If you have a disability, you may use aids or equipment to support you in various activities or to improve your quality of life.
Although you can purchase these items privately from your own funds, there are a number of schemes in Australia that provide some form of subsidy to eligible applicants for aids and equipment.
Services that offer independent living assessments or that allow you to trial independent living aids and equipment before you buy can also be found on the JobAccess web site:
National schemes
National schemes for aids and equipment are funded by the Australian Government. The primary schemes are:
Australian Hearing Services
Australian Hearing Services provides a full range of hearing services for children and young people up to the age of 21, eligible adults and aged pensioners, and most war veterans. See our Related Links for more information.
Continence Aids Payment Scheme
The Continence Aids Payment Scheme offers assistance to people who have permanent and severe incontinence to meet some of the cost of their continence products. See our Related Links for more information.
Rehabilitation Appliances Program and Home Modifications
The Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs provides equipment to eligible veterans, war widows and widowers, and their dependants. See our Related Links for more information.
State and territory schemes
The state and territory governments also fund schemes for aids and equipment (note that these links will take you to an external web site in a new window):
ACT
NSW
NT
- Territory Independence and Mobility Equipment Scheme, phone (08) 8951 6744.
QLD
SA
TAS
VIC
WA