List of Support Services for Disability: A Practical Guide for Australians
Last updated 28 October 2026 · 9 min read · By Sarah M., Support Coordinator
In short
A list of support services for disability in Australia covers NDIS-funded supports (core, capacity building and capital), public services run by state and territory governments, and community organisations that offer information, advocacy and peer support. Which ones you can use depends on whether you meet the NDIS access requirements and where you live.
This guide sorts the services into plain groups, shows who runs each one and explains where to start. If you are new to the scheme, begin with what an NDIS participant is.
Key points
NDIS funding is split into 4 support budgets: core supports, capacity building supports, capital supports and recurring supports.
Core supports cover everyday help such as personal care, cooking, cleaning and community activities, while capacity building funds therapy, employment supports and support coordination.
Some public disability support services and community organisations are open to people who are not NDIS participants.
Writing down the help you need each day and bringing it to your planning meeting or first call makes it easier to set up the right supports.
List of support services for disability at a glance
Who it is for
People with disability, their families and carers, and people who work in the sector
Main funding source
The NDIS, if you meet the NDIS access requirements; state and territory services and community programs may help people outside the NDIS
List of support services for disability under the NDIS
The NDIS pays for supports through 4 budgets, and each one funds a different kind of service (NDIA).
Support budget
What it can fund
Flexibility
Core supports
Help with tasks like cooking, cleaning and personal care, and with community activities
Flexible categories
Capacity building supports
Therapy, employment supports, plan managers and support coordinators
Check your plan
Capital supports
Home or vehicle modifications, equipment and specialist disability accommodation (SDA)
Stated and not flexible
Recurring supports
One of the 4 NDIS support budgets; your plan shows whether it applies to you
Check your plan
The descriptions of core, capacity building and capital supports come from the NDIA’s guide to using your funding.
Support disability services you can use day to day
Many everyday services can be delivered by a support worker or an allied health professional.
Personal care: help with showering, dressing, grooming and meals, delivered in your home at times that suit your routine and in a way that respects your privacy.
Community access: a support worker goes with you to shops, appointments, work, sport and social activities so you can take part in the things you choose.
Help around the home: cleaning, laundry, shopping and meal preparation, so household tasks do not use up the energy you need for other things.
Respite and short-term breaks: planned time away from usual care arrangements, which gives families and carers a rest and gives you a change of scene.
Therapy and allied health: physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology and psychology that build skills, usually funded from capacity building supports.
Support coordination: a professional who helps you understand your plan, find providers and book services, so you are not doing it all alone. See how to find an NDIS support coordinator.
TQN Care support workers help with personal care, community access, respite and help around the home across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC). Tell us what you need and we will call you back.
Public disability support services from state and territory governments
Each state and territory runs its own public disability support services, and what is on offer differs from place to place.
Information and referral: your state or territory government website can point you to local services, including some that do not need an NDIS plan.
Health and hospital services: public hospitals and community health centres provide clinical care, and the NDIS does not replace them for health needs.
Complaints: the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission handles concerns about NDIS providers, and your state or territory government can tell you who handles complaints about its own services.
Disability support services Act and the laws behind the services
Several laws set out your rights and what governments and providers must do, and they differ between the Commonwealth and the states.
The NDIS Act 2013: this federal law created the NDIS and sets out who can access it and how plans work.
The Disability Act 2006 in Victoria: a state law covering disability services in Victoria. See our guide to the Disability Act 2006.
NDIS rules and the Code of Conduct: the NDIS Commission enforces these for registered and unregistered providers and their workers.
Disability support services officer: who does what
You will meet several different people along the way, and knowing their roles saves time on the phone.
Role
What they do
When you would meet them
NDIA planner or local area coordinator
Helps you apply, explains the scheme and works with you on your plan
Application and planning meetings
Support coordinator
Helps you put your plan into action and connect with providers
After your plan starts, if it includes this support
Support worker
Delivers day-to-day help in your home and community
Each shift, on the days and times you agree
Allied health professional
Provides therapy and builds skills in your daily routine
Appointments or sessions at home, clinic or school
Disability services officer in a government department
Handles enquiries and referrals for state or territory programs
When you contact a public service directly
Disability organisations Australia wide: advocacy, peer support and information
Community organisations can add information, advocacy and peer support, and some are run by disabled people.
