Access the right funding solution for your situation.

Finding help for you and your family's unique needs can be tricky. 

Now that you've found Windermere, there are many options you may be able to access that can provide you with additional funding to support your service delivery.

• National Disability Insurance Scheme
• Private Health Insurance
• Funding from Government Departments
• Medicare
• Childcare

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National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

The NDIS is a new kind of funding which aims to help more people with disability and their families get access to the support they need. It gives people living with disability, their families and carers, better choice and control over where, when and how they receive their disability services. 

NDIS is currently accessible to people:

• With Australian residency
• Under 65 years of age
• Who may require support from a person or equipment to do everyday activities
• And to children with a disability or those children under the age of 7 with an identified developmental delay

Early Intervention (ages 0-6 years)

The Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) approach supports children aged from 0-6 years (up to their 7th birthday) who have a developmental delay or disability and their family/carers.

Your child will receive funding if their condition is listed on the Permanent Impairment/Functional Capacity List D.

If your child’s condition is not on this list, they may still be able to access funding by completing an NDIS Access Request Form and including details of their diagnosis as well as evidence of the impact on your child’s life. This evidence should include the impact on their mobility, communication, social interaction, learning, self-care and self-management and should be provided by a specialist or health professional.

Please be aware that the NDIS will not fund diagnosis.  

NDIS (ages 7 - 65 years)

You (or your child) are eligible for funding if your condition is listed on the Permanent Impairment/Functional Capacity List A.

If your (or your child's) condition does not appear on this list, you may still be able to access funding by completing an NDIS Access Request Form and including details of your diagnosis as well as evidence of the impact on your life. This evidence should include the impact on their mobility, communication, social interaction, learning, self-care and self-management and should be provided by a specialist or health professional.

Please be aware that the NDIS will not fund diagnosis.  

Find out more about the NDIS or phone the main switch to speak to one of the team to see how you can access this funding.

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Private Health Insurance

Allied Health Services

Therapy sessions including Psychology, Physiotherapy, Speech & Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy can be claimed through Private Health Extras cover. The rebate amount per session and the number of sessions covered is dependent on the individual’s level of cover. The rebate for assessments is usually higher than that for therapy sessions.

Before commencing therapy, please check with your health fund to ensure that the relevant Allied Health service is included in your cover and the amount you are eligible to claim for each individual assessment and therapy session.

Counselling

Counselling sessions may also be covered under your health fund. The rebate amount per session and the number of sessions covered is dependent on the individual’s level of cover.

Check with your private health fund for other services you may be covered for.

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Funding from Government

Helping Children with Autism

Helping Children with Autism is an Australian Government initiative that provides up to $12,000 in funding, up to a maximum of $6,000 per financial year. Families living in outer regional or remote areas may be eligible for an additional one-off support payment of $2,000 to assist with additional expenses such as travel and home visits associated with accessing services.

Funding can be used to pay for early intervention services including Psychology, Speech & Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy for children with the following confirmed diagnoses:

• Autism
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Autistic Disorder
• Asperger's Disorder/Syndrome
• Childhood Disintegrative Disorder; or
• Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)

To access HCWA funding, children must be diagnosed and be seen by an Autism Advisor prior to their 6th birthday. Families will need to access funding before their child turns 7. 

Windermere is a registered provider of HCWA services. HCWA will be replaced with NDIS as this becomes available.

For more information visit Amaze

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Better Start for children with disability

Better Start is an Australian Government initiative that provides up to $12,000 in funding, up to a maximum of $6,000 per financial year. Families living in outer regional or remote areas may be eligible for an additional one-off support payment of $2,000 to assist with additional expenses such as travel and home visits associated with accessing services.  Funding can be used to pay for early intervention services such as Psychology, Physiotherapy, Speech & Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy for children with disabilities. 

Better Start is for children with a confirmed diagnosis of the following conditions:

• Angelman syndrome
• Cerebral Palsy
• CHARGE syndrome
• Cornelia de Lange syndrome
• Cri du Chat syndrome
• Down syndrome, including those with mosaic Down syndrome
• Fragile X syndrome, Fragile X syndrome with full mutation includes mosaicism
• Kabuki syndrome
• Prader-Willi syndrome
• Smith-Magenis syndrome
• Williams syndrome and
• Rett's disorder

Also included, with the following thresholds:

• Hearing Impairment in both ears 
• Microcephaly
• Vision Impairment 
• Deafblindess (diagnosis made by a specialist multidisciplinary team which includes an ophthalmological and audiological evaluation).

To access Better Start, children with an eligible diagnosis must meet all registration criteria and be registered prior to their 6th birthday. Families will need to access funding before their child turns 7. 

Windermere is a registered provider of Better Start services. Better Start will be replaced with NDIS support as this becomes available.

For more information visit Better Start. 

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Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS)

Continence Aids (CAPS) Continence funding can be covered under a child’s NDIS plan. If they are not eligible for the NDIS they can still apply for CAP funding.

To be eligible, a child must be an Australian permanent resident or citizen and be over 5 years old with permanent or severe bladder or bowel incontinence.

Windermere is a registered provider of NDIS services. 

For more information visit the Department of Human Services CAPS.

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Concession & Health Care Card

A variety of health care and concession cards are available based on a carer’s situation (Foster Child Health Care Card, Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card).

The most widely accessible card is the Health Care Card which provides help with the cost of prescription medicine under the PBS, Australian Government funded medical services and access to government concessions.

To be eligible you must be:

• A permanent resident of Australia, residing in Victoria
• Must meet income and asset tests

For more information visit the Department of Human Services Concession & Health Care Card. 

