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Background

Disability affects 21.4% of Australians, or 5.5 million people ( ), and population data show an increased risk of autism and intellectual disability in children of immigrant and refugee backgrounds in Australia ().

In May 2012, Chris Bowen (then Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) announced Ìýin response toÌýthe 2010 Joint Standing Committee on Migration report, . These changes effectively allowed humanitarian entrants with disability to settle in Australia. Between 2011-2016 there were few arrivals with disability/complex conditions (supported by ). From around 2017, we have seen a much higher number of children/young people with complex disability, and currently, more than 30% of new arrival families are 'complex cases' (as of 2025).ÌýRecent audits from our service have shown high prevalence of neurodevelopmental concerns inÌýÌý(2019),ÌýÌý(2024), and Afghan cohorts (2025, submitted for publication).Ìý

Clinical assessment, school enrolment and service access is complex for recently arrived children with disability, especially for older children and adolescents. SeeÌýguidelines onÌýÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýÌýfor clinical assessment, this guideline is intended to provide summary information on service pathways for new arrivals with disability.

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

The isÌýadministered by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA; an independent statutory agency). The NDIS provides support for people with disability (and their families and carers) who are permanent residents or citizens. Support is goal-oriented, with a focus on community participation and accessing mainstream supports. See:

• 
  
• 
  
• Ìý(and Operational guidelines: )
• Ìý- examine by participants, disability group, age, area, providers and plan utilisation.

Interpreter support is available through TIS for NDIS planning and service delivery (, ). Participants can call TIS National on 131450 and ask to speak to NDIS on 1800800110. NDIS participants and carers are not charged for language services (Note: different arrangements in place for Auslan)

Disability - eligibility criteria

Supports for people <65 yearsÌý

• Ìý- <65 years, Australian citizen, permanent resident, or protected Special Category Visa holder (arrival before 26 February 2001).Ìý
• Ìý- Disability caused by an impairment (intellectual, cognitive, neurological, sensory, physical), where the impairment is likely permanent and reduces functional capacity
  
  • Ìý- conditions which are likely to meet the disability requirements in s.24 of NDIS Act
  • Ìý-Ìýconditions for which permanent impairment/functional capacity are variable and require further assessment
    
• Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌýÌý(³Õ¾±³¦³Ù´Ç°ù¾±²¹).
• .
• .
  

Early childhood approach eligibility criteria

Supports for children 0-9 years (children <6 years with delay, children <9y with disability)

• Ìý- <9 years,ÌýAustralian citizen, permanent resident
• • Children <6 years do not need a diagnosis to access the NDIS, they can access NDIS under Ìý(mental or physical impairments, reduced functional capacity, need specialist services from >1 professional working as a team and for >12 months).
  • Once children turn 6 years old, they need to meet the Disability eligibility criteria aboveÌý(²õ±ð±ðÌý andÌý), or have a condition on Ìý(permanent impairment <7 years)Ìý
    
• Ìýand . Our advice is to ensure meetings with local area coordinators are face to face and the child attends the meeting.
• Fact sheets for families/carers: Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌý
  

NDIS - hospital admitted patients

In July 2022, the Disability reform ministers committed to a range of measures to improve hospital discharge for people in/eligible for NDIS (seeÌýÌýand ). These include:

• Contacting every participant (or their authorised representative or nominee) within 4 days of being notified of their admission to hospital.ÌýÌý
• Approving their NDIS plan within 30 days, recognising that participants may need an interim plan with higher supports for the first 12-18 weeks.
• Where a person is not yet an NDIS participant, and their functional capacity or the permanency of their disability are unknown, NDIS will assess their eligibility as a priority, usually within 7-10 days.Ìý
• .Ìý
  

In order to progress this, hospital staff need to refer people to NDIA as soon as possible, by emailing:Ìýhealth.liaison.officer@ndis.gov.auÌý(and also emailÌýDisability.liaision@rch.org.auÌýinternally at RCH) and provide a within 15 calendar daysÌýto enable NDIS to have an approved plan within 30 days.Ìý

Other NDIS resources

• (great explanation of access pathways and evidence for the NDIS)
  
• Support lettersÌý - seeÌýÌýsummaryÌý- medical letters should summarise diagnosis, impact on function, support needs and state that the disability is lifelong. Medical letters are not weighted as much as allied health letters (which is complex for new arrivals who usually cannot access allied health), and planners are usually not health trained.
  
