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Research Request – Charcot orthotic restraint walker (CROW)

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FOI 24/25-0889

Research Request – Charcot orthotic restraint walker (CROW)
Brief We are unclear whether it is R&N for participant’s already accepted into the NDIS and receiving supports to receive funding for a Charcot orthotic restraint walker (CROW) (an Assistive Technology device); potentially they may be under the Disability Related Health Supports criteria

After discussion we would first like assistance with researching what are the arrangements in each State and Territory in terms of whether health or disability are funding the CROW’s or whether perhaps neither are.

If a funding source is identified what are the relevant eligibility criteria?
Date 18/11/20
Requester Jackie redacted: [[s47F - personal priv](/foi-library/releases/759e22e37354-foi-24-25-0593-decision-document/release-materials/material-001__s47f-personal-privacy/)acy](/foi-library/releases/759e22e37354-foi-24-25-0593-decision-document/release-materials/material-001__s47f-personal-privacy/) (Senior Technical Advisor)

Jane redacted: s47F - personal (Director – TAB)
Researcher Jane redacted: s47F - personal priv (Research Team Leader)

Contents

Summary ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3

Victoria …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3

Victorian Aids and Equipment Program …………………………………………………………………………………. 3

 Target Population and Eligibility Criteria ........................................................................................ 3

  Ineligibility and exclusions .............................................................................................................. 4

What is provided? .................................................................................................................          4

 Subsidies not provided .................................................................................................................... 4

Ownership ....................................................................................................................................... 4

 Service Delivery ............................................................................................................................... 5

Orthoses .......................................................................................................................................... 5

New South Wales ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6

Aids and Equipment Program ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6

  Eligibility criteria .................................................................................................................            7

Orthoses .................................................................................................................................         7

Western Australia ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7

Community Aids and Equipment Program (CAEP) …………………………………………………………………… 7

  Eligibility .................................................................................................................................         7

Funded equipment .................................................................................................................         8

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Queensland …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8

Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme (MASS) …………………………………………………………………………………… 8

  Eligibility .................................................................................................................................         8

Approved assistive technology ....................................................................................................... 9

Australian Capital Territory ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 10

ACT Equipment Scheme (ACTES) ………………………………………………………………………………………… 10

  Eligibility .................................................................................................................................       10

Equipment supplied ...................................................................................................................... 11

Standard and Bariatric ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 11

Tasmania …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 12

TasEquip ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 12

  Eligibility .................................................................................................................................       12

Equipment supplied .................................................................................................................     12

Orthotic Prosthetic Services Tasmania ……………………………………………………………………… 12

South Australia …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13

Domiciliary Equipment Service ……………………………………………………………………………………. 13

  Eligibility .................................................................................................................................       13

Foot Orthoses and Ankle Foot Orthoses ....................................................................................... 13

Northern Territory ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 15

Territory Equipment Program …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 15

High Risk Foot Service ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 15

References ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 16

Please note:

The research and literature reviews collated by our TAB Research Team are not to be shared external to the Branch. These are for internal TAB use only and are intended to assist our advisors with their reasonable and necessary decision making.

Delegates have access to a wide variety of comprehensive guidance material. If Delegates require further information on access or planning matters they are to call the TAPS line for advice.

The Research Team are unable to ensure that the information listed below provides an accurate & up‐to‐date snapshot of these matters

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Summary

  • Only the Victorian Aids and Equipment Program specifically states that the Charcot restraint orthotic walker is covered under its scheme
  • All other states and territories (except the Northern Territory) have programs to assist people with accessing orthoses or specialised footwear through a loan scheme or subsiding the cost
    • People who are eligible for the NDIS are automatically ineligible for these programs
  • These programs are most commonly administered through state health departments
  • Unable to source any information on whether the Charcot restraint orthotic walker is prescribed/fitted through public outpatient or inpatient services
    • Contacted Australian Orthotic and Prosthetic Association and Australian Podiatry Associations for advice, however, did not receive a response from either organisation

Victoria

Victorian Aids and Equipment Program

The Victorian Aids and Equipment Program (VA&EP) provides eligible people with subsidised assistive technology (AT) to enhance independence in their home, facilitate community participation and support families and carers in their role. [1]

Target Population and Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the VA&EP applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a permanent resident of Victoria

    Or

  • Hold a Permanent Protection Visa or Humanitarian Visa or be an asylum seeker

    And

  • Require AT on a permanent or long‐term basis for a health or ageing‐related need. People with a disability who do not meet National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) eligibility due to age, residency status or functional impairment level can also apply to the VA&EP

  • All additional subprogram or scheme criteria, where applicable.

