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NDIS YPIRAC Assistance Explained – Everything You Need to Know

YPIRAC Assistance refers to the supports available for younger people in residential aged care (YPIRAC) to help them move into age-appropriate housing and avoid entering aged care in the first place. YPIRAC usually means a person under 65 living permanently in a residential aged care facility.

Australia’s aged care system is designed for older people, and government policy is clear that aged care should only be used for younger people in very limited, exceptional circumstances. YPIRAC Assistance brings together NDIS Home and Living supports, specialist coordination and housing options so younger people can understand their choices and, if they wish, transition out of aged care to a more suitable home.

This page explains what YPIRAC Assistance is intended to help with, what it looks like in everyday life and how the support is usually funded.

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What is YPIRAC Assistance Under the NDIS?

YPIRAC Assistance is not a single line item in the NDIS Price Guide; instead, it is a combination of Home and Living supports and specialist coordination used to help younger people in residential aged care plan and achieve a move to age-appropriate housing.

In practice, YPIRAC Assistance is about:

  • Helping you explore your housing and support options.
  • Testing and accessing NDIS eligibility if you are not yet an NDIS participant.
  • Designing and funding the supports you need to move from aged care into a home that better suits your age, preferences and disability support needs.

In your NDIS plan and the myplace portal, this assistance usually appears through supports such as Supported Independent Living (SIL), Individualised Living Options (ILO), Short-Term and Medium-Term Accommodation (STA/MTA), Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), home modifications and capacity-building supports that are tailored to your housing goals.

Outside the NDIS, there is also the national YPIRAC System Coordinator Program, funded by the Australian Government and delivered by Ability First Australia, which provides intensive case management and service navigation for younger people in or at risk of entering residential aged care.

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Who Benefits from YPIRAC Assistance?

YPIRAC Assistance is for younger people (under 65) who live in, or are at risk of entering, residential aged care and want to explore more age-appropriate living options.

This support may be right for you if you:

  • Are under 65 and already living in a residential aged care facility but would like to move into your own home, SDA or another community-based option.
  • Are in hospital or another setting and have been told aged care might be the only option, but you want to explore alternatives first.
  • Are not yet an NDIS participant, or unsure if you are eligible, and need help testing eligibility and understanding what support the NDIS might fund.
  • Are an NDIS participant whose goals include leaving aged care or avoiding admission to aged care, and you need coordinated support to make that happen.

YPIRAC Assistance also indirectly benefits families, carers and aged care providers by giving them a clear pathway and dedicated contacts to support younger people to move into more suitable accommodation.

What YPIRAC Assistance Can Help With Day-to-Day

YPIRAC Assistance focuses on helping you understand your options, build a plan and receive the practical support needed to leave aged care safely if that is your goal.

Depending on your situation, YPIRAC Assistance can help with:

  • Exploring housing options: Providing information about SDA, ILO, supported group homes, mainstream rentals with supports and other age-appropriate housing models.
  • System navigation and coordination: Helping you navigate the disability, housing, health and aged care systems, including referrals to NDIS planners, Support Coordinators and specialised housing support coordinators.
  • Planning to move out of aged care: Supporting you to include housing goals in your NDIS plan, arrange assessments (e.g., for SDA or home modifications) and coordinate the timing of your move.
  • Staying informed and in control: Ensuring you understand your rights, funding options and what each step of the transition process involves, so you can make informed decisions.

For people who are not eligible for the NDIS, the YPIRAC System Coordinator Program and state or territory services can still help find alternative accommodation and non-NDIS supports where possible.

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How YPIRAC Assistance is Funded Through the NDIS

Funding for YPIRAC Assistance usually comes from a mix of NDIS Home and Living supports and broader government programs, rather than a single budget line.

For NDIS participants, relevant funding can include:

Alongside NDIS funding:

  • The YPIRAC System Coordinator Program (funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care) provides free, voluntary case management to younger people in aged care or at risk of entering aged care, including those who are not NDIS participants.
  • State and territory governments remain responsible for helping younger people who are not eligible for NDIS-funded Home and Living supports to find alternative accommodation and personal care or domestic assistance.

How to get started if you are a younger person in aged care:

  • Talk to your network: Discuss your housing goals with your family, carer, Support Coordinator or my NDIS contact.
  • Engage your provider: Ask your aged care provider to help you contact the NDIS or a Support Coordinator to discuss Home and Living options.

Contact Ability First Australia: Reach out to the YPIRAC System Coordinator Program to help you test NDIS eligibility and explore options to move out of aged care.

How Care Decisions Helps You Leave Aged Care

Care Decisions is not a directory. We are a free, independent service that helps people find disability support providers matched to their needs, NDIS plan and location.

Moving out of residential aged care is a significant transition that requires the right team. We take the time to understand your housing goals and what support you need to live safely in the community. We then prepare a personalised shortlist of providers with specific experience in complex transitions, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), and Supported Independent Living (SIL).

There is no cost to you and no pressure to choose a particular provider. You remain in control of the decision at every step.

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How It Works

Finding the right NDIS provider shouldn’t be overwhelming. We make it easier by connecting you with dependable, available support services that meet your needs. Our FREE service takes the hassle out of the search. Here’s how it works.
Step 1

Let’s Get Started

Share your support needs, goals, location, and preferences with your dedicated NDIS matching specialist. We’ll help you find the right providers to suit your unique situation.
Step 2

Get a Tailored Provider Options Report

Our team of trained local NDIS support specialists create a personalised report, showing only NDIS providers who are available and matched to your specific requirements, location, and the type of support you’re looking for.
Step 3

Let Us Help You Make the Most of Your NDIS Plan

Once we have sent a list of options, providers will then be in touch. We’ll also help you understand how the NDIS works, how to get the most value from your allocated budget, and how to maximise the care and support available to you. We can also assist you in comparing provider pricing and service options.

Common Questions About YPIRAC Assistance Explained Support

Do I have to move out of residential aged care?

No. Moving out is entirely voluntary. The goal of the YPIRAC initiative is to ensure you have genuine choice and control. If you choose to stay in residential aged care, the NDIS and YPIRAC System Coordinators can still help ensure you receive the therapy and social support you need while living there.

Yes. Many younger people remain in aged care because they fear they won’t be safe elsewhere. However, NDIS funding models like Supported Independent Living (SIL) and Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) are specifically designed to provide 24/7 support in a home-like environment, ensuring you have the same (or better) level of care as a facility.

What if I am not eligible for the NDIS?

They are specialist “navigators” funded by the government to help you. They act as a central contact point to help you work with the NDIS, health services, and housing providers. They are not NDIS Support Coordinators; their specific role is to help you explore your options to leave aged care or improve your life within it.

Generally, the NDIS pays for the “care and support” component of your fees (replacing the funding the aged care home used to get from the Department of Health). You usually continue to pay your Basic Daily Fee (which covers living costs like meals and laundry) and any means-tested accommodation payments, just as you would pay rent and groceries in the community.​