• NDIS -Ìý
• NDIS -

Note: Independent assessments for NDIS did not progressÌý(²õ±ð±ðÌý). There wasÌý, and review by theÌý, also seeÌý.Ìý

Alternative pathways for non-residents

Aside from (adult) protected SCV holders,Ìýnon-resident children and adults with disability, including asylum seekers and refugees on temporary protection visas (TPV) cannot access NDIS.ÌýAlternative pathways are available in Victoria as follows:

• Age 5-65yÌý(non-resident) - there is a small program to support people who are ineligible for NDIS under the Disability Act, 2006. This program is calledÌýVIN-CoSÌý(Victorians Ineligible for NDIS, Continuity of Support) and is run through Statewide Disability Services, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH). VIN-CoS is only available if there areÌýnoÌýother options for support. For school-aged children, the program will assess what services are in place (i.e. through school) and if there are service gaps. VIN-CoS has access and eligibility criteria (against the Disability Act, 2006) andÌýallÌýalternative funding/supports need to be explored/exhaustedÌýpriorÌýto submitting a request. SeeÌý, andÌý- email VINCOS.enquiries@dffh.vic.gov.au (as of 2023).
  

• Age 0-6 years/school entryÌý(non-resident)Ìý- early childhood intervention is available through the Department of Education and Training (DET) Early Childhood Intervention Services - , announced in the 2017-18 Victorian Budget. TheÌýprocess for non-resident children is to i) apply for NDIS through their localÌý, ii) confirm theyÌýnotÌýeligible for NDIS (through application to NDIS andÌý formal rejection), and iii) progress theÌýECIS-CoSÌýapplication (no longer available online) with ECP assistance. In practice we have found advice from ECP has been variable, and it is helpful to explain the 3-step process to familiesÌýaheadÌýof time. Inquiries -Ìýeciscos@education.vic.gov.au.

Other service pathways

Case management

• (DFFH, Victoria)
• Ìý(HSP) includes case management for humanitarian arrivals and there are provisions for Ìý- for eligible humanitarian entrants up to 5 years after arrival or grant of an onshore protection visa.

Equipment

• may still provide some funding
• also need to be citizen/hold PR, and not an NDIS recipient, also see .

Early childhood

• Ìýis a targeted program for three-year-old children from families with complex needs
• for early childhood education
• Ìý- 13 weeks support -Ìýassistance to families that are in circumstances that require practical help to support their child's safety and wellbeing.
  
• , ,
  

School-aged

• Ìý(includes specialist education) -Ìýalso seeÌýÌý
• (Government schools) and
  
• Catholic education ÌýÌý
  

Autism

• (need to register)
• Autism - RCH CPG - management of distress and agitation
  
• - peak body for people on the autism spectrum and their supporters in Victoria.
• (Victorian DET).
  
• Ìý(included State based directory)

Down syndrome

• - Ìý

Deaf/hard of hearing

• ,
• 
  
• 
  
• (includes maps of primary and secondary schools for hearing impaired students)
  

Vision impairment

• - EVAC - RVEEH
• 
  

Family/carer support (including genetic support groups)

• , - also
• Ìý(Genetic Support Network Victoria).
• and - treating doctor reports forÌý Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌý ÌýÌý(note asylum seekers and children on a TPV not eligible).Ìý

Other resources

• includes translated information
• - advocacy and information service for families of children with (any) disability in Victoria, includes excellent resources on .Ìý
• Ìý- disability service directory with user ratings/reviews
• Ìý- service/support directory
• 
  

_{Immigrant health resources. Author: Georgie Paxton, Karen Kiang, Sophie Oldfield, updated Mar 2026. Contact: georgia.paxton@rch.org.au}