The following also applies:

  • Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Gold Card holders who do not have a DVA ‘approved disability’ can apply for VA&EP subsidies for a mobility scooter, a powered wheelchair and vehicle modification.
  • Commonwealth Government residential aged care residents can only apply for an electronic communication device.
  • Commonwealth Government levels 1 and 2 Home Care Package recipients can apply for all VA&EP assistive technology items except domiciliary oxygen. This should be part of their Home Care Package.

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  • Commonwealth Government levels 3 and 4 Home Care Package recipients can only apply for VA&EP subsidies for a mobility scooter, a powered wheelchair, home modification and electronic communication devices.

Ineligibility and exclusions

A person is not eligible to access supports from the VA&EP if:

  • They are eligible to receive AT supports from other government‐funded programs including the NDIS, WorkSafe Victoria and the Transport Accident Commission
  • They live in a Commonwealth‐funded aged care facility or are an inpatient in a public or private health facility
  • The full cost of the AT can be claimed through their private health insurance (the VA&EP will fund any gap between the cost of the item and private health insurance refund if the gap does not exceed the maximum subsidy amount for the item)
  • They have any form of compensation/legal settlements or court awards for AT. Note, in some circumstances, a person may be eligible to access the VA&EP once compensation/settlement funds for their AT has been fully expended.

What is provided?

The VA&EP provides a subsidy (a level of funding) toward the purchase price of a range of AT items. The VA&EP has set subsidy levels for different AT items. Some items have an annual subsidy limit – and some non‐customised items are available at no cost.

Subsidies not provided

The VA&EP does not provide subsidies:

  • For the cost of the assessment for the AT item or for the home/vehicle modification
  • Retrospectively – the VA&EP will not reimburse or fund any costs associated with any AT that a person may have committed to before their application to the VA&EP has been submitted and approved regardless of their eligibility for a subsidy under the VA&EP
  • For AT specifically for use at work, in an educational settings or for recreational pursuits
  • For items associated with medical treatment or surgical interventions (with the exception of medical gas/oxygen, lymphoedema garments, laryngectomy items and subsequent orthoses to treat children who have a club foot but no other associated disabilities
  • To provide AT required for short periods such as post‐surgery

Ownership

In relation to the SWEP the service provider retains ownership of the AT when the subsidy is more than 50% of the cost of the item. AT items owned by the service provider that can be re‐issued are provided on a long‐term loan basis except in the case of:

  • Home modifications
  • Vehicle modifications

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  • Transfer aids such as ceiling hoist tracking and stair lifts, including tracking that is attached to a wall personal use items such as wigs, orthoses/shoes, lymphoedema garments and voice aids, and low‐cost items such as over‐toilet frames and bath seats.

The applicant can retain ownership of the asset where they contribute more than 50 per cent of the full cost of an item. As the owner of the item, the applicant is responsible for the cost of ongoing repairs, preventative maintenance and the annual electrical safety check (if applicable). In instances where an applicant wishes to own the item but the subsidy covers the full cost, the applicant must contribute more than 50% of the full cost. The VA&EP will subsidise the remaining cost.

Service Delivery

Six community service organisations are funded to administer the following VA&EP programs and schemes.

The State‐wide Equipment Program (SWEP) is a business unit of Ballarat Health Services and is funded to administer the:

  • Aids and Equipment Program
  • Continence Aids Program
  • Domiciliary Oxygen Program
  • Supported Accommodation Equipment Assistance Scheme
  • Vehicle Modification Subsidy Scheme (VMSS)
  • Lymphoedema Compression Garment Program (LCGP)
  • Laryngectomy Program
  • Preventative Maintenance Program.

