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Finding Support

All women and girls with disability have a right to ask for the support they need.

If you need a support worker or funding to help you with day to day life there are lots of ways you can ask for these. Some of the ways are listed on this page.

Watch the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) video (external website) about the NDIS:

Tip: Click the subtitles button in the bottom right hand corner of the video to turn closed captions on and off.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme  

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) supports eligible people with disability under 65 years of age. The NDIS aims to give you more choice and control over your life and how you are supported.

Choice
means that you have more than one option.

Control
means that you can ask for what you want, arrange your own supports, and make changes when you need to.

If you are eligible, the NDIS supports your right to make your own decisions about how you want to live your life, and have your needs met. This means you can choose to buy and use the disability-specific supports and services you need, and direct and employ your own support staff.

Learn more on our page about the NDIS.

National Standards for Disability Services

In Australia, there are six national standards that disability services must follow to support your right to make choices, have control and keep safe from violence, abuse and exploitation.

Read the National Standards for Disability Services (external link).

Photo of a woman with her arms around an elderly woman, who looks like her mother.

My Aged Care

If you are over 65 years of age and need some help around the house or think it’s time to start looking into aged care homes, there are resources and services that can help you.

The Australian Government has an online resource called
My Aged Care (external link)
that can help you find and access the services you need.

Support workers

Photo of a support worker helping a woman in a harness

support worker is someone you pay to help support your disability related needs. 

There are lots of organisations you can go through to find a support worker, but it is important to find one that is right for your needs.

Under an NDIS plan you can choose your own support workers and become the employer of your own staff. Sometimes this can be difficult as some organisations will have limited staff available. If you get a support worker that you are not happy with you can look for a new one or talk to the organisation they work for about what they can do.

One way that might help you to find a support worker that is right for you is to ask people you know for recommendations. For example, you could ask your friends, family or a doctor or therapist you have a good relationship with.

Tip: You can find more information about engaging your own supports and employing support staff on the Western Australia Individualised Services website (external link).

 

Find a support worker online

There are many websites you can use to find support workers. These include NDIS registered sites like Hire Up (external link) as well as independent websites like Mable (external link).

You can also find NDIS registered services and support workers on the National Disability Insurance Scheme website (external link).

Advocacy

Disability advocacy is work an individual, a group or an organisation does to stop a person with disability being treated badly, or to help a person with disability with any issues they may have.

It involves acting, speaking or writing to promote and protect the rights of people with disability in formal or informal processes. Advocates act in many ways including speaking to support services, organisations and employers, making complaints, helping to resolve issues and writing government submissions.

Some people with disability advocate for themselves. This is called self-advocacy.  

Finding an advocate

You can get someone else to advocate for you. Finding an independent disability advocate can be extremely helpful if you want to have your voice heard on an issue or are treated badly by someone and want to stand up for yourself.

Tip: You can find an advocate using the Australian Government Disability Advocacy Finder (external link).

Important Resources

Guides
Our Site Fact Sheet: Disability Advocacy
A fact sheet explaining what disability advocacy is.
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External website
1800RESPECT
A 24-hour confidential information, counselling and support service. Phone or chat online now.
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Guides
Zoom Meetings
Zoom is a program that allows you to run or join a meeting online. This document explains how to download Zoom, create an account, host a meeting and join a meeting.
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External website
ADACAS Decision Making Toolkit
An online toolkit to help with decision-making. Created by ACT Disability Aged Carer Advocacy Service (ADACAS).
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External website
Australian Government: Disability Gateway
A website to assist all people with disability, their families and carers to locate and access services across Australia
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External website
Inclusion Design Lab: It's My Choice Toolkit
A guide that empowers people to make choices about lifestyle, daily activities, support and citizenship.
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Publications
National Standards for Disability Services
This publication states the standards for disability services in Australia.
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Guides
WWDA: NDIS Fact Sheet
A fact sheet for women and girls with disability about the NDIS, what it is and how to apply.
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External website
Western Australia Individualised Services: Engaging Your Own Supports
Practical guides to help you with employing and managing your own support staff.
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Western Australia Individualised Services: Supported Decision Making
Information and downloadable guides about supported decision making for people wtih disability.
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External website
DSP Help
DSP Help is a free online resource to help people with disability to apply for the Disability Support Pension.
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Guides
Queerability Toolkit
A toolkit to support LGBTIQA+ individuals to apply, access and navigate the NDIS.
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Guides
WDV: Easy English Guide to Facebook
An Easy English guide to Facebook written by Women With Disabilities Victoria.
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Where to next:

External website
Disability Advocacy Finder
A website that can help you find a disability advocate.
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Centrelink
Information about government support payments to help you with everyday living costs.
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Beyond Blue
Beyond Blue provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health.
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Independent Living Centres Australia
Information about products and services to help people remain independent and improve their quality of life.
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External website
Australian Guardianship Law
A website with information about the guardianship laws in Australia.
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External website
Australian Guardianship Administration Council
A website with resources about guardianship.
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External website
My Aged Care
A government website to help people aged 65 and older to find the support they need.
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External website
Disability Support Guide
A website to help people with disability connect to support workers and services.
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Citizens Advice Bureau
A website with information on topics like appointing a guardian and writing a will.
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External website
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
If you have a problem with a registered NDIS provider, you can make a complaint on this website.
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Hire Up
A NDIS registered online platform for people with disability to find, hire and manage support workers.
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External website
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
Information about the NDIS for eligible people with disability as well as their supporters and services.
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External website
Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA)
The Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA) is a national organisation that represents disability advocacy organisations throughout Australia. On this website you can find information about disability advocacy and where to find an advocate.
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Welfare Rights Centre
The Welfare rights centre is a organisation that provides advice to people about their social security rights, including information about Centrelink and other government supports.
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Every Australian Counts
Every Australian Counts is the grassroots campaign that fought for the introduction of the NDIS – and won. It is now a community of hundreds of thousands of people with disability, their families and carers and those who support them.
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Black Dog Institute: Healthy Mind
An Easy Read website with information and resources to support your mental health and well-being.
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Careseekers
Careseekers is an online platform that connects individuals directly to disability support workers and aged care workers to suit their needs.
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WayAhead: Understanding Anxiety
A website to help you learn about anxiety, get support and find a support group in your area!
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Compass: Guiding Action on Elder Abuse
A national website to help you understand, navigating and get help with elder abuse in Australia.
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NDSP Plan Managers
NDSP partners you with a Plan Management specialist to help you with your NDIS journey. The role of your Plan Manager is to assist you by paying your supports to providers from your NDIS funds.
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Care About
Care About can help you to find the right provider to suit your care and support needs. You can use Care About to find Aged Care, Disability, Home Care and NDIS providers.
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