People with Disability
Over 1 in 5 Australians have a disability. In addition to experiencing more complex health needs, people with disability may face many barriers accessing healthcare, including physical, communication and financial barriers.
In the Brisbane South PHN region, 5.6% residents have a profound or severe disability. This means they need help with basic activities like self-care, mobility, and communication. Beaudesert had the highest percentage with 8.9% of the population, whilst Brisbane Inner East area had the lowest percentage with 2.8%.
We have invested in understanding needs within the region and prioritise understanding the barriers, challenges and recommendations to improve health outcomes for people with a disability. In 2024, we worked with Queensland Disability Network to engage people with disability, their family, carers and friends, disability sector and primary care peaks to inform our Joint Health Needs Assessment. This work will continue to inform our priorities until 2027.
Brisbane South PHN & Metro South Health Joint Disability Health Forum
The Disability Health Forum (DHF) is a collaborative initiative between Brisbane South PHN and Metro South Health (MSH) dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of people with disability and improving their access to health services across our region.
Through quarterly meetings, the purpose is to:
discuss issues that impact the health, wellbeing, and healthcare access of people with disability.
strengthen connections between people with disability, health professionals, and disability community leaders.
provide advice to Metro South Health and Brisbane South PHN on the emergency, disaster, and pandemic-related needs of people with disability.
The forum currently consists of 8 members with lived experience of disability, who were selected via a recruitment process. In addition, there are representatives from disability peak bodies, disability advocacy services, government agencies, and academic research partners. Opportunities for recruitment into this group will be advertised via our website.
Psychosocial Disability Support
Psychosocial disability refers to the functional limitations stemming from mental health conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression.
Psychosocial supports are non-therapeutic interventions designed to assist individuals with severe mental illness in engaging with their community and managing daily tasks. These supports help individuals find housing, participate in work or study, engage in activities, and build connections with family and friends.
We commission services to deliver the Commonwealth Psychosocial Support Program (CPSP). This program specifically targets individuals with severe mental illness and associated psychosocial functional impairment who are not accessing services through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The CPSP provides non-clinical, community-based support, linking clients to other providers, offering peer support, and providing therapeutic and carer services. Importantly, the intensity of support is flexible and based on individual needs.
The CPSP continues to be a critical response to the needs of individuals with severe and complex mental health conditions and associated psychosocial disabilities.
Services/Programs currently commissioned by Brisbane South PHN to deliver the CPSP include:
Accoras
Brook Red
Stepping Stone Clubhouse
Home & Healthy (Micah, YFS, IUIH)
Fortify Health Group
Stride
IUIH
For contact details and referral information, view and download our printable directory.
Education and Training
Patients with Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders or disabilities - Services Australia
This module provides information about Medicare Benefits Schedule (MSB) items supporting diagnosis, assessment and treatment for patients with a disability or Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorder.
MBSM42-Patients with Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders or disabilities
Access for All: Disability Awareness for Health Providers
Access for All is an online course provided by CheckUP that aims to improve disability awareness among health providers and increase understanding about the barriers people with disability experience when accessing healthcare.
The project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.
Just Include Me Training for Health Professionals
Just Include Me is a free self-paced training for health professionals created by the Council for Intellectual Disability.
This online training is CPD accredited and aims to shine a light on person-centered care and support health professionals to learn more about resources, tools, and actions to promote inclusion in health care for people with intellectual disability.
Just Include Me - Inclusive Health Care eLearning - Council for Intellectual Disability
Resources for GPs
HealthPathways
Brisbane South HealthPathways is a secure, online information portal designed specifically for use by health care professionals. It provides GPs and other health care providers with up-to-date information on the assessment, management and referral options for a wide range of health conditions to support clinical decision making. The tool is designed to be used at point-of-care to support patients in receiving the right care, from the right person, in the right place.
For primary care assessment and management of disability, please visit Brisbane South HealthPathways:
Intellectual Disability - Community HealthPathways Brisbane South (SpotOnHealth)
Disability Support - Community HealthPathways Brisbane South (SpotOnHealth)
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) - Community HealthPathways Brisbane South (SpotOnHealth)
Early Childhood Approach (ECA) - Community HealthPathways Brisbane South (SpotOnHealth)
Older Adults' Support Coordination - Community HealthPathways Brisbane South (SpotOnHealth)
Supporting Patients with the NDIS
General practitioners are often involved in assisting patients who have applied to become a National Disability Scheme (NDIS) participant.
As part of the application process, patients must request access by contacting the NDIS. To support their patients’ request for access, GPs may be asked to provide evidence of a patient’s disability and its functional impact by completing the relevant section of an Access Request form.
The RACGP and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) have co-designed resources to help GPs support their patients to access the NDIS.
A dedicated GP and health professionals page is now available on the NDIS website, including responses to GPs’ most frequently asked questions and links to important information about the scheme and access process.
Intellectual Disability Annual Health Assessment
People with intellectual disability are eligible for a health assessment covered by Medicare each year. This assessment is crucial for understanding health needs and ensuring appropriate follow-up care.
The CHAP (Comprehensive Health Assessment Program) is an evidence-based tool for conducting these assessments and is endorsed by the Australian Government.
CHAP Adult: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/chap-adult-standard
CHAP Young Person (12-18 years old) https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/young-person-12-to-18-years-comprehensive-health-assessment-program-chap-annual-health-assessment-for-people-with-intellectual-disability
Big Health Check
This is an Easy English resource that helps explain the importance of Annual Health Assessments.
It talks through how to book, prepare for and attend an Annual Health Assessment.
The resource is available in English, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese and Indonesian.
One Page Profile
A one page profile can be used to convey communication styles and reasonable adjustments.
Once completed, the profile can be sent to a health service, in advance of an appointment, to remind the service of the individuals support needs.
The resource is available in English, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese and Indonesian.
Disability Gateway
The Disability Gateway is an Australian Government initiative that helps people with disability, their families and carers find the information, services and support they need in Australia.
Welcome to the Disability Gateway | Disability Gateway
Research
Brisbane South PHN is supporting a research initiative by Queensland Centre of Excellence in Autism and Intellectual Disability Health. It is a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funded project. The project, Bridge to Better Health, aims to build capacity within general practice in intellectual disability health.
For more information, visit Bridge to Better Health or email b2bhealth@uq.edu.au.
Latest News
Read the latest in disability health news:
https://bsphn.org.au/news?newsTopics%5B0%5D=news_topic%3A%3Adisability