Disability services

For older people living with a disability, it can be hard to manage household chores and day-to-day tasks without support. Here are some support services that can help.

Connecting with other people who have a disability and their families can be a good way of getting informal advice and support.

Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) based in health services across metropolitan and regional Victoria provide support for people with disability to access healthcare.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will transform the way in which people with disability access the support they need to achieve their goals and participate fully in community life.

Disability aids and equipment such as wheelchairs, walking frames and braces can help people with disabilities and the elderly gain more independence.

There are many disability supports available for people with a sight, hearing, speech or other communication difficulty.

Connecting with other people who have a disability and their families can be a good way of getting informal advice and support.

Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) based in health services across metropolitan and regional Victoria provide support for people with disability to access healthcare.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will transform the way in which people with disability access the support they need to achieve their goals and participate fully in community life.

People with a disability who experience violence, abuse or neglect can seek help from a range of services specifically designed to help them.

If you or someone you care for has a disability and needs help to get around, there are support services available.

The term ‘carer’ can refer to paid and unpaid, professional and ‘lay’ carers.

Acquired brain injuries and spinal cord injuries may have a significant effect on your intimate relationships, friendships, social networks, recreation and work activities.

There is a range of services available for children and adults who have autism. These include the provision of information, assessment, early intervention therapies, help at school, behaviour support, family education and respite.

Find some of the more common degenerative conditions that lead to limited mobility or motor control.

Common physical disabilities and the issues relating to having a disability – find information on diagnosis, treatment and disability services.

There are many government services and for people living with or caring for someone with vision or hearing impairments.

Ask a doctor and research health information when making a health decision. This will include the cost, timing and regularity of medical treatment.

Informed consent means having enough information about a medical procedure to decide whether to have it done.

Managing treatments and medications

There are culturally sensitive palliative care services that will help you and your family.

You have the right to ask a doctor for a second opinion if you are unsure about your doctor's suggested medical treatment or a diagnosis.

Building a strong, trusting relationship with your doctor can make it easier to talk with them about sensitive issues.

For older people living with a disability, it can be hard to manage household chores and day-to-day tasks without support. Here are some support services that can help.

Ask a doctor and research health information when making a health decision. This will include the cost, timing and regularity of medical treatment.

You can appoint someone to be your medical power of attorney, also known as ‘enduring power of attorney (medical treatment)’, to make medical decisions on your behalf when, in certain circumstances, you can’t.

There are culturally sensitive palliative care services that will help you and your family.

There are end of life and palliative care services that provide safe, inclusive care for people who identify as LGBTIQA+.

If you have a disability or are caring for someone with a disability, you can make future legal, financial and health decisions now to ensure that you or the child gets the support needed if you can no longer make these decisions.

The Victorian Eyecare Service provides low-cost eye care to eligible people.

Respect, consideration, recognition and support are some of the principles that guide how government departments, local councils and government-funded services work with carers and people who are being cared for.

An emergency care plan is a set of instructions about caring for someone in the event that you are not able to.

There are services that can help parents and carers understand the cause of the behaviour and ways to help your child develop other ways to communicate their needs.

Early childhood interventions help babies and young children with developmental delays or disabilities.

For children diagnosed with a disability, getting the support they need as early as possible will give them the best chance of minimising the long-term effects of the disability.

If you have a child with a disability you can help improve their communication and movement by encouraging them to take part in daily activities.

As all young people approach their final years of school, it is a good idea to focus on planning for the future and exploring the various pathways that are available to them.

Supporting students with a disability to make the transition to primary and then secondary school can require careful planning.

Choosing the right kindergarten to suit your child’s needs takes planning and research.