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Companion Card

The Companion Card is for people with a significant, permanent disability, who are unable to access most community activities and venues without attendant care support. It is available with or without a NDIS plan.

To be eligible you must be:

• A permanent resident of Australia, residing in Victoria
• Able to demonstrate a significant, permanent disability
• Able to demonstrate that due to the impact of the disability, they are unable to participate at most community activities without attendant care support
• Able to demonstrate that the need for this level of attendant care is life-long.   

Windermere is a registered provider of NDIS services. 

For more information visit the Department of Social Services Companion Card. 

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Carers Allowance & Carer Payment (Child) Carers Allowance

A supplementary payment for carers who provide additional daily care and attention for someone with a disability or who is frail aged. This payment is not income or assets tested and can be paid in addition to wages or other Centrelink payments.

Carer Payment (Child): An income support payment for people who personally provide constant care in the home of someone with a severe disability, illness or who is frail aged. This payment is income and assets tested.

For more information visit the Department of Health & Human Services Carers Allowance and Carer Payment (Child).  

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Child Disability Assistance Payment &
Youth Disability Supplement

If you are caring for a child with a disability or serious illness and already receive the Carers Allowance, then you should automatically receive the Child Disability Assistance payment. This is an annual payment.

If you are under 21 with a disability or serious illness and already receive the Disability Support Pension, then you should automatically receive the Youth Disability Supplement. This is an annual payment. 

For more information visit the Department of Health & Human Services Child Disability Assistance Payment and Youth Disabilty Supplement.  

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Kindergarten Inclusion Support

The Kindergarten Inclusion Support (KIS) program enhances a kindergarten’s capacity to provide a program that is responsive to the individual abilities, interests and needs of children with a disability or developmental delay with ongoing high support needs or children with complex medical needs in an inclusive kindergarten environment.

The application for KIS assistance must address the specific eligibility criteria. It is important to note that it is the kindergarten, not the parent, that applies for assistance.

For more information visit the Department of Education's Kindergarten Inclusion Support pages. 

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Kindergarten Inclusion Support - Short Term Assistance

The Kindergarten Inclusion Support Short Term Assistance enhances a kindergarten’s capacity to plan and provide for the inclusion of children with a diagnosed disability or developmental delay.

Support will contribute to the implementation of a short-tem inclusion action plan for up to 10 weeks. There is a maximum amount of $2,850 available for each child.

The application for Short Term KIS assistance must address the specific eligibility criteria. It is important to note that it is the kindergarten, not the parent, that applies for assistance.

For more information visit the Department of Education's Kindergarten Inclusion Support pages.

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Medicare 

Better Access to Mental Health

Counselling services can be accessed under the Better Access initiative. Through referral from a GP or medical practitioner, you can receive up to 10 sessions under the rebate. 

For more information visit the Department of Health.

Better Start for Children with Disability Medicare Rebate 
Children aged 0-13 years with an eligible disability can be referred by a GP, specialist physician or consultant physician for the following Allied Health services:

• Up to 4 diagnostic/assessment services from Allied Health professionals to assist the referring practitioner with diagnosis or to contribute to a child's treatment and management plan (for a child under 13 years of age).
• Up to 20 treatment services from an Allied Health professional (for a child under 15 years of age, providing a treatment and management plan is in place before their 13th birthday).
  

These are the total number of services available to each child through the Better Start Medicare program – not an annual entitlement.

Only one disability treatment and management plan can be prepared for a child in their lifetime. Each referral is valid for a maximum of 10 sessions; on completion of these sessions, the professional will provide a report to the referrer who will then decide on the need for further sessions

For more information visit the Department of Health.

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Helping Children With Autism Medicare Rebate

Children aged 0 -13 years undergoing assessment or treatment for Autism can be referred by a consultant paediatrician or psychiatrist for the following Allied Health services:

• Up to 4 diagnostic/assessment services from allied health professionals, to assist the referring practitioner with diagnosis or to contribute to a child's treatment and management plan (for a child under 13 years of age).
• Up to twenty treatment services from an allied health professional (for a child under 15 years of age, providing a treatment and management plan is in place before their 13th birthday). 

These are the total number of services available to each child and not an annual entitlement.

Only one disability treatment and management plan can be prepared for a child in their lifetime. Each referral is valid for a maximum of 10 sessions; on completion of these sessions, the professional will provide a report to the referrer who will then decide on the need for further sessions.

For more information visit the Department of Health 

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Medicare Chronic Management Plan

There are two types of plans available:

• GP Management Plan
• Team Care Arrangements

There is no eligibility criteria, however these plans are for medical conditions that are present (or likely) to be present for at least six months or more.

For more information visit the Department of Health

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Childcare 

From 2 July 2018, the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) replaced the Child Care Rebate (CCR) and Child Care Benefit (CCB) schemes. The government pays the CCS to us and we pass it on to you as a fee reduction.

The amount of CCS you receive is calculated by the Government and is based on:

• the type of childcare service you access (must be an approved childcare provider)
• your combined family income
• an activity test.

Criteria for the activity test includes the length of activity you undertake and the different types of activity you do such as study, paid or unpaid work.

Eligible families may also be able to claim additional support through the Child Care Safety Net.

To receive CCS you need to register through the Australian Government’s MyGov website and provide an estimate of your work activity and income.

To can find out more about the CCS go to www.education.gov.au

For further information visit www.mychild.gov.au or chat to our Early Childhood team on 1300 946 337.