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Family Resources

Equipment & Conversions

Auto Mobility

Automobility offer a wide range of wheelchair access conversions to fit almost any need.

Arctic Heat

Arctic Heat Cooling Vest is designed to counter the harmful effects of heat stress.

Funding & Support

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

The NDIS provides support for Australians under the age of 65 with permanent and significant disability, their families and carers. It can provide reasonable and necessary supports that the person with disability needs to live an ordinary life.

Better Start Funding

The Better Start for Children with Disability initiative, run through the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) is a funding avenue for parents of children with certain disability, one of which is Cerebral Palsy. The funding can be used for therapy services as well as resources such as equipment.

National Companion Card Scheme

The National Companion Card Scheme enable eligible people with lifelong disability to participate at venues and activities without incurring the cost of a second ticket for their companion.

Multi Purpose Taxi Program

The Multi-Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP) is Victorian-based and assists with the travel needs of people with severe and permanent disabilities by offering subsidised taxi fares to members.

Carer Adjustment Payment

The Carer Adjustment Payment scheme is currently available to families where, following a catastrophic event involving a young child aged 0-6 years, the family is going through a period of significant adjustment as a result of the care needs of the child.

Outside School Hours Care For Teenagers with Disability

Outside School Hours Care for Teenagers with Disability provides students with disability, aged 12 to 18 years with quality outside school hours care. Outside schools hours care includes before school, after school and holiday care.

Counselling for Carers

The Carer Counselling Program is specifically designed for carers and is run by Carers Victoria. It offers free short-term counselling by trained professionals, in your language and local area, face to face, by phone, over Skype, or in a group setting.

State-Wide Equipment Program (SWEP)

The Victorian State-Wide Equipment Program provides people with a permanent or long-term disability with subsidised aids and equipment. It also has a top-up fund for children which provides funding to meet the difference between existing subsidies and the full cost of eligible mobility equipment.

Support for Chronic Medical Conditions

There are a range of government funded services available for people with chronic medical conditions.

Cerebral Palsy Support Network

The Cerebral Palsy Support Network (CPSN) is a Victorian based organisation dedicated to providing information, resources and support services to children and adults with Cerebral Palsy and their families.

Association for Children with a Disability

The Association for Children with a Disability (ACD) are an information, support and advocacy organisation for children with a disability and their families in Victoria.

Siblings Australia

Siblings Australia support siblings who have a brother or sister with a disability or chronic illness.

Carers Australia

Carers Australia provide care and support to carers of people with a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness or who are frail aged.

Special Child Care Benefit for Hardship

The Special Child Care Benefit initiate offers subsidies for approved child care for eligible children.

Dads to Dads

The Dads to Dads program offers fathers (and other significant male carers) of people with a disability, chronic illness or ADD/ADHD the opportunity to meet other dads to develop the confidence, skills and networks they need to take an active role in the support of their son or daughter. The focus of Dads to Dads is not on disability or chronic illness but the strengths and capacity of men and the whole family. They have get-togethers and weekends aways.

Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA)

The Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA) is one-off support to help young people aged 15 to 25 who are leaving care to meet some of the costs involved in moving to independent living.

Telstra Disability Equipment Program

Telstra’s Disability Equipment Program has been designed to provide eligible customers (such as those with a disability who are unable to use a standard telephone handset) with specialised equipment so that they can access the standard telephone service.

Continence Aid Payment Scheme (CAPS)

CAPS helps eligible people over five years old who have permanent and severe incontinence to meet some of the costs of incontinence products.

Employment Assistance Fund

The Employment Assistance Fund helps people with disability or mental health conditions by providing financial assistance to purchase a range of work related modifications and services for their work life, as well as gives help for those who require assistance to find and prepare for work.

Utility Relief Grant Scheme

The Utility Relief Grant Scheme (and the Non-Mains Utility Relief Grant Scheme) provide assistance for domestic customers who are unable to pay their utility bills due to a temporary financial crisis.

Australian Disability and Indigenous Peoples’ Education Fund

The ADIPEF offers grants of up to $2500 to support individuals with disabilities complete or undertake courses through formal or informal education.

Qantas Carer Concession Cards

Qantas offer discounts for carers travelling on their flights with a person with a disability.

Syndromes Without A Name (SWAN) Australia

SWAN is a support group for families who have a child with an undiagnosed or rare genetic condition.

Children’s Books

You can find a list of children’s books focusing on Cerebral Palsy and related topics here.

TeacherVision

TeacherVision has an excellent resource list of children’s books that focus on a range of different disabilities, including Cerebral Palsy. While they are a US-based site, all books can be ordered through Amazon.com or an Australian supplier.

Free Electronic Accessible Books

Tar Heel Reader is a collection of free, easy-to-read, and accessible books on a wide range of topics. The books may be downloaded as slide shows in PowerPoint, Impress, or Flash format. Each book can be speech enabled and accessed using multiple interfaces, including touch screens, the IntelliKeys with custom overlays, and 1 to 3 switches.

Activities, Accessibility, Holidays & Travel

National Public Toilet Map

The National Public Toilet Map shows the location of more than 16,000 public and private public toilet facilities across Australia. Useful information is provided about each toilet, such as location, accessibility details, opening hours and features.

Master Locksmith Access Key

The Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK) is a system that enables people with disability to gain 24/7 access to a network of public facilities such as railway elevators and council accessible toilets. MLAK locations can be found here.

Liberty Swings

Liberty Swings allow children in wheelchairs to experience the joy of having a swing in the park. They can only be accessed by having a Master Locksmiths Access Key. Swing locations can be found here.

Swim 4 All

Swim 4 All provide private and group swimming classes to all swimmers specialising in teaching children with special needs. They have classes in several private venues around Melbourne.

Togglz Swim Pants

Conni are now producing Togglz Swim Pants. They are designed to keep urine and faecal matter out of the water so that the wearer can swim, attend hydrotherapy without any problems.

Disabled Surfers Association

Disabled Surfers Association is a voluntary organisation that offers opportunities for children and adults with any disability to experience surfing in a friendly, supportive environment. They cover surfing locations around Australia and New Zealand.

Parks Victoria & All-Terrain Wheelchair Hire

Parks Victoria have park and beach accessibility information on their website. Also available is free all-terrain wheelchair hire for select locations around Victoria for visitors with significant physical disabilities to explore the great outdoors. The chairs are suited for sandy and semi rough tracks, making it easier to access the many stunning trails in the Grampians and beaches at Cape Conran, Wilsons Promontory and Point Nepean.

Solaro Beach House

Located in Phillip Island, Ripples n Tonic have a fully accessible beach house rental property (RACV rated 4-star). It is very close to the beach, and has a range of disability equipment installed, such a hoists and rails. They also have an aquatic wheelchair for use while on the beach.

Hooked Inn Cottages

Situated at Historic Port Albert in Victoria, these self contained cottages offer luxury farm stay accommodation on a quiet wildflower farm while only 700 metres from the beach. Ideal for couples for a retreat getaway, families with the boat and those wanting excellent wheelchair access accommodation.