Funding Information
In Australia, the government provides funding to some people who have a disability as well as some people who are elderly and need assistance with daily living.
Disability Funding
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is the way of providing support to Australians with disability, their families and carers. The NDIS supports people under the age of 65 with a permanent and significant disability with the reasonable and necessary supports they need to live an ordinary life.
The NDIS helps people with disability to:
- Access mainstream services and supports - services that are available for all Australians from people like doctors or teachers through the health and education systems. It also covers areas like public housing and the justice and aged care systems.
- Access community services and support - activities and services that are available to everyone in a community, such as sports clubs, community groups, libraries or charitie
- Maintain informal support arrangements - to help people get assistance from their family and friends.
- Receive reasonable and necessary funded support - This means they are related to a person's disability and are required for them to live an ordinary life and achieve their goals
Assistance from the NDIS is not means tested and has no impact on income support such as the Disability Support Pension and Carers Allowance.
See the NDIS website for more details.
MyAgedCare funding
Aged care support is available for people aged 65 years and over, or 50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
There are several key home care funding streams available:
- The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)
CHSP is designed to help older Australians remain independent in their own homes and communities for longer. It provides entry-level support for daily tasks and can also assist carers through planned Respite services. CHSP will continue until at least 1 July 2027, after which it is expected to transition into the Support at Home program.
- Home Care Package (HCP)
Home Care Packages offer more comprehensive support for people with greater care needs. These packages will be replaced by the Support at Home program on 1 November 2025. Individuals approved for HCPs before 12 September 2024 will be automatically transitioned to Support at Home, retaining their current funding and services
- Support at Home (SAH)
Launching on 1 November 2025, the Support at Home program will replace both the Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care programs. It offers greater choice and flexibility, with care tailored to individual needs across eight classification levels, depending on the amount of support required.
Assessment Process
Assessments for aged care services are managed by the Australian Government through My Aged Care. As of 9 December 2024, the Single Assessment System has replaced the previous ACAT and RAS systems. This unified approach simplifies access to aged care by using a single workforce to assess eligibility for both CHSP and Support at Home services.
Other available funding programs include:
Karista can help
Karista provides a free, independent service connecting you with disability and home care services, therapists and support workers based on your personal needs and goals.
Our Client Services team are experienced in finding and connecting NDIS and Home Care Package (HCP) participants to supports with availability.
FAQs
Where can I get help finding aged care services for my elderly parent in Australia?
Karista helps families find aged care services for an elderly parent in Australia — including Home Care Packages and Support at Home providers — by matching your parent's needs and location with suitable providers, at no cost.
What types of disability and aged care funding are available in Australia?
The main funding types are the NDIS for people with disability, and Home Care Package, Support at Home and CHSP for older Australians, plus Medicare's Mental Health Care Plan. Karista can help you understand which of these may apply to you.
How do I know which funding type I'm eligible for?
Eligibility depends on your age, disability or care needs, and which government system you fall under. Karista can help you understand the likely pathway, though final eligibility is always confirmed by the NDIS, My Aged Care or Medicare directly.
Is Karista free to use?
Yes. Karista is a free, independent service — there's no cost to search for providers or use our client services team to help you find the right support.
What's the difference between NDIS funding and My Aged Care funding?
NDIS funding generally supports Australians under 65 with a permanent and significant disability, while My Aged Care funding (Home Care Package, Support at Home, CHSP) supports older Australians aged 65 and over (or 50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people).
Can Karista help me understand my funding options?
Yes. Karista's client services team can help you understand your funding options across the NDIS, aged care and Medicare systems, and connect you with providers that match your needs, funding type and location.
How do I find NDIS providers near me?
Karista is a free service that helps you find NDIS providers near you — search by your suburb or postcode and service type, and Karista matches you with providers in your local area that fit your plan.
Can I find NDIS providers for a specific service, like occupational therapy or speech therapy?
Yes. Karista lets you search for NDIS providers by specific service type, including Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Psychology, behaviour support and more, so you can find providers that offer exactly what you need.