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Funding and eligibility
We are dedicated to ensuring our community is provided with accessible health care services.
We offer a combination of fee-for-service options and publicly funded health care. Our fees are structured to support people on all income levels.
We ensure that difficulty or inability to pay will not be a barrier to receiving treatment or accessing a service.
Our staff are knowledgeable in the different funding options available. You can call us on 03 9810 3000 to check eligibility guidelines and discuss your needs.
View the income tables that we use to determine fees for services we provide.
Funding streams
Community Health Program
The Community Health Program gives priority to populations with particular health needs. This often includes disadvantaged populations with the poorest health and greatest economic and social needs.
Eligibility:
- A person on a low or medium income
- A pensioner or healthcare card and their dependant(s)
- A school student up to the age of 18
- A person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent
- A refugee or asylum seeker
- A person who is homeless or at risk of homelessness
- A person with an intellectual disability
- A person with a serious mental illness
Where fees are charged, it is in accordance with the individual’s level of income and amount of service.
Commonwealth Home Support Program - My Aged Care
The Commonwealth Home Support Program is designed to help older people stay independent and in their homes and communities for longer.
My Aged Care is the government entry point to access all aged care services.
Eligibility:An assessment is carried out to evaluate your needs. You must be 65 years and over, or 50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Access: To access one of our aged care services you will need to go through My Aged Care. Please contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au. Please mention that you wish to seek services at Access Health and Community.
The main areas of Aged Care services we offer are:
- Nursing
- Allied health (including physiotherapy, podiatry and dietetics)
- Exercise groups
- Social support and activity groups
- Carer respite
- Respite and transport services provided by volunteers.
If you are having difficulties making a referral to us, please call our intake team on 03 9810 3000 or send us an email.
Home and Community Care Program for Young People
The Home and Community Care Program for Young People (HACC PYP) provides support for younger people with disabilities whose capacity for independent living is at risk.
Eligibility: People aged under 65 and Aboriginal people aged under 50. Services are targeted to younger people with moderate, severe or profound disabilities and their unpaid carers.
Access: Please speak to us about arranging an assessment to evaluate your needs and circumstance.
The main areas of HACC PYP services we offer are:
- Nursing
- Allied health (including physiotherapy, podiatry and dietetics)
- Planned activity and social support groups
- Carer respite
- Respite and transport services provided by volunteers.
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (known as the NDIS) is a new national Government initiative for people living with a permanent and significant disability.
NDIS seeks to give people with disability more control over their lives, more choice about the services they receive and more support in making those choices. Supports may include allied health and therapy services, equipment, personal care, domestic help, and getting involved in the community.
Eligibility:
The best way to check your eligibility is to complete the NDIS Access checklist.
- You must have a permanent impairment that affects your ability to take part in everyday activities or a developmental delay
- Be under 65 when your first apply
- Live in a NDIS area
- Be an Australian citizen or hold a permanent visa or a protected special category visa.
Access: If you do not have an NDIS plan, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is able to undertake most NDIS access requests over the phone. If authorised to do so, a family member or support worker may do so on your behalf.
Please contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 for further information.
We are NDIS ready and committed to supporting people living with a disability.
We can help you with:
- Physiotherapy
- Occupational therapy
- Podiatry
- Speech pathology
- Dietetics
- Social work
- Social activities
- Exercise and art groups
- Respite and carer support
- Counselling and psychology
- Support groups.
Our Biala-Stride Early Childhood Intervention Service is one of the programs that will be accessed through the NDIS. This program provides support for children in their early years with developmental delay and disability and their families. Our goal is to support families to help their child learn and develop at home, at childcare or kindergarten and in their local community.
Please contact us on 03 9810 3000 or via ndis@accessshc.org.au to discuss your plan.
Chronic Disease Management Plan - Medicare
The plan provides medicare rebates for allied health services to support your condition. The plan provides up to five rebates per calendar year for these services.
Eligibility: People with a chronic medical condition, that has been present for a minimum of six months. Adults and children may be eligible for this funding package. Please speak with your doctor, who can provide you with the necessary forms.
Access: A Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Plan is issued by your doctor. Please speak with your doctor to find out about your options.
Allied health services available under this plan are:
- Physiotherapy
- Podiatry
- Dietetics
- Occupational therapy
- Speech pathology
- Psychology.
If you are accessing more than one type of therapy you’re entitled to share the CDM sessions across the therapists.
Sessions are paid for at the scheduled fee and you can take your receipt to Medicare for a rebate. Or, we can provide a rebate instantly via HICAPS. In some circumstances, services can be bulk billed. You’re not able to pay for CDM funded sessions through a private health fund.
Mental Health Care Plan - Medicare
The plan provides up to ten rebates per calendar year for mental health services. This can include psychology, counselling and occupational therapy.
