Welcome to St Jude’s
Health Care Services

In Australia, people with disability can access support through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). These supports are designed to help individuals live more independently and participate in everyday life. These supports can include Disability Accommodation, In-Home and Community Support, Community Participation, Support Coordination, and Allied Health services. The types of supports funded depend on a person’s goals, circumstances, and assessed needs.

To access funded support services, you need to apply directly to the NDIS and meet the eligibility criteria. This involves submitting an access request and providing information about how your disability affects daily living.

If your application is approved, you’ll receive an NDIS plan that outlines your goals and the supports that may be funded. Providers like St Jude’s can then help you understand your plan and put the right supports in place through services such as Support Coordination.

People with disability may access a range of Allied Health  services to support independence, daily functioning, and wellbeing. These can include Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech Pathology, Psychology and Counselling, Positive Behaviour Support, Dietetics and Nursing services.

Therapy supports are tailored to the individual and may focus on mobility, communication, emotional wellbeing, daily living skills, or behaviour support, depending on the person’s goals and needs.

Disability housing through the NDIS may be available to eligible participants whose disability significantly impacts where and how they live. Eligibility is assessed by the NDIS based on individual needs, living goals, and support requirements.

Depending on circumstances, this may include options such as Supported Independent Living (SIL), where support is provided in a shared or individual home, or Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) for people with very high support needs.

The NDIS groups funded supports into three main support categories to help participants understand how their funding can be used:

• Core Supports – help with everyday activities and daily living, such as personal care, community access, and assistance around the home.
• Capacity Building Supports – focus on building skills and independence over time. This can include Allied Health services, Support Coordination, and programs that support learning, communication, or employment goals.
• Capital Supports – cover higher-cost items and home and living needs, such as assistive technology, equipment, or Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) where approved.

Each category supports different goals, and how funding is used depends on the participant’s individual NDIS plan.

The Disability Support Pension (DSP) is an income support payment provided by Services Australia to help eligible people with disability meet everyday living costs.

The NDIS, however, does not provide income. Instead, it funds disability supports and services that help people work towards their goals, independence, and participation in the community. Some people may be eligible for both, as they serve different purposes.

To qualify for My Aged Care, you must generally be 65 years or older (or 50 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and need support with everyday activities to remain safe and independent.

Access begins with an assessment arranged through My Aged Care, where an assessor talks with you about your health, daily living needs, and goals. Based on this assessment, you may be approved for services such Support at Home, Residential Aged Care, and Aged Care Respite Care.

In Australia, aged care services are generally grouped into three main types, depending on a person’s needs and circumstances:

• Support at home – support older people to remain living independently in their own homes. This may include help with personal care, domestic tasks, transport, and social support, often funded through My Aged Care programs such as Home Care Packages.
• Residential aged care – provides 24/7 care and accommodation in an aged care home for people who can no longer live safely at home, with support tailored to individual care needs.
• Respite care – offers short-term care, either at home or in a residential setting, to support older people while giving family members or carers a temporary break.

Access to these services is usually arranged through My Aged Care following an assessment of needs.