NDIS and assistive technology: how funding works

This is general information about how the NDIS describes assistive technology (AT) funding. It is not advice about any person’s plan, and it does not say any item will be funded.

The tiers

The NDIS groups assistive technology by cost per item:

Tier	Cost per item
Low cost	Under $1,500
Mid cost	$1,500 to $15,000
High cost	Over $15,000

These are the figures the NDIS publishes on its assistive technology page, accessed 29 October 2026. Check the current page before relying on them.

The test every support has to meet

The NDIS states that all supports must meet the reasonable and necessary criteria. That is the test applied to AT as to everything else. It is about the participant’s goals and circumstances, not about the product. A device being useful in general does not make it fundable for a particular person.

Items the NDIS supports rules exclude

Since October 2024, the NDIS supports rules have listed kinds of items that are not NDIS supports. As made, the transitional rules list “standard computers, standard computer accessories, consoles and games” among them, and list “gaming therapy” as not evidence-based. They don’t name VR headsets. How the rules apply to a particular item, and whether a replacement support determination is relevant, is a question for the NDIA. The rules can be amended, so check the current version on the Federal Register of Legislation.

Quotes, evidence and assessments

Per the NDIS page, items under $15,000 do not need a quote. Mid-cost items still need supporting evidence, including a cost estimate. For items over $15,000 the NDIS requires an assessment by a professional AT advisor and a quote. The page also says advice from an AT assessor is recommended for most AT, and required before higher-risk AT.

Other points from the NDIS page

• The NDIS cannot fund AT that is more appropriately funded by other government services.
• Participants can use their own money or other sources, such as JobAccess, for extra features.

What this means for VR equipment

Whether a headset or related equipment could meet the criteria for a given person is a question for that person’s planner, support coordinator or an AT advisor. It depends on the goal the equipment would serve and the evidence for it. Nothing on VRTA, including links to product listings, is a statement that the NDIS will pay for anything.