Disability services & resources: families

Disability services, support and information

Ask Izzy – Disability Advocacy Finder
People with disability who need someone to speak up for them can use Ask Izzy to search for independent disability advocacy providers in their area.

Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA)
CYDA represents children and young people with disability and their families. The organisation provides information for families, raises public awareness and seeks to improve available services.

Disability Gateway
The Disability Gateway has information and services to help people with disability, their family, friends and carers, to find the support they need in Australia.

Healthy Start
Healthy Start is a national strategy that aims to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for children whose parents have learning difficulties. It brings together practitioners, managers, researchers and policy-makers to share knowledge, information, resources and expertise.

Livewire
Livewire is an online community for young people with disability or serious illness and their siblings. It has facilitated chat rooms, blogs and articles. Livewire also runs events and activities at hospitals.

MyTime
MyTime groups are for parents, carers or grandparents of children with disability or chronic medical conditions. The groups meet to socialise, discuss and learn more about the services and supports in their area. They’re facilitated by professionals with disability and parenting expertise.

Reimagine Australia
Reimagine Australia (formerly known as Early Childhood Intervention Australia) promotes early invention for infants and young children with developmental delay or disability. It runs workshops, seminars and conferences and has a chapter in each state and territory.

Siblings Australia
This organisation provides support for brothers and sisters of people with disability.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a single, national scheme that funds reasonable and necessary support to help people with disability reach goals throughout life. If you care for a child with disability, you might be able to get funding for disability services from the NDIS.

Information for carers of people with disability

Australian Government Department of Social Services – Disability and carers
On this webpage, you can find links to information about programs, services, benefits and payments for people with disability and their carers.

Carer Gateway
This Australian Government website has information about services and support for carers. Look for information on the website, use the service finder or call the national helpline – phone 1800 422 737, 8 am-6 pm, Monday-Friday.

Carers Australia
This organisation represents people who look after someone with disability or chronic illness, or an elderly person. The website has links to the carers association in each Australian state and territory. Carers can get information, advice and support from their local association.

Services Australia – Living with disability
This webpage has information about payments and services to help people living with illness, injury or disability. There’s also support for their families or carers.

Young Carers Network
Young carers are children and young people up to 25 years who help with care in families where someone has an illness, a disability, a mental health issue or an alcohol or other drug problem. This website has information for young carers, families and professionals. Respite services are available for young people who are at risk of not finishing school because they’re looking after a family member. For support and assistance, call 1800 242 636.

If your family has a child with disability, autism or other additional needs, you might like to visit our sections on Children with disability, Children with autism and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for information about disability, services and support.

State and territory government disability agencies

The NDIS supports people with disability around Australia. You can also visit the following government websites for information about disability services in your state or territory:

Australian Capital Territory: ACT Office for Disability
New South Wales: NSW Department of Communities and Justice – Disability and inclusion
Northern Territory: NT Government – Disability services
Queensland: Queensland Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships – Disability Connect Queensland
South Australia: Government of South Australia – Disability
Tasmania: Tasmanian Department of Communities – Community and Disability Services
Victoria: Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing – Disability
Western Australia: WA Department of Communities – Disability services

State autism associations provide information and support for parents and carers raising autistic children. Use our guide to state autism associations to find contact details for the autism association in your state or territory.