A better start for children with disability

Under the Australian Government’s new Better Start for Children with Disability (Better Start) initiative, children aged under six years who have been diagnosed with moderate or greater sight or hearing impairments including deaf blindness, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy or Fragile X syndrome will be able to register to access early intervention funding of up to $12,000 (to a maximum of $6,000 per financial year).

From 1 July 2011, funding will be available for services such as speech pathology, audiology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychology and orthoptics. Families will have until their child turns seven to use the early intervention funding.

The Better Start initiative also includes a one-off payment of $2,000 for eligible families living in outer regional and remote areas. As access to services is limited for these families, this payment will assist with travel, home visits and similar expenses.

Eligible children can register for the Better Start early intervention funding by contacting the Registration and Information Service, managed by Carers Australia, from 1 July.

A number of new Medicare items are also being introduced as part of the Better Start initiative. The new items will be available for children up to the age of 15 provided their treatment and management plan is in place before the age of 13. Families will be able to access the new Medicare items from 1 July 2011.

The Medicare component of the Better Start initiative is being implemented by the Department of Health and Ageing and further information will be available at
www.mbsonline.gov.au and www.health.gov.au.

For further information about the Better Start initiative, please visit www.fahcsia.gov.au/betterstart, call 1800 989 530 or email Better.Start@fahcsia.gov.au.