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Welcome! This FAQ page is here to help answer some of the most common questions about Aged Care, Disability Support, Nursing Care and Accommodation. Whether you're just starting out or looking for more detailed information, we've grouped everything into simple, bite-sized sections.

Use the filter buttons at the to top to jump between categories, or scroll through and click on a question to reveal the answer. You can also use the Search bar to quickly find what you're looking for.

NDIS & Disability Support

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (or NDIS) is an Australian government-funded program that helps Australians from 9 to 65 years old who are living with disabilities.

The NDIS pays for supports to help people with disabilities and helps to connect people to community support such as peer groups.

Read more about Applying for the NDIS here
The NDIA is the National Disability Insurance Agency that runs the NDIS. The NDIA makes decisions about whether someone is eligible to become an NDIS participant and, if so, how much funding they will receive.

Read more about the NDIA here
From 3 October 2024, people using the NDIS can only spend their funds on approved NDIS supports. There is also a list of things NDIS funding can't be used for.

The NDIS covers 37 types of support, including:
1. Help with personal care and daily tasks
2. Access to therapies, nursing and specialist services
3. Equipment, assistive technology, and home modifications

The supports available depend on each person's individual needs and goals.

Read more about the NDIS here
Getting started with the NDIS can feel confusing, but there are a few ways to apply:

1. Call the NDIS - You can phone the NDIS to ask about applying. They'll explain the steps and may connect you with a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) for extra help.
2. Download the Access Request Form - You can fill out the form yourself and send it to the NDIS. You'll need to provide details about your disability and supporting medical evidence.
3. Get Help from a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) - Most people are referred to an LAC, who can guide you through the process and help with the paperwork.

If you're unsure where to start, contacting the NDIS is often the easiest way to get support with your application.

Read more about the NDIS here
The application process has several steps and documents required. The first step is to contact the NDIS who will be able to explain the process and help you with completing the application form which is called the access request form.

Contact the NDIS and connect with your Local Area Support Coordinator.

If you meet the requirements and want to get the process started, the first step is to contact the NDIS and they will help connect you to a Local Area Coordinator.

Read more about the NDIS here
The NDIS will contact you to set up a plan meeting, which is over the phone. In the meeting, you will talk about goals, your disability support needs, and any updates to your personal information. You will also discuss how you will manage your plan, either self managed, plan managed, or managed by the NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency) who run the NDIS.

After the plan meeting, there is a waiting period and then you will be contacted by an NDIS planner either on email and over the phone to confirm the amount of funding available on your NDIS plan and what you're going to get.

Read more about the NDIS here

Aged Care & Support At Home

The new Support at Home Program provides funding to help older Australians live independently at home for longer, simplifying access to aged care services through a single, streamlined system. From 1 July 2025, Home Care Packages and the Short-Term Restorative Care program will now fall under the Support At Home Program. At a later date, the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) will also move under the Support at Home Program (no earlier than 1 July 2027).

Read more about the Support At Home program here
Support at Home introduces three categories of support to make it clearer what help you can get. The new service list covers clinical care, independence support, and everyday living tasks - from nursing and personal care to transport, cleaning, and meal preparation.

Read more about the Support At Home program here
Support at Home brings in a new Single Assessment System to make the process easier. Once assessed, you'll get a personalised support plan to share with your chosen provider. Approved aged care support services will be based on your aged care assessment and eligibility. After you have been assessed, you will receive a notice of decision and an individual support plan to use with your provider.

You can find out if you are eligible by visiting the assessment tool online at myagedcare.gov.au/assessment.

Read more about the Support At Home program here
Your care budget will now be set quarterly, covering three months at a time based on your assessment and needs. This offers more flexibility to adjust your support if things change. You'll manage your quarterly budget together with your aged care provider. Any unspent funds over $1,000 or 10% of your budget (whichever is greater) will roll over to the next quarter. Final budget amounts for everyone will be confirmed before the program officially starts.

