Other Funding Supports

Fiona Goodall • March 1, 2023

Did you know?

Apart from the NDIS, there are several state and federal benefits and funding support options available to support families with autistic children. Your family may be eligible for some of the below. If you know of other government schemes, please email us and we can add them to this list to share with other families.

Previously, the NDIS early childhood approach supported children younger than 7 and their families.
From 1 July 2023, the age of children supported under the early childhood approach will progressively change, to include children younger than 9. https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/9175-age-children-supported-under-ndis-early-childhood-approach-changing

Better Access to Mental Health Plan Also known as Mental Health Care Plan This plan provides (per calendar year): • 10 sessions of individual therapy with a psychologist, occupational therapist, or social worker. • 10 group sessions of therapy with a psychologist, occupational therapist, or social worker. The Better Access to Mental Health Care plan is available for anybody (Autistic individuals, parents, siblings, carers etc.). It’s for anybody who feels that their wellbeing and mental health is at risk. https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/better-access-initiative

Health Care Card – A Health Care Card is a concession card that allows holders to be bulk billed or given a discounted rate at GP’s, access to more affordable medications, assistance with hearing services and other discounted services. Families that receive a carer payment or carer allowance will automatically receive a healthcare card for their child. When your child turns 16, the card will be transferred to the child. For more information - https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/health-care-card

The Helping Children with Autism Access to Diagnosis and Treatment Plan (sometimes called Medicare Item 135 or Item 137). This plan provides the following: • 4 appointments for private diagnosis referred by a paediatrician or psychiatrist to a psychologist, speech pathologist, occupational therapist, audiologist, optometrist, orthoptist or physiotherapist. This is called the ‘Helping Children with Autism Increased Access to Diagnosis’ • 20 sessions with a psychologist, speech therapist, occupational therapist, audiologist, optometrist, orthoptist or physiotherapist. This is called the ‘Helping Children with Autism Treatment Plan.’ • This plan was previously only available to those under 13 years old. As of March 2023, this plan is now available for those under 25 years old. https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/autism-children

Carer Support , Respite & Other Programs (including siblings and child/teen carers) – Carer Gateway provides free and confidential information on local carer support for parents of children with autism. If you need emergency respite care, call Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737 between 8am-5pm Monday- Friday. For more information - https://www.carergateway.gov.au/

Fee-free TAFE - The Australian Government, in partnership with all the states and territories, is delivering 180,000 Fee-Free TAFE and vocational educational places at a cost of $1 billion from 1 January to 31 December 2023. Eligibility for Fee-Free TAFE includes the following priority groups include: First Nations Australians, young people (17-24), people who are out of work or receiving income support payments, unpaid carers, women facing economic insecurity, women undertaking study in non-traditional fields, people with disability, certain categories of visa holders. Information here: www.yourcareer.gov.au/fee-free-tafe

Annual Child Disability Assistance Payment – For more information – https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers/benefits-payments

Australian Disability Parking Scheme – The Australian Disability Parking Scheme (ADPS) includes an Australian Disability Parking Permit, which is recognised nationally. It also establishes nationally consistent eligibility criteria and national minimum parking concessions to help reduce the barriers for permit holders when travelling interstate. Permits allow holders to park in disabled parking spaces as well as access concessions when paring in public parking spaces. For more information - https://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/disability-and-carers/programmes-services/for-people-with-disability/australian-disability-parking-scheme

Companion Card – A Companion Card is for people with significant and permanent disabilities who need a carer with them to participate in community-based activities and go to venues. It aims to promote a person’s right to fair ticketing and to make community access and participation more affordable. The card allows a support person free entry into participating venues and events. For more information - https://www.qld.gov.au/disability/out-and-about/subsidies-concessions-passes/companion-card

Carer Payment – Income support payment for people whose caring responsibilities prevent them from undertaking substantial paid employment. The payment is means-tested. For more information – https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers/benefits-payments

Carer Allowance – For more information – https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers/benefits-payments

Annual Carer Payment – For more information – https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers/benefits-payments

Carer Business Discount Card - The Queensland Government's Carer Business Discount Card recognises and supports carers, including approved foster and kinship carers, by providing discounts on goods and services at participating businesses throughout Queensland. Information here: https://www.qld.gov.au/community/support-for-carers/carer-card/applying-carer-card

School Transport Assistance Scheme – The Queensland Government provides assistance with school transport costs for eligible students travelling to and from school under the School Transport Assistance Scheme (STAS). STAS assistance is available for all government funded bus and ferry services (including TransLink and qConnect services).

