Australian Disability Gateway: What Is It and What You Need To Know

A new service is now available in Australia to support people with disability and their loved ones. The Australian Commonwealth Government launched the Australian Disability Gateway in January 2021, to help people with disability, their family, friends and carers to access the information and support they need. Read on to find out all about this new resource for people with disability in Australia, the services on offer, and how the Disability Gateway might be able to help you or a loved one to lead a fulfilling, independent life.

What Is the Australian Disability Gateway?

The Disability Gateway is a free information and support service available to all Australians. The Australian Government has created this online and telephone resource in response to demand from the disability sector and community members living with disability for a singular, central point of information and advice regarding disability support services. Advocates and representatives from the disability support sector have highlighted that many people with disability, their loved ones, carers and support staff feel overwhelmed at the amount of conflicting and confusing information available online. The bureaucratic, complex nature of the disability sector poses a significant barrier to people with disability, some of whom say that the services they need are either non-existent, inadequate or too difficult to find. 

The Disability Gateway is a resource to help simplify the process of finding and accessing appropriate, high quality disability services. The Disability Gateway’s objectives are to:

• Make it easier to find, navigate and access relevant information and services
• Span multiple sectors including health, housing, employment, transport and everyday living
• Exist as a central point of entry for referrals to disability information, services and programs

You can access the Disability Gateway via their website, by emailing [email protected], through their Facebook page or by calling their hotline on 1800 643 787. 

If English is not your first language, you can access the Disability Gateway by contacting the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 13 14 50. This national translation service can translate in more than 100 languages and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Those with hearing or speech difficulties can access information on the Disability Gateway with the support of the National Relay Service. The Disability Gateway has also created an information brochure about their services tailored for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, with culturally relevant information about accessing appropriate disability supports.

Who Is the Disability Gateway For?

The Australian Disability Gateway is a one-stop shop for information, resources, support and referrals for all Australians with disability. It also provides support to carers, family members and friends of people with disability, as well as supporting the disability workforce. 

The Disability Gateway is a great source of trustworthy, up to date information about disability services in Australia. It also provides regular updates on the latest research, updates, and advocacy work undertaken in line with the National Disability Strategy (NDS). The NDS is Australia’s ten-year policy framework that underpins and guides all disability services and programs across all states, territories and local government areas. This key piece of legislation aims to improve the quality and consistency of disability support provided across the country, to ensure fair and equitable disability support for all Australians, regardless of where they live. 

Is the Disability Gateway Part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme?

The Disability Gateway is a separate service to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), despite both being federally funded sources of support for people with disability. The NDIS is a national funding scheme whose purpose is to manage and distribute funding to individuals with disability to purchase goods and services that they need. Not all people who live with a disability are eligible for NDIS funding, as access to NDIS packages are strictly regulated based on a set of eligibility criteria. 

The Disability Gateway differs from the NDIS, both in the services it offers and the eligibility criteria. Anyone in Australia who lives with disability, or who cares for a family member, friend or client with a disability can access the Disability Gateway, whether they receive NDIS funding or not. The Disability Gateway does not directly provide funding or support services, rather it is a source of linkages, referral pathways, and reliable information about disability support services and organisations available within Australia. 

What Support Can I Access Through the Disability Gateway?

The Disability Gateway can provide information, advice, referrals and support for people living with disability in a range of areas of their lives. These include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following key life areas.

Income and Finance

People with disability and their family and carers are more likely to experience financial stress than people without a disability. The Australian Disability Gateway can help you find information about income and financial support that may be available to you or your family. These could include financial supplement payments, support for carers and families, financial support to access healthcare, discount cards and concessions, tax benefits or help with budgeting and money management.

Employment

Inclusion and access for people with disability has come a long way, however there is still much work to be done. Employment rates for people with disability are consistently lower in Australia than for people without disability. The Disability Gateway can connect you or a loved one with employment support in your state to find and keep a job, understand your rights, and access training in key work skills. 

Aids and Equipment

Aids and equipment can make a big difference to the quality of life for people with disability, enabling greater independence and access to the community. The Disability Gateway can provide information and support to access aids and equipment such as tools to help you communicate, mobility aids like wheelchairs and scooters, assistance animals, technology and healthcare equipment. 

Housing

Finding accessible, affordable and quality housing close to loved ones and essential services can be difficult when you live with a disability, due to a low supply of appropriate housing in Australia. Each Australian state and territory has different housing information and support available for people with disability, and the Disability Gateway can help you understand and access providers in your area.

