Funding schemes
Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS)
CAPS is an Australian Government scheme that provides assistance to eligible people with permanent and severe incontinence to meet some of the costs of their incontinence products.
For further information about the CAPS schemes and to download an application form go to the Bladder Bowel website.
For assistance with completing the CAPS application form or the CAPS payment contact Medicare Australia on 13 20 11 and Select option 2, then ask to speak to an assistant in the Continence Aids Payment Scheme department in the Sydney office. Alternatively go to Medicare Australia.
Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA)
DVA provides a range of incontinence products to eligible veterans and war widow(er)s via the Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP).
For further information about the Department of Veterans' Affairs scheme please contact the South Australian State Office:
National Continence Contract Team
Department of Veterans' Affairs
GPO Box
(199 Grenfell Street)
Adelaide SA 5001
Phone: 1300 131 945
State or territory funding schemes
New South Wales
Program of Appliances for Disabled People (PADP) is a NSW Government scheme and provides a subsidy towards the cost of equipment covering disposable and re-usable continence aids for people living in the community.
For more information contact PADP (ENABLE NSW) on 1800 362 253 or visit their website at http://www.enable.health.nsw.gov.au/services/padp
Victoria
State-wide Equipment Program (SWEP), formerly the A&EP, covers a wide variety of continence aids, excluding disposable continence pants and pads, drip collectors, colostomy appliances and urinals.
For more information contact SWEP on 1300 747 937 or visit their website at http://swep.bhs.org.au
Queensland
Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme (MASS) funded by the Queensland Government covers approved aids, including for continence management, primarily for use in the home, rather than for community access (work or school).
For more information contct MASS on (07) 3136 3665 or visit their website at http://www.health.qld.gov.au/mass
Western Australia
The Continence Management and Advice Service (CMAS) is a state-wide service established by the West Australian Government and delivered by Silver Chain. The service provides an annual consultation with a continence nurse advisor and access to a subsidy of up to $480 a year for pads and/or products, if required.
For more information call CMAS on 1300 787 055 for the cost of a local call or visit http://www.silverchain.org.au/Services/Continence-Service/
The second scheme available in WA is the Incontinence Pad Scheme (IPS) which at present is only available for those ages 3 to 16 years who are incontinent due to a permanent disability.
IPS is funded by the Disability Services Commission and administered by Independence Australia (1300 78 88 55). Applicants need to be a permanent resident of WA and have a health care card. Children receive $490 worth of products.
South Australia
Department for Families & Communities (DFC) Equipment Program formerly known as Independent Living Equipment Program (ILEP) is currently under review. For more information contact the Independent Living Centre on 08 8266 5260 or visit their website at http://www.ilcaustralia.org/home/sa/asp
Novita Childrens Services Continence Assistance Program for children 4-5 years or children 5-16 years who are not eligible for CAPS. For further information contact Novita Intake Team on 1800 337 443 or view their factsheet http://www.novita.org.au/library/Factsheet-Continence_assistance.pdf
Tasmania
Community Equipment Scheme (CES) operated by the Department of Health & Human Services entitles each client to continence aids to the value of $1,000, with a co-payment of 50% of the full cost.
For more information on CES call 1300 723 143 or visit their website at http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/health_and_wellbeing/community_health/related_topics/community_equipment_scheme/services/community_equipment_scheme
Northern Territory
The Territory Independence and Mobility Equipment (TIME) scheme covers equipment for use at home or in a residential place (not nursing homes).
For more information on TIME visit their website at http://www.health.nt.gov.au/Aged_and_Disability/Subsidies/TIME_Scheme/index.aspx
Australian Capital Territory
The ACT Equipment Scheme offers funding to assist permanent residents of the ACT with long term disabilities to obtain and maintain a range of equipment to live at home in the community.
Contact the ACT Equipment Scheme on 02 6205 2605 or visit their website at http://www.health.act.gov.au/c/health?a=sp&pid=1059610195