Assessment & Equipment Funding
Although equipment can be privately funded, there are several government agencies that may fund assessments and equipment. Link Assistive New Zealand can provide support to the primary therapist around product information, equipment trial, and support with setup and training.
Ministry of Health Equipment Funding:
Communication Assistive Technology Assessments are publicly funded through TalkLink and anyone can refer a patient or they can self-refer themselves – https://talklink.org.nz/referrals.
Some clinicians within the public health services and some within learning support system at Ministry of Education also have their CAT1 credentials. If their service briefs allow, they too can do these assessments at no cost.
Once an assessment has been completed and a funding application has been submitted, the Ministry of Health may fund equipment and/or resources to enable a person to independently and reliably make their needs and feelings known to:
- support their personal safety, and/or
- interact more effectively with their daily lives.
Funding applications must be prioritised according to MoH criteria, equipment must have been trialled, and the identified solution must be cost effective.
The Ministry of Health may also fund equipment to enable adults to access employment or education.
ACC Assessment and Equipment funding:
If you are an ACC claimant, then your ACC case owner must make the referral. ACC will fund the assessment and may also fund equipment, including communication assistive technology (for both spoken or written communication), equipment to access learning, or environmental control equipment.
Ministry of Education Assessment and Equipment funding:
Students in the compulsory education sector generally receive assistive technology assessments and equipment to assist with accessing learning environments through the Ministry of Education, Learning Support Teams. The Education team looks at assistive technology that allows students to hear, to see and to access and participate in the environment they learn in.
Private:
There are private Speech-Language Therapy practices which offer support with assessment, trial, implementation, or training for AAC.
You can find a Private practice near you by checking the New Zealand Speech-Language Therapy Association page.
Workbridge Assessment and Equipment funding:
Workbridge will consider funding assistive technology that assists an adult to participate in tertiary education or training, to start a job, or to remain in or return to employment.
The assessments for this equipment are funded by the Ministry of Health.
Other Options
If the client is not eligible for assistive technology equipment funding, it is possible to privately purchase the equipment, or raise funds.