Continuity of support for older people receiving specialist disability services in Victoria
Information for people with a disability, families and carers

Continuity of support for older people receiving specialist disability services in Victoria1

Key messages

•The Commonwealth and Victorian Governments have agreed it is important that older people with a disability continue to receive disability support services during the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

•As of 1 April 2018, older people in Victoria with a disability will be eligible to continue receiving support services through the Commonwealth’s new Continuity of Support (CoS) Programme.

•The CoS Programme will be available to people aged 65 years and older on 1 April 2018, who are currently receiving support services from the Victorian Government and are not eligible for the NDIS.

•Some people who are 65 years of age may transition to the NDIS instead. This could occur where a person with a disability was 64 years of age at the time their plan was approved.

•Both governments are committedto ensuring older people will not be disadvantaged during the roll out of the NDIS and will continue to receive support through CoS. Minimal disruptions to services are expected during this time.

•This new programme means the Commonwealth Government will now administer specialist disability support services for older people instead of the Victorian Government.

•If you are 64 years of age on 1 April 2018 and reside in an area where the NDIS has not commenced operation,you willstay under your current arrangements until your eligibility for the NDIS has been tested.

•Older people with a disability who live in a group home will not need to move because of the transition to Commonwealth CoS arrangements.

•Service providers will contact individuals to talk about any changes, including when they might happen.

Eligibility

If you are 65 years of age or over receiving specialist disability services funded by the Victorian Government andare not eligible for the NDISyou will continue to receive services under the new CoS Programme administered by the Commonwealth Department of Health.

What do the changes mean for older people accessing specialist disability services on 1 April 2018?

Older people accessing specialist disability services will continue to receive services without disruption from 1 April 2018.

Prior to this date, older people will continue to receive their supports under existing arrangements with the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services.

A small number of clients who are 64 years and who reside in areas where the NDIS has not commenced operation will need to test their eligibility for the NDIS before being considered for the Commonwealth’s CoS Programme. All of these remaining clients will transfer by 30 June 2019.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are aged 50-64 years of age who have been identified as ineligible for the NDIS are also able to access the Commonwealth’sCoS Programme.

Further information

Further information is also available on the Department of Health and Human Services National Disability Insurance Scheme < page.

If you require further assistance from the Department of Health of Human Services please contact your service provider or your local Department of Health and Human Services office. Alternatively, you can email

Information on Commonwealth’s continuity of support arrangements can be found on the Department of Health website at Continuity of Support <

To receive this publication in an accessible format phone 9096 5111, or email ing the National Relay Service 13 36 77 if required.
Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne.
© State of Victoria, Department of Health and Human ServicesJune 2017.
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Continuity of support for older people receiving specialist disability services in Victoria1