Resources
The Australian disability and NDIS sector has good resources. They are spread across many organisations, and they are not always easy to find.
This is a short, curated list of the resources we would point someone to first - by people-led peak bodies, advocacy networks, and organisations that have been doing this work for a long time. It is not exhaustive. It is the list we would give a friend.
We do not host these resources ourselves. Each link goes to the organisation that made it, so you get the current version, and the people who did the work get the recognition.
Safety first
If you or someone you support is in immediate danger, call 000.
For 24/7 crisis support, call Lifeline. For 24/7 mental health counselling, contact Beyond Blue. Lifeline 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
To make a complaint about an NDIS-funded support or report a serious incident, contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. 1800 035 544 or ndiscommission.gov.au
Find help
The Australian Government's official information and referral service for people with disability, their families and carers. Covers NDIS, health, housing, employment, transport, and more. Phone, web chat, and online directory. Free, with translator support and Auslan available.
A free, anonymous service finder used millions of times a year. Built by Infoxchange with Google, REA Group, and News Corp Australia. Includes a dedicated Disability Advocacy Finder for locating independent advocates near you.
A national directory of disability peer support networks, organised by state and territory. Includes networks for specific communities, including deafblind, vision-impaired, CALD, LGBTQI+, First Peoples, parents, siblings, and disability-specific groups.
The national peak body for independent disability advocacy. Its member organisations provide free one-on-one advocacy support across states and territories. DANA also operates the National Centre for Disability Advocacy.
Peak bodies
The national peak organisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability and their families. Governed by First Nations people with lived experience of disability, with resources for individuals and organisations seeking to provide culturally safe services.
The national peak body for people with intellectual disability and their families. Runs major projects including Make Decisions Real, Your Service, Your Rights, and Speaking Up in the Bush.
A NSW-based peak body whose resources are used nationally. CID is a consistent producer of plain-language and Easy Read resources for people with intellectual disability, covering health, rights, decision-making, employment, and more.
Practical tools
Two free Easy Read tools from CID designed to help people with intellectual disability have better conversations with doctors, nurses, and other health professionals. The cards prompt questions before, during, and after an appointment. The folder is a take-with-you communication aid.
A research and practice hub for supported decision-making in Australia. Hosts the My Rights framework, It's My Choice guides, and tools for support workers, family members, and other decision supporters.
The National Resource Centre for setting up Circles of Support and Microboards - formal long-term support networks built around a person with disability. Useful for participants and families thinking about long-term arrangements beyond paid services.
Plain-language resources from the NDIS Commission about the NDIS Code of Conduct and how to make a complaint about NDIS-funded supports. Includes short videos, posters, targeted versions for specific communities, and translations.
Reference
The NDIA's official policy on how decision-making support works within NDIS planning and reviews. Useful for understanding nominee, decision-supporter, and child representative arrangements.
The official lists of what the NDIS funds and what it does not fund. Critical reading since the 3 October 2024 legislation changes, when these lists became binding for the first time. Also includes guidance on replacement supports.
The 2023 Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability handed down 222 recommendations across 12 volumes. Plain-English summaries and Easy Read versions are available alongside the full report.
Scope
This is not a comprehensive directory. There are excellent organisations not listed here, including state-based peak bodies and disability-specific organisations. Many are listed inside the national directories above - Disability Gateway, Ask Izzy, Peer Connect, and DANA's member network all include extensive state and disability-specific listings.
We have kept this list short because a short list is easier to trust, easier to keep current, and more likely to be read than a long one.
If a resource you rely on is not here and you think it should be, tell us. resources@carefile.com.au
Maintenance
This list is reviewed every three months. Each resource is checked to confirm it is current, the link works, and the description is accurate.
Principle 1
Peak bodies, lived-experience organisations, and community-controlled services come first. Government and provider resources are included where they are authoritative or genuinely useful.
Principle 2
Every resource on this list is free, with no paywall or registration required.
Principle 3
Resources that have not been updated in several years are not included, even if they were once excellent.
Resources will be removed if they are no longer maintained, if the organisation that produced them asks us to, or if better alternatives emerge.
If something is wrong, out of date, or missing, please tell us at resources@carefile.com.au.
Last updated
22 May 2026 - Page published with curated resources across five sections.