Continence support: help, funding and products
It can be hard to bring up, even with your GP. It’s also common, manageable, and nothing to be embarrassed about. Who to talk to, what funding you might get, and how to choose products. Plain English, with a printable checklist.
- Free, no sign-up needed
- Plain English, printable PDF
- Checked against official sources, October 2026
Continence support, in order
Bladder and bowel leakage is common, and it can be managed. Continence Health Australia says 7.2 million people over 15 in Australia experience incontinence, and 70% of them are younger than 65. You’re not unusual, and you don’t have to sort it out on your own.
This guide is general information only. Your GP or a continence nurse is the right person to talk to about your own situation.
Talk to your GP or a continence nurse first
Before you settle on products, get checked. The NDIS’s own guideline on continence says to talk to your doctor first, and Medicare helps with the cost of services to test and diagnose incontinence.
A continence nurse can do a continence assessment: preparing a continence plan, working out which products you need, and reviewing the plan over time.
National Continence Helpline: 1800 33 00 66. Free and confidential, staffed by nurse continence specialists, Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm AEST. They can help with funding schemes (CAPS, NDIS and My Aged Care), product recommendations, suppliers and samples. Interpreters and the National Relay Service are available. Out of hours, healthdirect is on 1800 022 222.
Check whether CAPS can help with costs
The Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS) is a yearly, non-taxable payment to cover some of the cost of continence products. For 2026–27 it’s up to $739.40 per person. To be eligible you must:
- be 5 years or older
- have permanent and severe incontinence confirmed by a registered health professional (such as a GP, continence nurse, registered nurse, physiotherapist or occupational therapist)
- be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- have an eligible neurological condition, or another eligible condition plus a Pensioner Concession Card.
You can’t get CAPS if your NDIS plan includes continence support, if you live permanently in an Australian Government funded aged care home, or if your incontinence is temporary, treatable or night-time bed wetting only. Veterans who can get help through the DVA Rehabilitation Appliances Program also can’t get CAPS. You can get CAPS and Support at Home at the same time if you meet the CAPS rules.
To apply, your health professional fills in Section 3 (the Health Report) of the CAPS application form. Then apply through your Medicare online account in myGov, or post the paper form. CAPS is paid into your bank account, or a nominee’s, once a year in July or twice a year in July and January. The CAPS line is 1800 239 309 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm AEST).
NDIS continence supports
The NDIS may fund continence supports if they relate to your disability. They’re treated as disability-related health supports. Products can include pads, nappies and bed protection, and catheter or stoma products such as bags, bottles and straps. The NDIS can also fund someone to help you manage continence, or a nurse to train a support worker or family member.
You’ll need evidence, usually a continence assessment from a continence nurse or another qualified health professional. The NDIS has a continence-related assistive technology assessment template your health professional can use. Services Australia notes the NDIS won’t cover incontinence that comes from a medical condition rather than your disability.
If you’re NDIA-managed, you must buy from a registered NDIS provider. The NDIS publishes a continence provider list of registered providers to help you compare.
If you get aged care at home
If you receive Support at Home, ask your provider what your support plan can cover, and remember you may also be eligible for CAPS. If you live permanently in a government-funded aged care home, CAPS isn’t available, so talk to the home about your continence care. For more on getting assessed, see our aged care help at home guide.
Aged care help at home guide →Choose products, and get the size right
Products range from liners and pads to pull-up styles, tab-style briefs (often called adult nappies), washable underwear, and bed or chair protection. Which one suits you depends on your needs, so ask your continence nurse or the Helpline before you buy in bulk. A few practical habits help:
- Measure your waist and hips, then check the supplier’s size chart. Sizes vary between brands.
- If you sit between two sizes, ask the supplier or your continence nurse which to choose.
- Try a small pack before ordering a carton.
- Keep a note of what works, and your receipts.
- If you notice sore or broken skin, talk to your GP or nurse.
Equipit: continence products from our family of businesses
Equipit is the product-supply arm of Kinship Uniting Services, an NDIS registered and CHSP approved provider since 2017.
In plain words: Equipit is part of the same family of businesses as Kinship. It sells adult nappies (tab-style continence briefs) online at equipitdsp.com.
- You’re free to buy from any supplier. Use whoever suits you best.
- Equipit is not a registered NDIS provider, so NDIA-managed (agency-managed) NDIS funds can’t be spent with Equipit.
- Self-managed or plan-managed? Check with your plan manager before you buy.
- CAPS is paid to you, so you decide where to spend it.
Your continence checklist
Tick these off as you go. The same checklist is in the PDF, ready to print.
- Book a GP appointment, or call the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66.
- Ask about a continence assessment with a continence nurse.
- Ask your health professional whether you might be eligible for CAPS.
- If so, ask them to complete Section 3 (Health Report) of the CAPS form.
- If you’re an NDIS participant, ask whether continence supports belong in your plan and what evidence you need.
- If you get Support at Home, ask your provider what your support plan covers.
- Measure your waist and hips and check the supplier’s size chart.
