People with disability in Western Australia will get better access to cheaper assistive technology, under an Australian Government pilot program.
The $5 million Assistive Technology Rental and Refurbishment Pilot – run nationally by Ability First Australia – is being expanded to WA.
Under the pilot, Ability WA provides the infrastructure, skills and expertise to recycle and distribute disability support equipment.
People can choose to purchase, rent or exchange the technology, through an online platform.
They are also able to test the technology’s usefulness and switch to other equipment as their needs change or, for children, as they grow.
We want Australians with disability to have timely access to the supports they need to live independently, and this pilot trials a new model for cost effective technology.
The pilot program is available to all people with disability under the age of 65, not just National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants.
Ability WA is also working with National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations to empower people to participate.
The initiative has been running in South Australia and Tasmania since mid-2025. It will finish in all states in December 2026.
People in Western Australia can participate by contacting Ability WA or visiting AccessTech: www.accesstech.org.au.
Quotes attributable to NDIS Minister, Senator Jenny McAllister:
“We want all Australians with disability to be able to access the technology they need, in a timely and affordable manner.
“The Assistive Technology Rental and Refurbishment pilot program provides an excellent opportunity to do just that.
“Renting and refurbishing assistive technology makes sense. It means people with changing needs, particularly children, aren’t locked in to buying equipment, that may not be suitable in the long term.”
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