Yooralla is funded to administer the Electronic Communication Devices Scheme. MND Victoria receives a contribution towards the cost of its equipment library for people who have motor neurone disease. Individual Solutions for Individual Needs (Solve) is funded to design and manufacture specialised, customised equipment for eligible people. Expression Australia (formerly Vicdeaf) is funded to administer the Smoke Alarm Scheme. Vision Australia Foundation is funded to administer the Low Cost Vision Aids Scheme.

Orthoses

The VA&EP will fund:

  • A orthosis that is custom made to modify the structural or functional characteristics of an applicant’s limb
  • One item per limb (where an AT practitioner requests more than one item for the same limb, the practitioner must confirm that each item is integral for the functionality of the other for the request to be considered)
  • One replacement of footwear will be supplied after a minimum of 12 months, or six months in the case of a person under 18 years of age.

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The VA&EP will not:

  • Provide a shoe modifications subsidy in conjunction with custom‐made footwear
  • Fund over‐the‐counter aids such as; shoes; foam bands (tubular sponge protective devices) insoles/build‐ups; wrist, ankle, knee braces/splints; back/hernia support or cervical collars.
Available items Maximum Subsidy Practitioner Qualifications
Knee‐ankle‐foot orthosis
  • Basic lower limb; ankle, foot; knee and foot
  • Basic upper limb; wrist, hand; elbow; combined, static and functional
  • Basic spinal; lumbo‐sacral or thoraco‐lumbo‐sacral
  • Charcot restraint orthotic walker
  • Dynamic upper limb orthoses
  • Dynamic ankle foot orthosis
  • Ground reaction force
  • Supra‐malleolar orthosis
  • Functional electrical stimulation devices
  • Stance phase control devices
  • Paraplegic ambulatory device
  • Reciprocating gait orthosis
  • Brachial plexus devices
  • Boots and bars
  • Foot orthosis
  • Safety helmet (specialised/custom made)
 $2,200 per item

$1,200 per item		 Current general AHPRA registration as an Occupational Therapist.

OR Current general AHPRA registration as a Physiotherapist

OR Current general AHPRA registration as a Podiatrist

OR Orthotist/Prosthetist with full membership of the Australian Orthotics and Prosthetics Association.
Specialised footwear
  • shoe modifications
  • extra depth/width
  • custom made
 $200 per item

$200 per item

$200 per item

$450 per item

New South Wales

Aids and Equipment Program

The Aids and Equipment Program is a NSW Government initiative to assist eligible people in NSW, who have specific, short term or ongoing health needs to assist them to live and participate at home and in their community by providing appropriate AT. [2] EnableNSW implements this program on behalf of NSW Health.

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Eligibility criteria

A person is eligible for EnableNSW AT programs if:

  • They are a resident of NSW or Lord Howe Island, or are an asylum seeker, refugee or humanitarian visa holder residing in NSW or Lord Howe Island
  • They are enrolled with Medicare
  • The AT is prescribed to support a health need; and
  • They are not receiving or eligible for assistive technology through a third party insurance or other Commonwealth, state or territory government schemes for the identified health need. Possible alternative funding sources are:
    • NDIS
    • Department of Veterans’ Affairs
    • Australian Government aged care services
    • Compensation or damages for the condition requiring assistive technology (e.g. worker’s compensation)

Orthoses

The Aids and Equipment program provides upper and lower limb orthoses and medical grade footwear under the category mobility and self‐care. [2]

Western Australia

Community Aids and Equipment Program (CAEP)

The Community Aids and Equipment Program (CAEP) is funded by the State Government and administered by the Department of Communities to provide basic essential equipment for people who meet the eligibility criteria. [3]

CAEP‐funded equipment and home modifications are provided to enhance the independence, function and safety of users and to assist carers in their roles.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible, individuals must have a permanent disability, live at home in the community most of the time, have a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, or be a carer of a child with a permanent disability in receipt of a Carer Payment, or be able to demonstrate financial hardship.