Transport

Getting out and about can be difficult for people with a disability, especially if their condition affects their mobility or ability to access transport options independently. Support is available via the Disability Gateway to access transport help and subsidies such as discounted public transport, taxi and rideshare subsidies, community transport options and help with driving and parking your own car. 

Health and Wellbeing

Taking care of your health and wellbeing, including your mental health, is important for everyone, regardless of whether they have a disability. The Disability Gateway can help you to access health supports, including resources or providers to help with personal care, finding doctors or healthcare providers with expertise in disability, accessing respite care, and getting information and support about your mental health, gender and sexuality. 

Everyday Living

Some people need a little help with everyday living tasks like cleaning, cooking, household maintenance and shopping. A Disability Gateway Information officer can support you to find assistance with your daily living tasks, to help you live as independently as possible.

Education

Everyone has the right to access high quality education to develop their knowledge and skills. Regardless of your age or level of previous educational attainment, there are plenty of options to participate in further studies or education. The Disability Gateway can help you to find local providers of education support that suit your interests and needs.

Leisure

Recreational activities like sport, arts and culture, travel and community events are a great way to stay engaged in your community, make new friends, and maintain your physical and mental wellbeing. There are plenty of options in Australia for accessible and inclusive leisure activities, so reach out to the Disability Gateway to find out what is available to you.

Rights and Legal

You deserve to be treated fairly and equitably, and have support to understand your legal rights and responsibilities. The legal system can be confusing and difficult to navigate, so if you want help with advocacy, legal services, future planning for things like guardianship or power of attorney, a Disability Gateway Information officer can connect you to local support services.

How to Use the Disability Gateway Search Function

Finding the right provider to care for yourself or a loved one with disability is a big decision, and one that often brings about feelings of anxiety and fear of making the ‘wrong’ choice. Whilst generic search tools like Google can provide lots of information and options for disability support, not all information is created equal. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation and conflicting advice available online, which can make your search for the right service even more challenging. Luckily, the new Disability Gateway has a range of search options to help you find the right fit. 

You can search the Disability Gateway website for a specific service or provider directly, or contact them on 1800 643 787. An experienced, knowledgeable Gateway Information officer will listen to your concerns and help connect you with the services or information you need. You can also search for services using Ask Izzy, a tool developed by the social enterprise Infoxchange which uses technology to link Australians facing hardship to access counselling, financial assistance, housing hardship and more. 

Clickability is another great source of information about disability support providers in Australia, as it offers a large database of support providers across the country. Clickability has the added benefit of being able to read reviews by community members who have used a particular service. This is to give you greater insight into whether it’s the right fit for you or your loved one before you go through the process of contacting the service directly. Searching through tens or hundreds of different providers can quickly get overwhelming, so this community-led review system can save you a lot of hassle, time, and uncertainty in your search for disability services. 

Providing Feedback on the New Disability Gateway

The Australian Disability Gateway is open to community feedback to help them improve their service and better support Australians with disability and their families, friends and carers. Being a relatively new service, it is a great idea to give any feedback or suggestions for improvement. You can do so by calling the Disability Gateway on 1800 643 787 or by taking an online survey about your experience using the Gateway tools and resources.

Other Supports Available in Australia

The Disability Gateway acts like a central point of information, linkages, referrals and guidance. There are also lots of other places you may like to go for support for yourself or a loved one who lives with disability. These include but are not limited to the following:

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

May be able to provide funding and support if you or someone you care for lives with a disability. This is subject to an eligibility assessment. Visit the NDIS website or call 1800 800 110 to find out if you are eligible for NDIS support.

My Aged Care

This is the Commonwealth’s central point of call for Aged Care services, support and information. My Aged Care can help you understand what services are available to you or an older person that you care for.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)

Supports veterans who have served in defence of Australia, and their families. Reach out to DVA to find out what services or supports may be available to you, a friend or family member who is a veteran.

The Carer Gateway

An Australia-wide network of carer support service providers. You can contact the Carer Gateway to find information and referrals to support you in your caregiving role, including counselling, respite care, and connecting with other carers in a supportive environment.

The Australian Government’s Services Australia

Services Australia are your best point of call for information about Commonwealth-funded services such as Medicare, Centrelink and Child Support Services.

Head to Health

This is an online resource provided by the Australian Government Department of Health and can link you to digital mental health services from trusted providers in Australia.

Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability

If you want to find out more about the Commission, get support, or share your story, reach out via the Royal Commission website.

Homage Support Services

Homage has a team of compassionate, experienced Care Professionals who are ready to help you or a loved one with disability to live their lives fully and independently. Contact our Care Advisors on 0480 093 788 to find out how we can support you with disability support, respite care, personal care and much more.