This document is aimed at all people with a disability in Queensland who need assistance to maintain a reasonable quality of life, and their families, friends and the professionals who are helping them to obtain that support.

The addresses of all websites mentioned in this document are at the end. You can also call Disability Services Queensland on 1800 177 120.

IMPORTANT:

From 3rd December 2007, the registration process and forms changed significantly. If you have submitted an application before that date, or have old Registration of Need forms, or forms to apply for a specific service, you need to throw those old forms out and you may need to submit a new application.

Why

In order to receive direct support from a disability organisation, you need to be registered with Disability Services Queensland (DSQ). DSQ is the state government department for disability services and funds organisations to provide services to individuals.

What

Some of the services which can be arranged through DSQ include lifestyle support in the home or the community, supported accommodation, family assistance or assistance to residents of hostels and boarding houses. A complete list of DSQ services is available on their website.

Who

Anybody with a permanent disability who is aged from 0 to 65 and who is residing in Queensland can register for DSQ assistance.

A permanent disability is defined as:

To assist people to understand and to fill out the registration form, the form itself includes the eligibility criteria. The full eligibility criteria are defined in the Disability Services Act 2006 and are also available from the DSQ website.

How

The Application for Support form can be obtained from a local DSQ office or from the DSQ website. The form is only available in Adobe PDF format and so will need to be printed and filled in by hand. The page containing the form can be accessed from the DSQ home page by following the links to “Support and Services > Applying for Support > Forms and Guides.” The direct link is also given at the bottom of this document.

There is also a Guide to completing the Application for Support available from the same web page.

When filling out any application form it is vital to be honest, clear and complete. It is also important to provide supporting documentation of your disability – the form will remind you to do this. The documentation can be a Doctor’s letter or an assessment from a relevant professional, such as a Psychologist or an Occupational Therapist. You will also need to provide proof of residency in Queensland, such as a rates notice or a phone bill. If you have not provided sufficient documentation with the form, DSQ will notify you.

Keep a copy of the form, in case it gets lost and you need to send another one to DSQ.

Tip

Never provide the originals of any doctor’s letter or medical test results unless you have to and always keep copies for your own records. It is easier and faster to make a photocopy than to apply to a hospital for copies from their records. You will sometimes be told that you need to have this copy authorised by a Justice of the Peace (JP). Even if you aren’t told, this is always a good idea when making copies of official documentation. A JP close to you can be found from the Justice Department of Queensland web page or by phoning 1300 301 147. There are often JPs on duty in shopping centres.

Who can help

The registration can be completed by the person with a disability or by a friend, family member, carer, advocate or service provider on their behalf.

You may be able to get assistance from your local DSQ office. Some offices are listed in the form itself, or contact details can be obtained by phoning the Disability Information Service on 1800 177 120.

You may also be able to ask for help from your G.P. or from another service provider, such as an advocacy organisation.

Where to send it

The Application for Support form can be handed into any DSQ office, or mailed to the nearest DSQ regional office. These address details are contained in the Guide to Completing the Application for Support, or can be obtained by contacting the Disability Information Service on 1800 177 120.

Now what?

DSQ will need to review each application to determine your relative priority need for service. You will be advised of the outcome of this process.

If you are refused funding, the first step is to discuss it with the local office who contacted you. If you are not happy with how the local office is treating you, contact the Complaints and Prevention Unit of DSQ by phoning (07) 3224 7179, emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or writing to GPO Box 806, Brisbane Qld 4001.

What if my circumstances change?

There is an Application Update Form, available from the same web page as the Application for Support form, which you need to complete if your circumstances change. If your circumstances have changed significantly, you may wish to complete the full Application for Support form again. If the change is an emergency, such as homelessness or losing a carer, contact your local DSQ office directly. A list of offices is included on the DSQ website and on the Registration Form, and you should have contact details on any correspondence from DSQ.

What if I have previously filled in a Registration of Need form?

If you have filled in the previous form and an application form for a specific service, you may not need to do anything, as your previous application will remain current. If, however, you only used the Registration of Need form, you will need to submit a full Application for Support form.

In either case, it is a good idea to submit an Application for Support form so that you can be sure that DSQ have all the right information.

Is there anything I don’t need to be registered for?

Information and referral telephone services are free of charge, including the Brain Injury Association of Queensland Community Response Service.

If you live outside a major population centre, including on the northern Sunshine Coast, you can contact the Local Area Coordination service of DSQ for case management. Contact details are available on the DSQ website.

Many organisations that offer support to people with a disability are not funded by DSQ, including employment assistance and all other services accessed through Centrelink.

The Fact Sheet "A Guide To: Finding Assistance" on the Brain Injury Association of Queensland website will help you find these non-DSQ services.

Further Information

DSQ

Detailed eligibility policy: http://www.disability.qld.gov.au/suppserv/policies/

All DSQ Services: http://www.disability.qld.gov.au/suppserv/our_services.html

Local Area Coordination service: http://www.disability.qld.gov.au/suppserv/dsq/lac.cfm

Registration and application forms: http://www.disability.qld.gov.au/support-services/application-for-support/forms-and-guides.html

Complaints: http://www.disability.qld.gov.au/complaints/

Others

Justice Department Queensland: Find a JP: http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/jps/finding.htm

Brain Injury Association of Queensland Inc.: http://www.braininjury.org.au