Fee for Service / Private Funding
Disability Support for Older Australians
The Commonwealth DSOA Program has been set up to ensure that older people over the age of 65 with disability who are not eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will still be able to access support services.
From the 1 July 2021 Disability Support for Older Australians (DSOA) has replaced the Continuity of Support Program (CoS)
What are the key changes under the DSOA Program?
- All clients receive tailored support under an Individual Support Plan (ISP).
- A DSOA service coordinator oversees all support services for the client. This includes making arrangements with other service providers for the client’s disability services.
- Clients may apply for increased support as their needs change
- The Department of Health (the Department) may arrange for a client to undertake an independent assessment to inform their change of needs application for additional funding
- Clients and providers will benefit from disability service funding that is consistent across all states and territories and is better aligned with the NDIS.
- The DSOA Program offers two-year funding agreements with DSOA service coordinators.
- The DSOA service coordinator will receive a management fee equal to one per cent (1%) of each client’s total funding to help meet the costs associated with preparing and amending the client’s ISP, reviewing client needs and meeting program reporting requirements. The management fee calculation is based on the DSOA Service and Pricing Schedule set out in Appendix A of the DSOA Program Manual.
What is not changing under the DSOA Program?
- The DSOA Program will remain a closed program with no new clients.
- Existing quality and safeguard arrangements, as outlined by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, remain in place for all service providers.
- Services excluded under the CoS Programme will remain excluded under the DSOA Program.
- Client contribution arrangements that were in place under the CoS Programme can continue under DSOA and may increase each year in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
- DSOA service coordinators are required to submit annual performance reports and financial acquittals, change of need requests, notifications of client exit and support clients to transfer to an alternative service coordinator or to aged care services if appropriate.
- Funding is provided via a grant funding arrangement and payments will be quarterly in advance.
Please refer to Appendix B of the DSOA Program Manual for a detailed comparison of the CoS Programme and DSOA Program.
Community Support is a DSOA provider and can assist you with the services and supports you require.
For more information, call us on 08 8429 1200 or Make an Enquiry.