Funding, programs, financial assistance..

Although I have a few in my resource section I seem to be post about the same ones on Facebook so thought it easier to combine them here....

Companion Card WA:
http://www.wa.companioncard.org.au/

The Companion Card is a card issued to people with a significant and permanent disability who require attendant care support from a companion to participate at most venues and activities. Cardholders present their card when booking or purchasing a ticket from a participating business. Participating businesses will recognise the Companion Card and issue the cardholder with a second ticket for their companion at no charge.

Chronic Disease Management Plan:
Miss A used this to see her pysch.
https://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mbsprimarycare-chronicdisease-pdf-infosheet

A chronic medical condition is one that has been (or is likely to be) present for six months or longer, for example, asthma, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and stroke. There is no list of eligible conditions. However, these items are designed for patients who require a structured approach and to enable GPs to plan and coordinate the care of patients with complex conditions requiring ongoing care from a multidisciplinary care team. Your GP will determine whether a plan is appropriate for you.
Medicare rebate for a maximum of five allied-health services per patient each calendar year from eligible providers. Additional services are not possible in any circumstances.

If a provider accepts the Medicare benefit as full payment for the service, there will be no out-of-pocket cost. If not, you will have to pay the difference between the fee charged and the Medicare rebate.

A patient must have a GP Management Plan (GPMP) and Team Care Arrangements (TCAs) (or a multidisciplinary care plan for residents of an aged care facility).

Your GP will decide whether you would benefit from these services and, if so, will refer you for appropriate allied health services.

Allied health services must be provided by eligible providers who are registered with Medicare Australia.

Who is eligible?

You may be able to claim Medicare rebates for allied health services if you have a chronic (or terminal) medical condition that is being managed by your GP under both of these Medicare Chronic Disease Management (CDM) items: a GPMP and TCAs. The need for allied health services must be directly related to your chronic condition.
https://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-medicare-allied-health-brochure.htm

Better Start Funding:
http://www.betterstart.net.au/

Children are eligible for the Better Start program if diagnosed with one of the following disabilities:

• Cerebral palsy
• Deafblindness
• Down syndrome, including mosaic Down syndrome
• Fragile X syndrome with full mutation.
• Hearing impairment
• Sight impairment
• Prader-Willi syndrome
• Williams syndrome
• Angelman syndrome
• Kabuki syndrome
• Smith-Magenis syndrome
• CHARGE syndrome
• Cornelia de Lange syndrome
• Rett's Disorder
• Cri du Chat syndrome; or
• Microcephaly

Children registered with Better Start can access up to $12,000 (maximum $6,000 per year) to pay for early intervention services. These services include:

• audiology
• occupational therapy
• orthoptics
• physiotherapy
• psychology and
• speech pathology

Disabled Parking Permit:
http://www.concessions.wa.gov.au/Concessions/Pages/ACROD-Parking-Permits---Australian-Disability-Parking-Scheme.aspx

These can also be given on a temporary basis for those needing them in the short term. The child can be the one needing it not just the driver.

Helping Children with Autism funding.....similar to Better Start.
https://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/autism-children
Medicare items are available for assessment, diagnosis and the creation of a treatment and management plan by a consultant paediatrician (MBS item 135) or a psychiatrist (MBS item 289) for a child aged under 13 years.

A consultant paediatrician or psychiatrist can refer a child to an eligible allied health provider to assist with diagnosis of the child or for the purpose of contributing to the child’s treatment plan. Referrals for these allied health assessment services can be made by a consultant paediatrician as an outcome of the service provided under one of the MBS items 110-131, or as an outcome of a service provided by a psychiatrist under one of the MBS items 296-370.

CAEP Funding....
http://www.concessions.wa.gov.au/Concessions/Pages/Community-Aids-and-Equipment-Program-(CAEP)---funding.aspx
The Community Aids and Equipment Program (CAEP) assists people with disability to stay in their own homes by: providing equipment such as a wheelchair on a long-term loan to help with mobility in the home; or funding home modifications such as installing a ramp to assist mobility into the home. If you receive equipment from CAEP you may use it for as long as you need. All equipment belongs to CAEP and must be returned when no longer needed, so that it may be given to others.​

SYNERGY Electricity concessions:
http://www.synergy.net.au/at_home/concessions_and_rebates.xhtml

For those with a health care card you can get discounts and establishment fees reduced.Plus the Cost of Living Assistance Payment
The State Government Cost of Living Assistance (CoLA) payment assists residential electricity customers. A payment of $208 per annum will be divided into daily amounts and credited to your Synergy bill. To qualify for the Cost of Living Assistance Payment you will need to hold one of the cards listed below:

• Centrelink Health Care Card
• Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card
• Veteran Affairs Gold Card (War Widow, Dependent, Totally and Permanently Incapacitated)
• WA Seniors Card 

General Health Care Card Concessions:

http://www.concessions.wa.gov.au/Pages/SearchResults.aspx?CardType=13&termId=e11c916e-df8d-43b1-852d-fb1899493009