Condition-specific groups: peak bodies for autism, cerebral palsy, vision loss, hearing loss and many other conditions offer plain-language information and local networks.
Advocacy services: independent advocates help you speak up at planning meetings, reviews and complaints, and they do not work for the NDIA or a provider.
Peer support groups: meeting people with shared experience can help you learn practical tips and feel less alone.
The NDIS website is a good place to look for registered providers and for more information about who is eligible.
List of support services for disability: how to find and book the right ones
Most people find the process easier when they take it one step at a time.
1Write down your daily support needs. Keep a simple diary for two weeks noting what is hard, what takes time and what you want to do more of.
2Check your NDIS access. Read the NDIA’s eligibility page and ask your GP or specialist for a letter describing your disability and its impact.
3Shortlist providers. Ask each one about their staff screening, availability, cost and how they handle changes to your roster.
4Sign a service agreement. Put hours, tasks, cancellation terms and notice periods in writing before the first shift.
Disability support services research: what to read and trust
Good information helps you decide, and the best starting points are official Australian bodies.
NDIA published data: NDIA reports show plan budgets, such as the average annualised plan budget of $85,400 as at 30 June 2026 and $488,200 for participants in supported independent living (SIL).
NDIS Commission guidance: plain-language material on your rights, provider obligations and how to raise a concern.
Starting a disability support service in Australia
If you are thinking of setting up your own service, plan the basics before you take on a first participant.
Decide which supports you will offer: personal care, community access, therapy or coordination each carry different training and insurance needs.
Learn the regulatory requirements: read the NDIS Commission’s registration and worker screening pages before you hire or take shifts.
Arrange insurance, an ABN and policies: a business registration, suitable cover and clear paperwork on privacy, incidents and complaints come first.
Check current pricing rules: read the latest NDIS Pricing Arrangements before you set your rates, because they change over time.
Common mistakes to avoid
Waiting until your plan review to ask for help, when a support coordinator or provider could fix a problem now.
Assuming the NDIS covers everything, when systems such as health care and education have their own services.
Signing a service agreement without reading the cancellation terms, notice periods and who pays for travel time.
Ignoring free community services because you have a funded plan, when advocacy and peer support can still help.
Booking the first available provider without asking about worker screening, communication and how they handle last-minute changes.
Looking for NDIS support at home?
TQN Care support workers help with personal care, community access, respite and help around the home across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC). Tell us what you need and we will call you back.
Once you know which services you want, the next step is to talk to someone who can arrange them. TQN Care provides support workers for personal care, community access, respite and help around the home, and you can see everything we offer on our NDIS services page. Send us a referral and we will call you to talk through your needs, your plan and your preferred times. For complex needs, see our guide to complex high care disability services.
SM
Sarah M., Support CoordinatorTQN Care is a registered NDIS provider supporting people across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC).
Common questions
FAQs about support services for disability
What support services are available for people with disability in Australia? +
Services include NDIS-funded supports such as personal care, community access, therapy and support coordination, plus state and territory programs and community organisations offering advocacy, peer support and information. What you can use depends on your location and whether you meet the NDIS access requirements.
Do I need the NDIS to use public disability support services? +
Not always. Some state and territory services and community organisations are open to people who are not NDIS participants. Contact your state or territory disability department or a local organisation and ask what applies to your situation, age and location.
Who is a disability support services officer? +
The title is used in different ways across government and community organisations. Usually it means a staff member who answers enquiries, explains programs and makes referrals. For NDIS matters, you are more likely to work with an NDIA planner, a local area coordinator or a support coordinator.
What do I need to start a disability support service? +
You need to decide which supports you will offer, understand the NDIS Commission’s registration and worker screening rules, arrange insurance and an ABN, and prepare service agreements. Check the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements before setting rates, and get advice from a qualified adviser.