching for longer support, they need to include in their SIL plan.  

Short-term accommodation for children is available only if it meets the reasonable and necessary criteria.  

Children’s needs and their families or caregivers determine what is best for them. All family members will be considered. Parents and children will also receive information about other funds available to help. 

 

Pricing for Short Term Accommodation (STA) 

 

NDIS funds the STA under Category 1 “Assistance with Daily Living”. The service includes accommodation unit with facility, meal, activities, and personal care support.  

 

Medium term accommodation (MTA)

 

Accommodations for a medium period so you always have a place to live if you cannot move into your long-term home due to the lack of disability support.  

 

Eligibility for Medium Term Accommodation (MTA) 

 

A home you are going to move into and a plan to move elsewhere in the medium term are requirements for eligibility. Usually medium term accommodation is available for up to 90 days (about 3 months). 

 

Pricing for Medium Term Accommodation (MTA) 

 

The rental of that accommodation is covered by the medium term accommodation funding only for up to 90 days (about 3 months).  

Individuals still need to pay for additional requirements such as food, internet, electricity and other usual living costs and bills. 

Accommodation funding is intended to cover only the costs of the accommodation. During your stay there, you will not receive disability support. 

If you stay in medium-term accommodation, you can utilise other supports in your plan.  

 

Assistive living technology  

 

A disability-related assistive technology device or equipment allows you to perform tasks you cannot perform due to your disability. 

You may also benefit from assistive technology if it helps you do something more safely or efficiently. 

A provider must provide reasonable and necessary NDIS support. 

 

Home modifications explained  

 

Home modifications are changes to a participant’s home’s structure, layout, or fittings, which allow them to move comfortably around and safely access their home. 

Usually, home modification can cost over $30000, but one needs to engage the NDIS Registered Building Works Project Manager for the modification.  

NDIA funds standard home fitting and modifications. For further improvement one can add fund for more expensive outcomes.  

Aged Care Australia: Accessing every aged care service  

 

Funders and regulators of the Aged Care system are primarily the Australian Government.

The Australian government provided approximately 95 per cent of all funding for aged care services in 2014-15, a total of $15.8 billion.  

Aged care services are for Australians over 65 who can no longer live independently at home (and Indigenous Australians over 50 years of age).

There are many dissimilar sources of care for older adults, including care at home, in the community, and residential aged care facilities (nursing homes). 

 

The following is a quick guide to aged care in Australia. Provides information about the types of care available, and the ways to access subsidised care.  

 

Providing support for aged care in Australia  

 

As the ageing process starts it becomes difficult to complete the everyday works without any assistance. So, one seeks for independence with a proper assistance in cleaning, cooking, and regular activities.  

 

Aged care support worker along with my aged care find a provider assists older people with required support in their own home which includes:  

• Everyday living support with shopping, cooking, households, and social functions.  

• Equipment’s such as walking frames 
• Accommodation (in the case were living alone is not possible) 
• Personal care (grooming, eating, dressing) 
• Home modification (adding ramps) 
• Health care (medical and nursing care) 

My aged care service providers aim to help the elderly in connecting with the community, provide independency, meet every cultural and social aspects with health and safety.  

 

Types of aged care support in Australia  

 

The Australian government subsidies aged care services. According to the Act, subsidised care is provided through the home, residential, and flexible care.  

Amounts paid to providers through funding agreements (rather than through the framework described in the Act) include home support and Indigenous flexible care.

Here are brief descriptions and statistics of each type of care. 

 

– Residential care  

 

Residential