Aids and equipment at home
Aids and equipment at home
The Victorian Government provides eligible people with subsidised aids and equipment to enhance independence in the home, facilitate community participation and support families and carers in their role.
Eligibility for Victorian Government aids and equipment programs (VA+EP)
From 1 July 2019, Victorian State Government provides subsidised aid and equipment for people:
of all ages where their needs relate to a health condition or where they do not meet
National Disability Insurance
Scheme
External Link
(NDIS) access requirements
aged over 65 years with age or disability related aids or equipment needs
permanent residents of Victoria or be a refugee or an asylum seeker.
A number of VA&EP sub-programs such as domiciliary oxygen and lymphoedema compression garments program have additional eligibility criteria.
Assistance is not available in some situations for example:
A person is not eligible to access supports from the VA&EP if:
the cost of the aid or equipment can be claimed through their private health insurance
they have any form of compensation or court award for aids and equipment related to their disability
they are a public or private hospital in-patient
they are eligible to receive aids and equipment from the following programs:
The NDIS, however NDIS participants with health-related AT needs may be able to access supports from the VA&EP.
The Transport Accident Commission or Worksafe Victoria.
The following criteria also apply:
Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Gold Card holders who do not have a DVA ‘approved disability’ can apply for VA&EP subsidies for a mobility scooter, powered wheelchair, and vehicle modification.
Commonwealth Government residential aged care residents can only apply for an electronic communication device.
Commonwealth Government Levels 1 to 4 Home Care Package recipients can apply for all VA&EP AT items except domiciliary oxygen, which should be part of their package.
Commonwealth Government Levels 3 & 4 Home Care Package recipients can only apply for VA&EP subsidies for a mobility scooter, powered wheelchair, home modification, and electronic communication devices.
Victorian Government aids and equipment programs
The aids and equipment programs funded through the
Department of
Health
External Link
are administered by six service providers.
The State-wide Equipment Program (SWEP) at Ballarat Health Services
The
State-wide Equipment Program (SWEP) at Ballarat Health
Services
External Link
delivers the following sub-programs:
Aids and Equipment
Supported Accommodation Equipment Assistance Scheme
Domiciliary Oxygen Program
Continence Aids Program
Vehicle and home modification subsidy scheme
Lymphoedema compression garments program
The SWEP provides subsidised aids and equipment such as:
walking frames and other mobility aids such as scooters and wheelchairs
ramps for walking and wheelchair access
equipment such as shower chairs and hoists
continence aids for bowel or bladder control problems (such as reusable pants and pads)
a contribution to the cost of home or vehicle modifications.
Motor Neurone Disease Association
The Motor Neurone Disease Association administers the
Equipment
Library
External Link
which loans equipment such as wheelchairs, to meet the needs of people with
motor neurone disease
.
Solve Disability Solutions
Solve Disability
Solutions
External Link
provides individual equipment or modification solutions.
Expression Australia
Expression Australia provides subsidised
Smoke
alarms
External Link
for people who are deaf or have significant hearing loss.
Vision Australia
Vision
Australia
External Link
provides low cost vision aids for older Victorians who are visually impaired.
Yooralla
Yooralla administers the
Electronic Communication Devices
Scheme,
External Link
which provides subsidised electronic communications, switching and mounting devices, and software communication apps.
Conditions apply for aids and equipment programs
For aids and equipment supplied by the State-wide Equipment Program and Electronic Communication Devices Scheme, you may be provided with a second-hand (or ‘reissue’) item if one is available.
If a reissue item and funds are not immediately available, your application will be put on a waiting list. You may need to make a non-refundable contribution for the difference between the subsidy amount and the full cost of a new aid or equipment item.
Aids and equipment items are provided on loan for as long as you need them. The State-wide Equipment Program, Electronic Communication Devices Scheme and Equipment Library Program retain ownership of all equipment, except for any personal use items (for example, shoes) and where you have contributed more than 50 per cent of the total cost of the aid or equipment.
The programs do not reimburse the cost of equipment already purchased.
How to apply for aids and equipment
To apply for subsidised aid or equipment under the VA&EP you will need to:
get an appropriate healthcare professional to assess your needs and discuss the type of aid or equipment that will best suit you from the items that are available under the VA&EP.
complete an eligibility and submit the competed eligibility form.
Where to get help
State-wide Equipment Program (all programs and schemes
administered)
External Link
– call Tel:
1300 747 937
Yooralla Electronic Communication Devices
Scheme
External Link
– Tel:
(
- 9633 6913
Motor Neurone Disease
Association
External Link
– Tel:
1800 777 175
Solve Disability
Solutions
External Link
– Tel:
1300 663 243
Vision
Australia
External Link
– Tel:
1300 84 74 66