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Ministry-funded Services

Equipment Factsheet

Is it difficult for you to do everyday tasks because of your disability?
If you need equipment to help you be safe and independent, the Ministry of Health may be able to help.

Who can get equipment?

If you live in New Zealand, are a New Zealand resident, and have a long-term disability which isn’t covered by ACC you may be able to get equipment through the Ministry of Health. The equipment is provided at
no charge, and is loaned to you for as long as you need it.

Items costing less than $37, and those for medical or health needs,
incontinence or therapy are not available from this Ministry of Health
funding. If you need equipment for less than six months you may need
to borrow it from your District Health Board or hire it.

How can I get equipment?

An assessor completes an assessment of your needs. Assessors are usually occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech language therapists, audiologists, and vision and hearing assessors. They can be contacted via your District Health Board, NASC agency (Needs Assessment Service coordination), GP or phone 0800 17 1981. Assessors can look at ways to help you do your everyday tasks. With your help, the assessor identifies the equipment you need to be safe and independent at home, to work or study, or to look after someone who depends on you.

To apply for Ministry of Health funding the assessor sends an equipment
application to Accessable (if you live in Auckland or Northland) or Enable New Zealand (if you live in the rest of New Zealand).

You may choose to buy your own equipment rather than applying for Ministry of Health funding. Some tips: get advice, try out different equipment, and make sure it is suitable for you

Types of equipment

An assessor might recommend equipment which can help with:

• showering, going to the toilet, eating, cooking and household tasks, such as a shower stool, hoist or a raised toilet seat.
• walking, getting around, standing, and posture, such as a walking frame or wheelchair. Sometimes wheelchairs can take a while to organise, particularly if you need to try out different ones or if the equipment comes from overseas.
• speaking, understanding, writing, and making sense of information, such as a communication board, equipment which speaks for you, and devices and software which help you use your computer.
• hearing, such as hearing aids so you can work or study, listening devices, fax machines and alarms. Hearing aids for children are funded separately by the Ministry of Health.
• vision, such as magnifiers, mobility canes, computer screen reading software and, in some cases, glasses.

What do Accessable and Enable New Zealand do?

Accessable and Enable New Zealand
receive applications from assessors. They check applications to make sure the assessor has considered many support and equipment options for you. This is so that any equipment you might get is suitable and useful for you.

Accessable and Enable New Zealand keep a well-maintained stock of equipment, or provide new equipment if what you need is not in stock. Most people will get equipment soon after a successful application. This depends on the urgency of your application, trialling of equipment and availability of equipment.

Accessable and Enable New Zealand also repair and service the equipment, and can collect it when you no longer need it.

For more information contact:

Accessable(Auckland/Northland)
Ph 0508 001 002
Fax 09 620 1702
www.accessable.co.nz

Enable New Zealand (rest of New Zealand)
Ph 0800 17 1981
Fax 06 353 5876
www.disabilityfunding.co.nz

Copies of the Equipment factsheet (in PDF format) can be downloaded in the following languages:

Maori (PDF, 1 MB)



Page last updated: 1 October 2009