Read more about the Support At Home program here
The new program introduces eight funding levels, offering more tailored support to replace the current 4 Home Care Package levels. Older Australians receiving Home Care Packages will be assigned a budget that aligns with their current care package level. New applicants to the Support At Home program will be assessed and given a classification and budget suited to their specific needs.

The indicative budget amounts are correct as at 3 February 2025. The final budget amounts for all participants will be confirmed before the start of the Support At Home program. Already on a Home Care Package? You'll be mapped to the equivalent new budget level. If your needs change, there's flexibility to reassess.

Read more about the Support At Home program here
For the first time, the Support At Home program introduces co-contributions but only if you can afford it. You'll only pay towards the services you receive, with the government covering the rest. Your contribution is based on a percentage of the service fees and depends on your income, assets, and pension status. Pensioners and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders will generally pay less than self-funded retirees. The Age Pension means test is used to work out how much you contribute, ensuring the system remains fair and affordable.

Read more about the Support At Home program here
Yes. If you're experiencing setbacks in managing daily tasks, you can apply for Restorative Support, offering up to 12 weeks of care such as physiotherapy, social work, nursing, and assistive technologies. There's also extra funding of $6,000 (up to $12,000 if needed) for allied health services and assistive equipment through the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (ATHM) Scheme.

Read more about the Support At Home program here
The Assistive Technology and Home Modifications Scheme provides extra support (separate from your main funding) to help you source equipment or modify your home for safety and independence. Your service provider can help arrange this if needed.

Read more about the Support At Home program here
Yes. The program offers End of Life Support, providing an extra $25,000 over 16 weeks for care at home if you have three months or less to live. This works alongside specialised palliative care services, not as a replacement.

Read more about the Support At Home program here
Care management fees are capped at 10% of your quarterly budget, meaning 90% of your funding goes directly towards your care and support services.

Read more about the Support At Home program here
The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) is a government-funded program for older Australians to access daily assistance. It provides funding for various care services, such as cleaning, transport to medical appointments, and gardening. Eligible Australians must be 65 and older (or 50 and older if you identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person). Many older Australians receive help at home through CHSP with daily assistance for low-level tasks. A Home Care Package might be suitable if a higher level of support and daily assistance is needed. To find out if you are eligible and what services you can access, visit the My Aged Care website for more information.

Read more about the Support At Home program here
Home Care Packages provide funding for people with more complex care needs who need a higher level of daily support. There are four levels of funding, and you can choose your preferred approved service provider. In comparison, CHSP offers lower-level support for older Australians who need help with a few daily tasks rather than ongoing, intensive care. From 1 July 2025, the new Support at Home program will replace Home Care Packages. Visit the My Aged Care website to check eligibility and available services.

Read more about the Support At Home program here
The first step is to check if you or your loved one is eligible by using the My Aged Care eligibility checker online or calling their helpline. You'll answer a few short questions to see if you can move forward with an assessment. If eligible, you can apply for a home assessment online - it takes about 15 to 20 minutes and requires personal details like your Medicare number. If applying for someone else, you'll need their consent. An assessor will then contact you to book a face-to-face visit. It's best to apply early, as the process can take time. You can check current waiting periods on the My Aged Care website.

Read more about the Support At Home program here

Accommodation, Respite & Supported Independent Living

SIL is a type of home and living support under the NDIS. It provides ongoing assistance with daily tasks to help individuals with disabilities live as independently as possible, whether they live alone or in a shared home with others.

SIL helps people build life skills, develop routines, and gain confidence in managing their own home, while still having support when needed.

Learn more about SIL
SIL provides support with daily living tasks for people with disability, either in shared accommodation or individual living. Support workers can assist with personal care, cooking, cleaning, medication management, community access, and even overnight care.

It's important to note that SIL covers support services only - not rent or accommodation costs.

Learn more about SIL
SIL can be tailored to suit your loved one's needs and preferences. Options include:
* Shared living with other NDIS participants
* Individual living with supports in your own home or rental
* SIL within Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) for higher support needs

The right option depends on the level of support needed and personal goals.

Learn more about SIL
SIL suits people aged 18+ with higher support needs who want to live independently but require help managing daily tasks. It's ideal for those needing regular or 24/7 support, either in shared or individual living.

