NDIS Funding for Assistive Technology | A Practical Guide
How does NDIS assistive technology funding actually work? A practical guide to AT categories, the request process, and the role of OT justification.
Owen Clark
8/31/20262 min read
NDIS Funding for Assistive Technology: A Practical Guide
Assistive technology (AT) can transform independence and quality of life but navigating how it's funded under the NDIS often feels more complicated than it needs to be. Here's a practical overview of how the process generally works.
What Counts as Assistive Technology?
AT covers a broad range of equipment designed to increase a person's function, independence or safety. This includes items like:
Manual and power wheelchairs
Pressure care mattresses and profiling beds
Shower commodes and bathroom equipment
Communication devices (AAC)
Electric scooters
Power assist devices
Orthoses and splints
How AT Funding Levels Work
The NDIS categorises AT into risk and cost bands, generally described as low, mid and high cost/risk. Lower-cost, lower-risk items may be able to be purchased more straightforwardly within a participant's plan, while higher-cost or higher-risk items like power wheelchairs or complex seating systems require more detailed clinical justification and often, a formal AT assessment and quote process.
The Role of Clinical Justification
For anything beyond simple, low-risk equipment, the NDIS expects a clear evidence trail connecting the requested item to the participant's functional needs and goals. This typically means an occupational therapist (or other relevant allied health professional) needs to demonstrate:
The specific functional limitation the equipment addresses
Why alternative or lower-cost options aren't suitable
How the item links to the participant's NDIS goals
Expected outcomes and, where relevant, a trial period
This is often the step where requests stall not because the equipment isn't warranted, but because the justification hasn't clearly answered the questions a delegate needs answered.
The Trial and Quote Process
For many higher-cost items, particularly power wheelchairs and complex seating, a trial period is standard practice. This allows the prescribing OT to confirm the equipment genuinely meets the person's needs before a final funding request and formal quote are submitted.
Common Reasons AT Requests Are Delayed
In our experience, AT requests are most often delayed or queried when:
The clinical justification doesn't clearly link the equipment to functional need
Alternative, lower-cost options haven't been addressed
Supporting evidence (such as an FCA or specialist report) is missing or outdated
The quote doesn't match what was recommended in the assessment
Working with an Experienced AT Prescriber
Because AT funding decisions rely so heavily on the quality of clinical documentation, working with an OT experienced in NDIS AT prescription can make a meaningful difference to both the speed and success of a request. This is particularly true for complex equipment like power wheelchairs, custom seating, and communication devices, where the justification needs to reflect a genuinely individualised clinical picture.
Onward Health prescribes assistive technology across the Sunshine Coast and surrounding catchment, working within NDIS, NIISQ, TAC, DVA and Support at Home funding pathways. Get in touch to discuss your AT needs.
