About the Disability Support for Older Australians (DSOA) Program

About the program

The program supports existing clients who: 

• were 65 years or over when the NDIS started in their region, or 
• were a First Nations person aged 50 to 64 years when the NDIS started in their region, and
• were not eligible for the NDIS, and
• were an existing client of state or territory government specialist disability services at the time the NDIS started in their region.

The program replaced the Commonwealth Continuity of Support Programme on 1 July 2021. 

If you are an older person seeking disability support, and you are not an existing DSOA client, contact My Aged Care.  

Why it is important

The DSOA Program supports:

• older people with disability to remain as independent as possible through consistent, timely, high-quality services
• older people with disability to move into other programs – such as aged care – when their needs change
• carers through respite services so they can have a break.

Goals

The DSOA Program aims to:

• deliver high quality, flexible, responsive and timely services for clients so they can live as independently as possible
• ensure clients have choice and control over their care and support 
• support clients to understand their aged care options, and to move into other services when needed
• deliver respite for carers
• ensure services are socially and culturally appropriate and free from discrimination.

How it works

All clients receive funded services through an Individual Support Package, which details the client’s agreed disability care and services. A DSOA service coordinator manages the plan. 

The plan provides the client with:

• choice of their services and care 
• control over the way providers deliver those services 
• an outline of their DSOA service coordinator’s responsibilities and management fee.

Read more about:

• responsibilities of DSOA service coordinators
• what services DSOA does and doesn’t fund. 

Learn more

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