Eligibility: People who have mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety or post traumatic stress disorder.
Access: Please speak with your doctor or mental health provider to discuss your eligibility. They will be able to assess your situation and refer you to services and programs best suited to your needs
Contact us
Funding streams
Community Health Program
The Community Health Program gives priority to populations with particular health needs. This often includes disadvantaged populations with the poorest health and greatest economic and social needs.
Eligibility:
- A person on a low or medium income
- A pensioner or healthcare card and their dependant(s)
- A school student up to the age of 18
- A person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent
- A refugee or asylum seeker
- A person who is homeless or at risk of homelessness
- A person with an intellectual disability
- A person with a serious mental illness
Where fees are charged, it is in accordance with the individual’s level of income and amount of service.
Commonwealth Home Support Program - My Aged Care
The Commonwealth Home Support Program is designed to help older people stay independent and in their homes and communities for longer.
My Aged Care is the government entry point to access all aged care services.
Eligibility:An assessment is carried out to evaluate your needs. You must be 65 years and over, or 50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Access: To access one of our aged care services you will need to go through My Aged Care. Please contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au. Please mention that you wish to seek services at Access Health and Community.
The main areas of Aged Care services we offer are:
- Nursing
- Allied health (including physiotherapy, podiatry and dietetics)
- Exercise groups
- Social support and activity groups
- Carer respite
- Respite and transport services provided by volunteers.
If you are having difficulties making a referral to us, please call our intake team on 03 9810 3000 or send us an email.
Home and Community Care Program for Young People
The Home and Community Care Program for Young People (HACC PYP) provides support for younger people with disabilities whose capacity for independent living is at risk.
Eligibility: People aged under 65 and Aboriginal people aged under 50. Services are targeted to younger people with moderate, severe or profound disabilities and their unpaid carers.
Access: Please speak to us about arranging an assessment to evaluate your needs and circumstance.
The main areas of HACC PYP services we offer are:
- Nursing
- Allied health (including physiotherapy, podiatry and dietetics)
- Planned activity and social support groups
- Carer respite
- Respite and transport services provided by volunteers.
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (known as the NDIS) is a new national Government initiative for people living with a permanent and significant disability.
NDIS seeks to give people with disability more control over their lives, more choice about the services they receive and more support in making those choices. Supports may include allied health and therapy services, equipment, personal care, domestic help, and getting involved in the community.
Eligibility:
The best way to check your eligibility is to complete the NDIS Access checklist.
- You must have a permanent impairment that affects your ability to take part in everyday activities or a developmental delay
- Be under 65 when your first apply
- Live in a NDIS area
- Be an Australian citizen or hold a permanent visa or a protected special category visa.
Access: If you do not have an NDIS plan, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is able to undertake most NDIS access requests over the phone. If authorised to do so, a family member or support worker may do so on your behalf.
Please contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 for further information.
We are NDIS ready and committed to supporting people living with a disability.
We can help you with:
- Physiotherapy
- Occupational therapy
- Podiatry
- Speech pathology
- Dietetics
- Social work
- Social activities
- Exercise and art groups
- Respite and carer support
- Counselling and psychology
- Support groups.
Our Biala-Stride Early Childhood Intervention Service is one of the programs that will be accessed through the NDIS. This program provides support for children in their early years with developmental delay and disability and their families. Our goal is to support families to help their child learn and develop at home, at childcare or kindergarten and in their local community.
Please contact us on 03 9810 3000 or via ndis@accessshc.org.au to discuss your plan.
Chronic Disease Management Plan - Medicare
The plan provides medicare rebates for allied health services to support your condition. The plan provides up to five rebates per calendar year for these services.
Eligibility: People with a chronic medical condition, that has been present for a minimum of six months. Adults and children may be eligible for this funding package. Please speak with your doctor, who can provide you with the necessary forms.
Access: A Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Plan is issued by your doctor. Please speak with your doctor to find out about your options.
Allied health services available under this plan are:
- Physiotherapy
- Podiatry
- Dietetics
- Occupational therapy
- Speech pathology
- Psychology.
If you are accessing more than one type of therapy you’re entitled to share the CDM sessions across the therapists.
Sessions are paid for at the scheduled fee and you can take your receipt to Medicare for a rebate. Or, we can provide a rebate instantly via HICAPS. In some circumstances, services can be bulk billed. You’re not able to pay for CDM funded sessions through a private health fund.
Mental Health Care Plan - Medicare
The plan provides up to ten rebates per calendar year for mental health services. This can include psychology, counselling and occupational therapy.
Eligibility: People who have mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety or post traumatic stress disorder.
Access: Please speak with your doctor or mental health provider to discuss your eligibility. They will be able to assess your situation and refer you to services and programs best suited to your needs
