Advice and support
Continence products are a running cost, and there is real help available. This is a plain guide to every national and state scheme, who qualifies, what each one actually pays for, and how to apply.
There are two layers of help in Australia. National schemes such as the Continence Aids Payment Scheme, the NDIS and DVA support you wherever you live. State and territory schemes sit on top, and they differ a great deal: some fund disposable pads, some fund only washable products, and some fund neither.
These schemes are run by government departments, not by Ontex. We do not administer them, and we are not the supplier under them. What we can do is explain them clearly, and send you free samples so you know which product actually suits you before you commit your entitlement to it.
Start with the one that matches your situation. Many people qualify for more than one, and in several states you are expected to use the national payment first.
An annual cash payment you can spend on any continence product, anywhere. The most widely used scheme in the country, and the first one to check.
How CAPS worksContinence products can be funded as consumables in your plan, based on an assessment of what you reasonably need.
How the NDIS covers continenceProducts supplied free of charge through the Rehabilitation Appliances Program, ordered by your health professional.
How DVA supply worksReplaced Home Care Packages in November 2025. Funds continence care and washable products, and it is important to know what it does not fund.
What aged care funding coversAll eight jurisdictions, including whether each one funds disposable pads or only washable products.
State and territory schemes| Scheme | Who it is for | What you get | Disposable pads? |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAPS | Adults and children 5+ with permanent, severe incontinence | $739.40 a year for 2026-27, paid as cash | Yes, your choice of product |
| NDIS | People under 65 when they apply, with a permanent, significant disability | Assessed as part of your plan, no fixed amount | Yes, where assessed as needed |
| DVA RAP | Veteran Card holders with an assessed clinical need | Products supplied free, up to three months at a time | Yes |
| Support at Home | Older Australians assessed for support at home | Continence care as a service, plus washable products | No |
| State and territory | Varies by where you live and your concession card | Varies widely, from product supply to an annual subsidy | Depends on the state |
Figures and rules change, most often at the start of the financial year. Always confirm with the scheme before you rely on an amount.
Fit and absorbency matter more than anything else, and funding is easier to use well once you know what works. Answer a few questions and we will send free samples to try at home first.
Every scheme is different, but the pattern is much the same. Knowing it in advance saves a lot of time.
Nearly every scheme needs a health professional to confirm your need. A continence nurse, GP, occupational therapist or physiotherapist can usually do this, and in most states they lodge the application for you rather than you doing it yourself.
Several schemes can be held together. Some states expect you to use your national payment first, and some exclude you if you already receive certain aged care or NDIS support.
Try samples, settle on what works, then buy from a distributor. Some schemes supply products directly and some can only be used with a particular supplier, so check before you order.
If you're a healthcare professional, you can access a wide range of exclusive resources and order up to 40 free samples. Register today and let us help you make a difference in delivering trusted and affordable continence care. You are often the person completing the assessment and specifying the product, so samples make that recommendation easier to stand behind.
Please register with your organisation's email address so we can verify you as a healthcare professional. Registrations made with a personal address are set up as customer accounts.
Often yes. CAPS can be held alongside several state schemes, and Services Australia confirms it can now be held at the same time as Support at Home if you meet the CAPS rules. Some combinations are excluded, most commonly where an NDIS plan already includes continence support. In New South Wales and the Northern Territory you are expected to use your CAPS payment first, with the state scheme topping up.
It depends on the scheme. CAPS is a cash payment you can spend on any product, so it covers disposables. The NDIS and DVA can supply them where assessed. Aged care funding under Support at Home does not fund disposable absorbent products, though it does cover continence care as a service and washable products. Among the states, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory fund disposables in some form, while Victoria funds washable products only.
Not always. CAPS requires a Pensioner Concession Card only if you are applying under a non-neurological condition. New South Wales and Victoria do not require a concession card for their schemes, while Queensland and Western Australia do. Each scheme sets its own rule, so check rather than assume.
Most schemes do not publish a processing time. Western Australia is the exception and currently advises up to 8 weeks for a reassessment and up to 13 weeks for a new assessment. DVA suggests allowing about two weeks for an order to be processed. It is worth applying well before you need the products.
The National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66 is free and staffed by nurse continence specialists who can talk through funding as well as management. It is funded by the Australian Government and run by Continence Health Australia.
Last reviewed: 27 July 2026. Amounts and eligibility rules change, usually at the start of the financial year, and departments do not always publish the change straight away. Every figure on these pages links to the official scheme so you can confirm it, but the scheme's own website is the only current source. Please check there, or call the scheme, before you rely on an amount or a rule. Where anything here differs from the scheme's own information, the scheme is correct. This guide is general information, not financial or medical advice.
Ready to work out which product suits you? Try the product selector and order free samples, browse the full continence range, or find a distributor near you.