For more information - https://stas.forms.tmr.qld.gov.au/content/forms/af/TranslinkForms/STASApplication/STASApplication

Family Energy Rebate – The Family Energy Rebate helps family households with dependent children cover the costs of their energy bills. For more information - https://www.qld.gov.au/community/cost-of-living-support/concessions/energy-concessions/cost-of-living-rebate

Assisted School Transport Scheme – For more information - https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/public/school/school-transport-assistance/school-transport-assistance-schemes

The CHANGE Project (Toowoomba) – Lots of free and low cost activities to help families and young people remain active and healthy. For more information - https://www.tr.qld.gov.au/community-business/educational/healthy-living-change-project

Increase in Child Care Subsidy (as of 10th July 2023) - For more information - https://www.education.gov.au/child-care-package/child-care-subsidy

Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme – For our Distance Education families, The Isolated Children Scheme is a group of payments for parents and carers of children who can't go to a local state school. This could be because of geographical isolation, disability or special needs. For more information - https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/assistance-for-isolated-children-scheme

Translink Access Pass - TransLink offers an access pass for an annual fee to people who can travel independently on Translink services but who are unable to swipe a go card. More information: https://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/ticket-types/disability/translink-access-pass

Taxi Subsidy Scheme & Life Payment - Subsidised taxi fares are available for people who have certain disabilities. Information here: https://www.qld.gov.au/disability/out-and-about/subsidies-concessions-passes/taxi-subsidy

Vision Impairment Travel Pass - Eligible people with vision impairment can access free travel on participating services across Australia. Information here: https://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/ticket-types/disability/vision-impairment-travel-pass

Travel Trainer Card - Free travel is available for registered trainers of assistance dogs while conducting training. Information here: https://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/ticket-types/disability/travel-trainer-card

Continence Aids Payment Scheme - A yearly payment to cover some of the cost of products that help you manage incontinence for a person with a disability over the age of 5. For more information - https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/continence-aids-payment-scheme

Chronic Disease Management Plan – This is available to all autism families who need to access additional services for both people with autism and their parents and/or carers. The Chronic Disease Management (formerly Enhanced Primary Care or EPC) enable GPs to plan and coordinate the health care of patients with chronic medical conditions, who require multidisciplinary team. Patients on the plan are eligible for Medicare rebates for 5 visits per calendar year to allied health services on referral from their GP. For more information - https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mbsprimarycare-chronicdiseasemanagement

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The Importance of Catch Ups in Making Quality Friendships

By Fiona Goodall • April 27, 2025

The Importance of Catch Ups in Building Quality Friendships At Making Connections Toowoomba (MCT), our social skills programs focus on helping young people understand the characteristics of a quality friendship. One important element we teach is the value of catching up . Friendships, like all meaningful relationships, require effort from both people – and catching up in person plays an essential role in maintaining and strengthening these connections. Why Catch Ups Matter Catching up gives us the opportunity to share experiences, deepen trust, and reinforce the bond between friends . It’s during these moments that friendships are nurtured, mutual interests are explored, and memories are built. For neurodivergent young people, learning the purpose and benefits of catch ups can help make social connections more intentional, rewarding and long lasting. Understanding Individual Differences Catch ups come with an important reminder: just as no two friendships are identical, catching up looks different for everyone. Some people enjoy catching up weekly – or even more often – while for others, the occasional catch up is enough. It’s important to recognise that we all have different social needs and varying " social batteries. " Some young people recharge quickly and look for regular connection, while others need more time between social interactions. Pushing beyond our social limits can lead to fatigue, burnout and social avoidance, which can affect the quality of the friendship, and our ability to consolidate an emerging friendship. Making friends with people who respect our individual social thresholds helps build sustainable, quality friendships. It’s also important to remember that the way we catch up can look different too. For some, a catch up might mean doing activities together the entire time, while for others, simply sitting near a friend, sharing space quietly, is enough to feel connected. Both are valid ways of nurturing friendships. Catch Ups vs. Hanging Out It’s important to distinguish between "hanging out" and "catching up." Hanging out is often more spontaneous and casual, with no set structure or time limit. It usually relies heavily on ongoing conversation without a clear shared activity, which, while enjoyable for some, can sometimes feel overwhelming or stressful for neurodivergent individuals (not all, but often). In contrast, catching up usually has a more intentional purpose: connecting and spending time together, often through a shared activity around a common interest. Planning a catch up around something specific to do provides a natural focus for conversation and interaction, which can ease social pressure. For those learning to build friendships, an intentional, structured catch up can often be a more comfortable and successful way to strengthen connections — especially in the early stages of a new friendship. For catch ups to be successful, especially for young people learning these skills, it helps to have a few strategies in place: Plan ahead – agree on a time, place, and activity and communicate this clearly Choose an activity-based meet up – having something to do can ease social pressure (e.g. if you both like bowling, movies, or art/craft) Set time limits – keeping catch ups short can help manage social energy and have everyone leaving wanting more Have a backup plan – having a Plan B ensures there’s still something to do if things don’t go to plan or if someone gets bored At Making Connections Toowoomba, we believe teaching these strategies helps young people feel more confident in making and keeping friends. If you want to learn more about how to support your child, teen, or young adult in developing meaningful friendships, explore our social skills programs: Prep and Grade 1: PEERS for Early Years Primary School Grades 2 to Grades 8: Social Skills Program Teens 14–18: PEERS for Teens Young Adults 18–30: PEERS for Adults