CAEP will not fund people for equipment when it is available through other funding sources or programs such as:

  • Commonwealth aged care packages
  • compensation settlements that cover equipment, or
  • other Government funding programs through the Department of Veteran Affairs or NDIS
    • For those people who have been found eligible for the NDIS, CAEP funding is available until their NDIS plan is implemented or until they move into aged care, at

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which time the Department of Health becomes responsible for the provision of these supports and services.

Funded equipment

Equipment and home modifications funded by CAEP include:

  • Bed equipment e.g. bed rails, pressure mattress
  • Communication e.g. communication devices
  • Daily living items e.g. height adjustable table
  • Home modifications e.g. minor (grab rails) or major (widen the doorway)
  • Orthoses e.g. splints, surgical footwear
  • Personal care items e.g. shower chair, commodes
  • Positioning and seating equipment e.g. standing frames
  • Respiratory appliances e.g. ventilators
  • Transfer aids e.g. hoists and transfer boards
  • Walking aids e.g. walking frames
  • Wheeled mobility devices e.g. manual and power wheelchairs.

Queensland

Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme (MASS)

Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme (MASS) provides funding for medical aids and equipment to eligible Queensland residents who have a permanent and stabilised condition or a disability. [4] The scheme helps people to live at home and avoid early or inappropriate residential care or hospitalisation.

Aids and equipment are subsidy funded on a permanent loan basis, through private ownership or the supply of consumables. If you pay for more than 50% of the cost for an item, you can choose to take ownership, rather than having a permanent loan. However, this means that you are responsible for all repairs to that item.

Eligibility

Administrative eligibility The applicant must be a permanent Queensland resident and must hold one of the following eligibility cards in the name of the applicant:

  • Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card
  • Centrelink Health Care Card
  • Centrelink Confirmation Concession Card Entitlement Form (excludes partial entitlement holders i.e. issued for travel concession)
  • Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) pensioner Concession Card (excludes DVA Gold Card holders)
  • Queensland Government Seniors Card.

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Clinical eligibility

  • Clinical eligibility will be determined by the MASS Clinical Advisor based on information provided by the prescriber;
  • The applicant has a permanent and stabilised condition or disability which impairs their ability to function independently in their home environment
  • Clinical justification is documented by the prescribing health professional from a functional and clinical perspective, with regard to the applicant’s prognosis, and the expected benefit to the applicant from the prescribed Assistive technology
  • The applicant or carer can appropriately store and maintain the prescribed assistive technology.

Persons not eligible for MASS assistance

  • Persons in receipt of assistance or funding for AT under one or more State or Commonwealth government funded programs including, but not limited to:
    • Department of Veterans’ Affairs
    • National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants;
    • National Injury Insurance Scheme (NIIS) participants
  • Commonwealth residential care facility recipients, as follows:
    • for oxygen ‐ all classifications
    • for other assistive technology ‐ have a classification of a high rating in any domain category or a medium rating in two or more domain categories per the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) assessment as noted in the Quality of Care Principles 2014 Subsection 7 (6).
  • Home Care Package
    • All Level 3 & Level 4 recipients of Aged Care (Living Longer Living Better) Bill 2013; For oxygen All Level 1 to 4 recipients
  • Consumer Directed Care (CDC) high care program recipients
  • Hospital in‐patients
  • Palliative care eligible persons
  • Persons in receipt of compensation or damages in respect of their disability or engaged in a claim and have not acknowledged reimbursement to MASS for services provided when/if the claim is successful
  • Children under the age of 5 years for continence pads and nappies

Approved assistive technology

Medical Grade Footwear MASS Designated Prescriber
* Prefabricated medical grade footwear
* Customised medical grade footwear
* Custom made medical grade footwear		 Private:
* Orthopaedic Surgeons
* Vascular Surgeons
* Neurologists

