Children and wellbeing
Disability, caring and accessible support
Find the right starting point for disability services, caring responsibilities and accessible employment.
Different systems can help with different needs
Disability support, health care, school adjustments, Centrelink carer payments and the National Disability Insurance Scheme have separate rules. A diagnosis does not automatically qualify someone for every payment or for the NDIS. Ask the responsible service to assess the relevant needs.
The Disability Gateway helps you find information and services. Carer Gateway offers support for unpaid carers, including people caring for family members. These services are distinct from an income-support claim.
Ask for help that fits your family
Consider support for your child and for your own caring responsibilities. Ask about communication, transport, respite, school access and practical help. Tell services what makes appointments difficult, and ask whether an interpreter, accessible format or advocate can help.
NDIS access and plan decisions need individual assessment. If you are not eligible, there may be mainstream or community services. This guide points to official routes rather than attempting to decide access or interpret a plan.
Keep work and payment questions separate
Ask Services Australia about caring-related payments and how work affects them. Check your employment coverage before relying on flexible-work rights. Inclusive Employment Australia is an employment-service route for eligible people with disability, injury or health conditions; it is not a general cash grant.
Changing care arrangements can affect several systems. Ask each service what evidence it needs and how to record changes safely. Legal authority, representative access and consent are separate questions if another person manages records.
Your next step
Use the official links above, or find local services in your state.
Sources for this guide
- Find disability information and services (external website) Reviewed 5 October 2026
- Find support for unpaid carers (external website) Reviewed 5 October 2026
- Find other services and supports alongside the NDIS (external website) Reviewed 5 October 2026
- Check Inclusive Employment Australia (external website) Reviewed 5 October 2026
Related guides
Wording reviewed 5 October 2026. Numerical rules have separate verification dates on Sources and updates.