What is assistive technology?

Assistive technology is any device, piece of equipment or system that helps a person do something they otherwise could not, or do it more safely, more easily or more independently. The term covers an enormous range, from a rubber jar opener that costs a few dollars to a powered wheelchair or a speech-generating communication device. What makes something assistive technology is not how advanced it is; it is that it closes a gap between what a person wants to do and what their body or mind currently allows.

That definition matters because people routinely rule themselves out of it. They picture hospital equipment and expensive machines, when the item that would change their week most is a shower stool, a medication organiser, or a lever tap handle.

This guide explains the range of assistive technology, how funding differs under the NDIS and aged care, why an occupational therapist assessment is worth the wait, and how to avoid expensive equipment sitting unused in the spare room.

The range: from very low tech to very high tech

It helps to think of assistive technology as a spectrum rather than a category.

Very low tech. Cheap, no power, no training needed, often available off the shelf: jar openers, non-slip mats, reachers, built-up cutlery handles, pill organisers, large-print clocks, grab rails, walking sticks, magnifiers and shower stools. This end of the spectrum delivers most of the practical benefit per dollar, and is where most people should start.

Mid range. More substantial, often needing correct fitting or set-up: walking frames and rollators, manual wheelchairs, pressure-relieving cushions and mattresses, transfer boards, over-toilet frames, adjustable beds, hearing aids and personal alarms.

Higher tech. More expensive, usually requiring assessment, prescription and sometimes training: powered wheelchairs and scooters, hoists and slings, speech-generating communication devices, home automation for lights, doors and appliances, fall-detection alarms, eye-gaze systems and vehicle modifications.

The line between assistive technology and a home modification is worth knowing: equipment is something you bring into the room, a modification changes the building. A shower chair is assistive technology; removing the step into the shower is a modification. Assessments frequently recommend both.

Why an occupational therapist assessment matters

For anything beyond a cheap, obvious item, the right starting point is an assessment by an occupational therapist, usually called an OT. This is not a hurdle placed in front of the equipment; it is the step that makes the equipment work.

An OT watches how the person actually moves and functions in their own home, which is regularly different from what the family assumed. They then match the device to the person, the task and the environment. The detail is what counts. A walking frame at the wrong height changes someone's posture and can make falls more likely rather than less. A wheelchair that does not fit causes pressure injuries. A rail fixed in the wrong place invites a person to pull on something that will not support the movement they are making.

An OT assessment also produces the written justification funding bodies require for higher-cost items, so it is often unavoidable anyway. A good OT will also tell you when the cheaper option is the better one, which is not advice equipment retailers are well placed to give.

How it is funded: the NDIS

Under the NDIS, assistive technology is treated according to cost and complexity rather than lumped together. Simple, low-cost, low-risk items are usually bought from the flexible part of a plan, often under consumables in the Core budget, without a formal quote or prescription. Higher-cost or higher-risk items sit in the Capital budget, which is tied to the specific item approved and cannot be redirected. Our guide to NDIS budget categories explains the difference.

For substantial items, expect an assessment and report from a qualified professional, a quote, and a decision from the NDIA. The support still has to meet the reasonable and necessary test: related to the disability, effective, and value for money. Repairs, maintenance and eventual replacement matter too, so ask who services the device before you accept it. For the current rules on what needs a prescription, contact the NDIS on 1800 800 110.

How it is funded: aged care

The aged care side works differently, which is why families dealing with both systems find it confusing.

If a person receives ongoing in-home support, assistive technology can generally be funded within that arrangement, and a dedicated assistive technology and home modifications pathway sits alongside the ongoing budget under Support at Home. Entry-level support through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme also covers goods, equipment and assistive technology for lighter needs. The entry point for both is My Aged Care on 1800 200 422; this part of the system is mid-transition, so treat them as the authority on what is funded and how.

Other pathways are often overlooked:

• Department of Veterans' Affairs. Veterans with an entitlement can access a broad range of aids and appliances through DVA rather than aged care.
• State and territory equipment schemes. Each state and territory runs a scheme providing or subsidising equipment, with its own eligibility rules and waiting times.
• Hospital and community health loan pools. Short-term loans of frames, commodes and wheelchairs, ideal after surgery or a hospital stay.

Buying privately is straightforward for low-cost items. For anything expensive, get the assessment first.

The equipment that ends up in the spare room

A large amount of assistive technology is bought, used briefly, and abandoned. It happens for predictable reasons, and they are avoidable.

• It was never assessed. Bought online or on a well-meaning relative's recommendation, without anyone checking it suited the person or the house.
• It did not fit the home. The scooter that cannot get through the side gate, the frame too wide for the hallway, the recliner that blocks the path to the bathroom.
• It was too complicated. Devices needing confident technology skills, or setting up again after every power cut, get quietly abandoned.
• Nobody was trained. The person and whoever helps them both need to know how to use it, especially with hoists, slings and transfers.
• It was rejected, not unusable. Equipment carries meaning, and plenty of people will not use a device that makes them look frail, particularly outside the house. That is a real reason, not a silly one, and it is better addressed than ignored.

The practical defences are simple. Get assessed. Trial before you buy, through a loan pool, an independent living centre, or a supplier's trial period. Measure the doorways. Ask who will service it and what happens when it breaks. And involve the person who will use it in choosing it, every time.

If you are looking for an occupational therapist or other allied health professional, you can browse health and wellbeing services on Our Mate. It is also worth reading our guide to falls prevention, since equipment is only one part of reducing falls risk.

Frequently asked questions

What counts as assistive technology?

Any device, equipment or system that helps someone do something they otherwise could not, or do it more safely or easily. That covers very simple items such as jar openers, non-slip mats, grab rails and walking sticks, as well as complex ones such as powered wheelchairs, hoists, communication devices and home automation. Cost and complexity do not determine whether something qualifies.

Do I need an occupational therapist to get equipment?

Not for cheap, simple, low-risk items, which you can usually buy yourself. For anything expensive, complex or safety-critical, an occupational therapist assessment is normally required by the funding body and is genuinely worth having. The OT matches the device to the person and the home, which is what makes the difference between equipment that helps and equipment that is abandoned.

Who pays for assistive technology in Australia?

It depends which system applies. For NDIS participants, low-cost items are generally bought from flexible plan funding and higher-cost items sit in the Capital budget. In aged care, equipment can be funded through in-home support arrangements, with separate pathways for veterans through DVA and through state and territory equipment schemes. Contact the NDIS on 1800 800 110 or My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 for what applies to you.

Can I try equipment before buying it?

Usually, and you should. Independent living centres, suppliers, and hospital or community health loan pools often allow trials or short-term loans. Trialling matters most for larger items, because problems such as doorway widths, transport and whether the person will actually use it only become obvious in real life.

What is the difference between assistive technology and a home modification?

Assistive technology is equipment you bring into the space, such as a shower chair, a frame or a hoist. A home modification changes the building, such as removing a step, widening a doorway or installing a permanent ramp. They are assessed and funded through different pathways, and an occupational therapist will often recommend a combination of the two.

Where to next

Assistive technology is at its best when it is unglamorous and well matched: the right rail in the right place, the right height frame, the stool that turns a dangerous shower into an ordinary one. Start with an assessment, start at the low-tech end, and be sceptical of anything expensive that nobody has trialled in the actual house.

This is general information, not advice; for your situation, speak to an occupational therapist, or contact the NDIS on 1800 800 110 or My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.