Evidence Advisory Committee
c/o Disability Evidence Branch
GPO Box 700, Canberra, ACT 2601
Sent via email: disabilityevidence@health.gov.au
9 November 2025
Dear Evidence Advisory Committee, Inclusion Australia appreciates the opportunity to respond to the current consultation. In this submission, we focus specifically on the importance of assistance animals for Autistic people or people with intellectual disability, as well as the potential benefits of smart home appliances to support independence and daily living.
Inclusion Australia is the national peak organisation representing the rights and interests of Australians with an intellectual disability and their families. Founded over 70 years ago in 1954, our mission is to work with people with an intellectual disability, their families and our members to make positive change. Our strength is in our national representation and our connection to our community. We have a member organisation in every state and territory across Australia:
- ACT Down Syndrome and Intellectual Disability (ACT DSID)
- Council for Intellectual Disability (NSW)
- Developmental Disability WA (DDWA)
- Inclusion Northern Territory (Inclusion NT)
- Parent to Parent (P2P, Queensland)
- South Australian Council on Intellectual Disability (SACID)
- Speak Out Advocacy (Tasmania)
- Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability (VALID).
We invited our member organisations to share the views of people with an intellectual disability and their families in relation to the list of supports the Committee is consulting on.
In relation to assistance animals, Inclusion Australia formally endorsed the joint submission, Calling for People with Disability’s Access to Assistance Animals to be Protected, led by the Australian Autism Alliance.
Currently, NDIS funding for assistance animals is highly restricted and excludes certain groups who could significantly benefit, including Autistic people and people with an intellectual disability. Together with the other Disability Representative Organisations (DROs) who endorsed the joint submission, we strongly urge the establishment of a consistent, national framework regarding support animals, to ensure equitable access for all people with disability. Such a framework must be co-designed with people with lived experience of disability, so that policy and practice reflect their needs and priorities.
Having an assistance animal for psychiatric purposes can also be an important support for people with intellectual disability. Research indicates that mental ill-health is highly prevalent among this cohort, yet diagnostic overshadowing – where symptoms of mental illness are misinterpreted as being part of one’s intellectual disability alone – leads to frequent mis- or under-diagnosis of mental ill-health.1 As a result, people with an intellectual disability often miss out on appropriate interventions or supports for mental
1 K. Pouls, M. Koks-Leensen, M. Mastebroek, G. Leusink, W. Assendelft. (2022). Adults with intellectual disabilities and mental health disorders in primary care: a scoping review. British Journal of General Practice, 72(716): e168-e178; A. Javaid, V. Nakata, D. Michael. (2019). Diagnostic overshadowing in learning disability: think beyond the disability. Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry, 23(2); J. Mason, K. Scior. (2004). ‘Diagnostic Overshadowing’ Amongst Clinicians Working with People with Intellectual Disabilities in the UK. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 17(2): 85-90.
health needs. Ensuring access to assistance animals for psychiatric purposes can therefore provide vital therapeutic support, improve quality of life, and reduce reliance on more intensive interventions.
In addition, we have heard from our community that smart home appliances can be practical, cost-effective, and empowering tools for people with an intellectual disability and their families. In some cases, these appliances can reduce the need for ongoing support worker hours, freeing up funding for other essential supports. For example, the use of a Thermomix appliance is a highly cost-effective method for independently preparing meals, building practical skills and confidence. It is also safer than many other cooking methods.
Smart home appliances for cooking, cleaning and gardening are generally included as part of Schedule 2 NDIS supports and seem to be interpreted as part of ‘standard household items’, meaning some people who request them as part of their NDIS supports are instead offered weekly meal preparation services. This approach is not only significantly more expensive, but it also limits opportunities for developing independence and essential daily living skills.
We note that part of this issue relates to the current NDIS Transitional Rule definition of a ‘standard item.’ Under the rule, a standard item is defined as one that is not modified or adapted to address the functional impairments of a participant. This definition has been interpreted very narrowly in many exclusions listed in Schedule 2, resulting in items being ruled out as NDIS supports. The focus on bespoke modification ignores that participants can put standard items to creative uses to meet their disability support needs. For instance, outdoor furniture could be repurposed as a shower chair, offering a cheaper, safer, or more suitable option than specialised equipment.
A similar situation was considered in the Administrative Review Tribunal decision VPYC and the CEO, NDIA (NDIS) [2025] ARTA 3. In this instance the participant sought, among other things, funding for a large beanbag and a weighted blanket, which effectively addressed his sensory needs associated with autism. The beanbag was used innovatively by lying under it rather than sitting on it. Despite their proven utility, both items were excluded under the standard item definition, while a bespoke product – potentially more expensive and untested – would likely have been approved. This demonstrates that the current definition of ‘standard item’ can unnecessarily restrict access to supports that are practical, cost-effective, and genuinely beneficial. This may also impact smart home appliances.
We appreciate the opportunity to share these insights with the Evidence Advisory Committee and welcome further engagement to ensure policy settings reflect the real-world needs of people with intellectual disability and their families.
Warm regards, Catherine McAlpine
Chief Executive Officer Inclusion Australia