--- title: "NDIS and assistive technology: how funding works | VRTA" description: "How the NDIS describes assistive technology funding: cost tiers, the reasonable and necessary test, and why no purchase is guaranteed." url: https://vrta.com.au/guides/ndis-assistive-technology-funding-basics/ --- 1. [Home](https://vrta.com.au/) 2. [Guides & Insights](https://vrta.com.au/guides/) 3. NDIS and assistive technology: how funding works [NDIS & funding](https://vrta.com.au/guides/?topic=funding) 2 min read # NDIS and assistive technology: how funding works How the NDIS describes assistive technology funding: cost tiers, the reasonable and necessary test, and why no purchase is guaranteed. Fact-checked By VRTA Editorial. Published 29 October 2026. 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. ## Quick answers Will the NDIS fund a VR headset? Nobody can promise that. The NDIS says all supports must meet the reasonable and necessary criteria. Whether a particular item is funded depends on the participant's goals, plan and evidence. Speak to your planner, support coordinator or an assistive technology advisor. * * * ## Sources 1. [Assistive technology explained (NDIS)](https://ndis.gov.au/node/5727) — National Disability Insurance Agency, accessed 29 October 2026 2. [NDIS (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) (NDIS Supports) Transitional Rules 2024, as made](https://legislation.gov.au/F2024L01257/asmade/2024-10-01/text/original/pdf) — Federal Register of Legislation, accessed 29 October 2026 ## Linked from this page [Section **Accessibility**](https://vrta.com.au/accessibility/) [Guide **Using a VR headset sitting down: what to check**](https://vrta.com.au/guides/vr-sitting-down/) ## On this page 1. The tiers 2. The test every support has to meet 3. Items the NDIS supports rules exclude 4. Quotes, evidence and assessments 5. Other points from the NDIS page 6. What this means for VR equipment ## How this was made Every claim is traced to a source listed below. See the [editorial policy](https://vrta.com.au/about/editorial-standards/). Spotted an error? [Report a correction](https://vrta.com.au/about/corrections/). ## Keep reading [All guides and insights](https://vrta.com.au/guides/) - [![Illustration: a woman relaxes in an armchair wearing a VR headset, a coastal view through the window behind her.](https://vrta.com.au/assets/woman-armchair-relax.BzJPuHb__1hkPF8.jpg) Headsets & Tech ### Using a VR headset sitting down: what to check 29 October 2026 · 1 min read](https://vrta.com.au/guides/vr-sitting-down/)