Your loved one will need NDIS funding for SIL to access these supports.

Learn more about SIL
SIL covers support like personal care, help around the home, medication management, and community participation.

It does not cover rent, groceries, bills, transport, medical care, or personal expenses like holidays.

Learn more about SIL
To apply, the NDIS looks at factors like age, daily support needs (8+ hours per day), future living goals, independent living skills, and professional reports.

Supporting evidence from allied health professionals strengthens the application.

Learn more about SIL
SIL focuses on support services, while SDA provides the physical housing itself.

Learn more about SIL
SIL isn't just about receiving help, it's designed to teach and encourage independent living skills.

Learn more about SIL
Yes, in some cases. While SIL is often provided in shared homes, some people receive SIL while living alone, depending on their support needs.

Learn more about SIL
SIL is a long-term support for independent living.

Respite care (also called Short-Term Accommodation) is a temporary or short-term support that provides relief for families and carers.

Learn more about SIL

Nursing Care

You might need nursing care at home for a number of reasons including changes in your health needs and assessments required. At home nursing care can help prevent unnecessary hospital visits, reduce the risk of readmission, and delay the need to move into a nursing home by providing timely, professional nursing support where you’re most comfortable.

A change in health needs:

  • • After hospitalisation, to support your recovery at home.
  • • To help manage current ongoing conditions and prevent them from getting worse.
  • • To help manage continence and for catheter care.
  • • To support end of life palliative care if you or a loved one wishes to pass at home.

Or to help provide up to date health information for assessments:

  • • As part of an assessment, to support an NDIS plan review.
  • • To support a change in your assessment for a higher funding level in aged care.

Whether it’s a one-time visit, short-term help, or ongoing care, our goal is to provide support that helps you live well at home.

Our Clinical Nursing Care at Home service is all about working closely with you, your doctor, your Allied Health team, and your loved ones to create a care plan that’s just right for you. We focus on your wishes, your culture, and your surroundings, so you always feel at home while receiving the care you need.

Our clinical nursing services include:

  • • Clinical Assessments
  • • Wound Care
  • • Catheter Care
  • • Continence Reviews, Assessments & Reports
  • • End of Life Care

See how our nursing team made a difference in Xiaolin's life. Learn more about our Nursing Care services or contact the BCD care team on 1800 275 223.

Our Clinical Nursing assessments include:

  • • Clinical Assessments
  • • Continence Assessments
  • • Falls Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT)
  • • Psychogeriatric Assessment Scale (PAS)
  • • Mini Nutritional Assessment
  • • Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD)
  • • Diabetes management
  • • Review of Medication & Diagnosis
  • • Medication Administration
  • • Abbey Pain Scale
  • • Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia
  • • Oral Health
  • • Waterlow Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment
  • • Vital Signs Monitoring

Learn more on our Nursing Care page or contact the BCD care team on 1800 275 223.

Are nursing services covered under aged care or NDIS?

Nursing services may be covered under government funded aged care, this would be outlined in your Home Care package.

Clinical nursing services will be fully covered under the new Support At Home program that starts 1 July 2025.

You can learn more about Home Care packages and the new Support at Home program and services here.

If you access the NDIS, your plan will list the services and supports that can be funded. NDIS supports are designed to provide support for living with a disability.

There is a defined list of NDIS supports that are funded. If you are admitted to hospital, the health system is responsible for your hospital and post-acute care service.

For more information on the NDIS and what it covers, you can read our guide or visit ndis.gov.au.

Sources:

My Aged Care Helpline: 1800 200 422

My Aged Care Website: https://www.myagedcare.gov.au

NDIS: 1800 800 110

NDIS Website: https://www.ndis.gov.au

Department of Health and Aged Care: https://www.health.gov.au

NSW Ageing and Disability Commission: https://www.ageingdisabilitycommission.nsw.gov.au


Disclaimer

The information provided on this FAQ page is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal, financial, or professional advice. While we strive to ensure the accuracy of the content, we encourage you to visit the relevant government websites for the most up-to-date and official information.