- Try a small pack before buying in bulk.
- If you’re NDIA-managed, buy only from a registered NDIS provider.
- Keep receipts and a note of what works.
How Kinship can help you with this
We understand this is personal. Whether it’s you or someone you care for, continence care is about dignity as much as products, and it goes better with someone who knows the routine and doesn’t make a fuss.
We’re a registered NDIS provider (4-GWVHCEY) in Colebee. Here’s where we can help, and where your GP or a continence nurse is the right person to see.
Who you’d be working with
- Registered NDIS provider, registration number 4-GWVHCEY. You can check it on the NDIS Commission’s Provider Register
- Operating in disability and aged care since 2017
- The same support worker every visit, with carer updates as standard
- Hundreds of clients and families supported
Here’s how we can help
High intensity bowel and catheter care
For NDIS participants, our high intensity supports include complex bowel care and catheter care, done the same way each visit by the same support worker.
High intensity support →Personal care at home
Help with personal care and daily routines at home, from a support worker who knows how you like things done.
Daily living support →Private nursing
Booked privately. Send us an enquiry and we’ll talk through private nursing. Final price confirmed in writing before any booking.
Private nursing →Continence products and Equipit
Equipit is the product-supply arm of Kinship Uniting Services, an NDIS registered and CHSP approved provider since 2017. It’s part of the same family of businesses, and you’re free to buy continence products from any supplier.
Continence products →Come and talk to us
If you’d like us to help with this, call 0437 733 744 and we’ll talk it through. Prefer to write? Send us a message through our website and we’ll get back to you.
Questions people ask
Is incontinence common?
Yes. Continence Health Australia says 7.2 million people over 15 in Australia experience incontinence, and 70% of them are younger than 65.
Who should I talk to first?
Your GP, a continence nurse, or the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66. The Helpline is free and confidential and staffed by nurse continence specialists, Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm AEST.
How much is the Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS)?
For 2026–27, CAPS is up to $739.40 per person. It’s a yearly, non-taxable payment, paid in July, or in July and January if you choose two payments.
Who can get CAPS?
People aged 5 or older with permanent and severe incontinence confirmed by a registered health professional, who are Australian citizens or permanent residents, and who have an eligible neurological condition, or another eligible condition plus a Pensioner Concession Card.
Will the NDIS pay for continence products?
The NDIS may fund continence supports, such as pads, nappies and bed protection, if they relate to your disability. You’ll usually need a continence assessment from a continence nurse or another qualified health professional as evidence.
Can I get CAPS and NDIS continence funding?
Generally no. Services Australia says you can’t get CAPS if your NDIS funding includes continence support. You can get CAPS and Support at Home at the same time if you meet the CAPS rules.
Can I use my NDIS funds with Equipit?
Not if your plan is NDIA-managed, because Equipit is not a registered NDIS provider. If you’re self-managed or plan-managed, check with your plan manager first.
Do I have to buy from Equipit?
No. Equipit is part of the same family of businesses as Kinship, and you’re free to buy continence products from any supplier.
Can Kinship help with continence care?
For NDIS participants, Kinship’s high intensity supports include complex bowel care and catheter care, and personal care is part of our daily living support. Private nursing can be booked too: send us an enquiry and we’ll talk it through. Your GP or a continence nurse is the right person for advice about your own situation.
Sources
Every rule, phone number and amount in this guide was checked on these official pages in October 2026. Rules and amounts change, so confirm with the source before you act.
- Services Australia: Continence Aids Payment Scheme: www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/continence-aids-payment-scheme
- Services Australia: CAPS, how much you can get: www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/how-much-you-can-get-continence-aids-payment-scheme
- Services Australia: CAPS, who can get it: www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/who-can-get-continence-aids-payment-scheme
- Services Australia: CAPS, not meeting eligibility: www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/not-meeting-eligibility-for-continence-aids-payment-scheme
- Services Australia: How to apply for CAPS: www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/how-to-apply-for-continence-aids-payment-scheme
- Continence Health Australia: National Continence Helpline: www.continence.org.au/get-support/national-continence-helpline
- Continence Health Australia (home page figures): www.continence.org.au/
- NDIS Our Guideline: Continence supports: www.ndis.gov.au/media/7806/download?attachment
- NDIS: Continence-related assistive technology assessment: www.ndis.gov.au/participants/assistive-technology/assistive-technology-assessments/what-continence-related-assistive-technology-assessment
- NDIS: Continence provider list: www.ndis.gov.au/participants/working-providers/finding-providers/continence-provider-list
- NDIS: What is a provider (registered providers for NDIA-managed funds): www.ndis.gov.au/participants/working-providers/get-know-your-providers/what-provider
General information only. This guide is not medical, legal or financial advice. Talk to your GP, health team or the official agency about your own situation.
Questions about your situation?
Call us and we’ll talk it through. If we can’t help, we’ll say so plainly.
Kinship Uniting Services · Registered NDIS provider 4-GWVHCEY · 39 Victory Road, Colebee NSW 2761