NDIS Assistive Technology Assessment: What Evidence Is Needed?

An NDIS assistive technology assessment helps explain what equipment a participant needs, why it is needed, and how it supports daily living, safety, independence, participation, or care needs. For many items, the NDIS needs more than a product request. It needs clear functional evidence from an occupational therapist or another suitably qualified professional.

This guide explains what evidence is usually helpful for assistive technology requests, what an OT looks at during an assessment, and how support coordinators can make a clean referral when an AT report is needed.

What is assistive technology under the NDIS?

Assistive technology, often called AT, includes equipment, devices, aids, modifications, and technology that help a person do something they otherwise could not do safely or independently. In occupational therapy, AT often relates to mobility, transfers, showering, toileting, pressure care, seating, communication, personal care, domestic tasks, and community access.

Examples may include:

• shower chairs, commodes, over-toilet frames and bathroom aids;
• manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, scooters and mobility aids;
• hoists, slings, transfer boards and standing aids;
• pressure cushions, mattresses and seating systems;
• adjustable beds, bed rails and positioning supports;
• communication devices or access technology;
• kitchen, dressing, grooming or daily living aids.

The NDIA has published an evidence snapshot on assistive technology for children, noting that AT can support communication, mobility, comfort, independence at home, and participation in the community: NDIA Assistive Technology Evidence Snapshot.

When is an NDIS assistive technology assessment needed?

An NDIS assistive technology assessment may be needed when the equipment is more complex, higher cost, higher risk, custom-made, or requires professional clinical reasoning. It may also be needed when the item affects safety, transfers, mobility, pressure care, manual handling, or daily care routines.

For simple low-risk items, a full report may not always be required. But for mid-cost, high-cost, customised, or high-risk equipment, the NDIS commonly expects stronger evidence about why the item is needed, why alternatives are not suitable, and how the recommendation links to the participant’s goals and functional needs.

The NDIS allied health provider information pack explains that allied health providers continue to play an important role in providing evidence, assessments and reports that inform access and planning decisions, including assistive technology and home modification requests: NDIS Allied Health Provider Information Pack.

What evidence does the NDIS usually need?

The evidence should show that the recommended assistive technology is not just helpful, but reasonable, necessary, suitable, safe, and linked to the participant’s disability-related needs.

A useful AT report may include:

• participant background, including diagnosis, current supports, goals and funding context;
• functional impact, including what daily tasks are difficult or unsafe without the equipment;
• current equipment, including what is already in place and why it is no longer suitable if replacement is needed;
• home environment, including layout, access, bathroom space, bedroom setup, transfer space and storage needs;
• risk information, such as falls risk, pressure injury risk, manual handling risk, fatigue, pain, behaviour risk or carer strain;
• equipment trials, including what was trialled, what worked, what did not work, and why the recommended option was selected;
• quotes and specifications, especially for higher-cost or supplier-specific items;
• training and implementation needs, such as carer training, safe use, setup, delivery, installation or review.

Why equipment trials matter

Trials help show that the recommended item is suitable in real life. A catalogue option may look appropriate, but it still needs to work for the participant’s body, routines, home layout, carer support, transport needs, and safety risks.

During an AT trial, an OT may look at:

• whether the participant can use the equipment safely;
• whether carers or support workers can assist safely;
• whether the item fits through doorways, bathrooms, bedrooms or vehicles;
• whether the item reduces risk or creates new risks;
• whether a lower-cost or simpler option would meet the same need;
• whether the participant needs training, setup, or follow-up review.

For example, a wheelchair assessment may need to consider posture, propulsion, pressure care, transfers, transport, fatigue, pain, home access, community access and the participant’s daily routines. A hoist assessment may need to consider sling fit, transfer space, carer safety, bed and chair setup, and whether the home environment allows safe use.

What does an OT assess during an AT assessment?

An occupational therapist does more than recommend a product. The OT looks at how the person functions in their real environment and whether the equipment will improve safety, independence, participation, or care sustainability.

Assessment area	What the OT looks at
Daily living tasks	Showering, toileting, dressing, meals, transfers, mobility, domestic tasks and routines
Safety and risk	Falls, manual handling, pressure care, fatigue, pain, cognition, behaviour and carer safety
Environment	Door widths, floor surfaces, bathroom layout, bedroom setup, access, storage and transport
Equipment options	Different products, trial outcomes, alternatives, cost-effectiveness and long-term suitability
Implementation	Training, delivery, setup, installation, follow-up, maintenance and support worker use

Common AT requests we assess

Youcentric Care Group can assist with a range of assistive technology assessments and reports, including:

• wheelchairs and mobility equipment;
• seating and pressure care equipment;
• hoists, slings and transfer equipment;
• bathroom aids, shower chairs and commodes;
• beds, mattresses and positioning equipment;
• daily living aids for dressing, grooming, meals and household tasks;
• equipment linked to home safety and minor home modifications.

How support coordinators can make a clean AT referral

A clean referral helps the OT complete the right assessment and reduces delays after the home visit. Before referring, include as much relevant information as possible.

• participant’s NDIS number, goals and plan dates if available;
• what equipment is being requested and why;
• whether the item is new, replacement, urgent, high-risk or high-cost;
• current risks, such as falls, pressure injuries, unsafe transfers or carer strain;
• current equipment and why it is not meeting needs;
• home access issues, bathroom concerns or manual handling issues;
• supplier details, previous quotes or trial information if already available;
• any relevant hospital discharge summaries, FCA reports, physio reports, behaviour support plans or nursing notes.

This information helps the OT understand whether the referral needs an AT report, a Functional Capacity Assessment, a home modification assessment, or a combination of evidence.

Mobile AT assessments across Western Sydney and Sydney

Youcentric Care Group provides mobile OT assessments for assistive technology across Sydney, including Western Sydney and South West Sydney. We assess the participant in their home or community environment so the recommendation is based on real spaces, real routines and real risks.

For suburbs such as Mount Druitt, Blacktown, Liverpool, Fairfield, Bankstown, Merrylands and Parramatta, this is especially important because equipment needs often connect with housing layout, older bathrooms, transfer space, stairs, carer availability, transport and community access.