Assistive Technology
FAQs for Prescribers: SA Launch Site
What assistive technology can be
funded by the NDIA?
National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA)
provides long-term, individualised support that is
reasonable and necessary to meet the needs of
people with permanent and significant disability, or
who meet the eligibility requirements for early
intervention. This includes providing modified or
specialised equipment to allow participants to
engage in: activities of daily living such as cooking
and cleaning; recreational activities; mobility;
personal care and safety; and to maintain personal
hygiene. The NDIA will fund the equipment item,
specialist assessment, set up and training, and
repairs and maintenance where required.
The NDIA will not fund medical equipment, items
that are more appropriately funded through other
service systems or items that any person would
usually fund themselves.
How is assistive technology
supplied in South Australia?
In South Australia, the Domiciliary Equipment
Service (DES) is the “in kind” equipment provider for
the launch period. DES is responsible for meeting
participants’ approved equipment needs, through the
purchase, customisation and supply/loan of items to
participants. DES will meet participants’ identified
equipment needs by supplying a stock item,
refurbishing an existing item, or purchasing a new
item. Where an item is out of scope for DES, the
NDIA will seek quotes and provision from other
equipment providers
What is the process for
prescribing equipment?
Equipment needs are considered during the
planning process. NDIA planners approve funding
for reasonable and necessary items and include
them in the participant’s plan. Plans are reviewed at
a maximum of twelve months and equipment needs
will form part of the review process. Once the item
has been approved, the participant locates a
prescriber to assist with its selection. Participants will
be supported to find an appropriate prescriber if
www.ndis.gov.au
needed. When the prescriber has completed the
assessment, they will complete the Domiciliary
Equipment Service-NDIA prescription form and
forward it to DES. This form includes relevant
participant details, the equipment item, and item
codes from the DES equipment catalogue where
applicable. The prescription form can be accessed at
http://dcsi.sa.gov.au/des/ndia-documents.
Items must be prescribed by an appropriate
discipline for that item. More complex item types
require an approved prescriber to complete the
prescription outlining all general specifications.
Particular brands may be requested only with a
supporting rationale, and a clear indication of why a
specific brand is being sought, with reference to the
pricing principles. Some items may require additional
specification forms which are also available at
http://dcsi.sa.gov.au/des/ndia-documents.
DES clinical support officers match prescriptions
against equipment in the store that might be suitable
and can be supplied immediately. Where no
suitable item is available, DES will request the
prescriber to source a quote. Once a final quote is
obtained by the prescriber, it is then forwarded to
DES where a DES clinical support officer will review
the quote and advise the planner about the
reasonableness of the quote. Once approved by the
planner, DES will raise a purchase order for the
item.
Who can prescribe equipment?
Where a participant requires a piece of basic
equipment, the item can be prescribed by a qualified
health professional of an appropriate discipline.
Where a participant requires a more complex or
customised item, a currently approved prescriber for
that item type will complete a prescription. If an
approved prescriber is not available, an item can be
prescribed by a health professional of an appropriate
discipline supported by a currently approved
prescriber or the DES clinical support officers. The
clinical support officer may seek further information
from the prescriber, provide advice to the NDIA
about the clinical reasoning process, and may also
comment on the appropriateness of the prescribed
item.
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How can equipment be provided
urgently?
customised items. Additional time will be included in
the participant’s plan to cover this where needed.
Participants with urgent equipment needs are
considered a priority. For example, participants who
have compromised safety or who require NDIA
funded equipment to facilitate hospital discharge.
NDIA will work together with DES and prescribers to
facilitate this process. If necessary, equipment
prescription will be done simultaneously with the
planning process.
What happens if equipment breaks
or requires maintenance?
What are the equipment pricing
principles?
The NDIA provides reasonable and necessary
supports. One aspect of the decision that a support
is reasonable and necessary is that it represents
value for money. For equipment prescribers, this
means that they are required to assist participants to
select the most cost effective solution to meet their
identified need.
An important element of considering whether an item
represents value for money is to consider the
relevant benchmark price as these are based on
market research. Benchmark prices are listed in the
Support Cluster and Pricing document and
prescribers should be familiar with these. The
benchmark prices listed are GST exclusive.
Generally equipment will need to be consistent with
the benchmark price. Planners can approve an item
above the benchmark price where the item can be
shown to meet the person’s needs and another
more cost effective item is not available. In this
instance, the prescriber will give a clear description
of the relevant considerations, and a detailed
indication of what other items have been considered
and trialled with the outcome.
Who delivers and installs
equipment?
In the metropolitan and Greater Adelaide areas,
DES delivers and installs supplied items, using
trained equipment liaison officers and specialist
contractors. In these areas DES staff and
contractors provide guidance in the safe use and
maintenance of basic items. In remote areas, the
prescriber will assist the participant with the
installation and safe use of equipment items.
In all regions it is the prescriber’s role to follow up by
phone or a visit and where necessary provide any
additional training or set up of complex or
www.ndis.gov.au
Participants and their families are responsible for
basic cleaning and monitoring of their equipment.
Where items require repairs or maintenance,
participants will phone DES direct on 1300 130 302.
Generally, basic items requiring repairs generally will
be replaced with a similar item where feasible. For
customised or larger items, in home repairs will be
undertaken utilising in-house repair staff or
contractors.
Repairs are funded by NDIA and plans incorporate a
funding to cover any repairs that might arise.
What happens if there is an
incident involving damage or
malfunction of equipment?
Participants are required to stop using the item/s
involved in the incident to ensure there is no further
risk or change to damage. The Participant is
responsible for reporting the details of the incident to
DES on 1300 130 302. Once advised, DES will
arrange the collection of the item for inspection and
investigation.
How can equipment be returned
that is no longer required?
DES will collect equipment (except consumable or
single use items) once advised by the participant,
prescriber or planner that the item is no longer
required. The DES returns number is 1300 295 786.
Complaints and Feedback
Management of complaints and feedback will be in
accordance with arrangements between the SA
Government and the National Disability Insurance
Agency.
Feedback can be addressed to the National
Disability Insurance Agency via calling 1800 810 110
or through the website: http://www.ndis.gov.au/
Feedback can be provided to the Domiciliary
Equipment Service via email
equipment.feedback@dcsi.sa.gov.au.
Or phone 1300 295 786.
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