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).
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
A 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).