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* Medical Specialists in Rheumatology, Rehabilitation, Geriatrics and Endocrinology
Orthoses
* Spinal orthoses
* Lower limb orthoses		 Private:
* Orthopaedic Surgeons
* Neurologists
* Medical Specialists in Rheumatology, Rehabilitation and Geriatrics

Australian Capital Territory

ACT Equipment Scheme (ACTES)

ACT Equipment Scheme (ACTES) is to assist eligible residents of the ACT who have a life‐long or long‐term disability to live and participate in their community with the provision of appropriately prescribed equipment, aids and appliances. [5]

Eligibility

All clients seeking assistance from the ACTES must meet all the following criteria to be eligible:

  • Be a permanent Australian resident with a minimum of 6 months residency.
  • Be a permanent Australian and ACT resident with a minimum of 6 months residency.
  • Require assistance for a permanent disability of for a disability that has lasted for at least two years duration (as determined by the referring medical practitioner) or ne frail aged person.
  • If a compensable client, agree to reimburse the ACT Government – Health Directorate in full upon settlement of the associated claim.

Financial eligibility

Clients must meet the above eligibility criteria AND the following financial criteria to be eligible for assistance:

  • Under 16 years of age (birth certificate is required on initial application); or
  • Over 16 years of age; and
    • In receipt of a full Australian Government Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card in their own name, for the ACT; or
    • Hold a current valid Centrelink Health Care Card in their own name, for the ACT.

Ineligibility

The client is not eligible if:

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  • They are an in‐patient of a public or private hospital unless the equipment is required for discharge planning purposes and is approved for funding by the Advisory Committee Chairperson.
  • They are able to claim the cost of the aid/equipment through a private health insurance policy. Consumers with private health insurance are required to ascertain whether their health fund will cover all, or part, of the cost of the prescribed device, before they apply to ACTES.
  • They are able to receive equivalent assistance from other government funded schemes, such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
  • They are living in a residential care facility (i.e. nursing home) – some specialised and custom equipment may be considered by the Advisory Committee where the residential care facility is not required to provide, e.g. customised power wheelchair.
  • If currently receiving a Department of Health Home Care package. Only equipment which is not included in the home package care will be considered for supply.
  • A person with an advanced progressive disease which is determined to be palliative; hospitals are required to provide equipment for palliative care on loan for short‐term use.
  • Hold a current Centrelink Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card or a Mobility Allowance Health Care Card

Equipment supplied

Types of equipment supplied by the ACTES include, but are not restricted to:

Standard and Bariatric

  • Shower Chair
  • Shower Stool
  • Over Toilet Frame
  • Toilet Surround
  • Toilet Throne Accessory
  • Toilet Seat Raiser
  • Seat Walker with Hand Brakes or Push Down Brakes
  • Tri Wheel Walker
  • Manual Wheelchair
  • Power Wheelchair
  • Specialised Seating
  • Bedside Commode
  • Shower Commode
  • Pressure Care Cushion
  • Swivel Bather
  • Bath Board
  • Walking Frames
  • Monkey bars (self‐help poles)
  • Utility chairs
  • Hilite / Ataama Chairs
  • Adjustable overbed/chair tables

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  • Medical Grade Footwear and/or Orthotic appliances
  • Specialised compression garments such as Second Skin
  • TheraTogs
  • Electro larynx and Speech aids.

Tasmania

TasEquip

TasEquip provides equipment to eligible clients who are permanent Tasmanian residents and who have a proven financial need for assistance to access the range of equipment in scope for TasEquip. [6]

Eligibility

To be eligible, clients need to meet the following criteria:

  1. Permanent Tasmanian resident, and
  2. Centrelink benefit recipient – Health Care, Pensioner Concession, and
  3. Living in the community, and
  4. Ineligible for Home Care Package level 3 or 4, Workers Compensation, MAIB, DVA* or NDIS**.

Those who do not meet the above eligibility criteria may, in certain restricted circumstances still be able to access equipment through TasEquip. If they are unable to source the equipment privately and if either of the following apply:

  1. Equipment is required for discharge from public hospital or public bed in private hospital
  2. They are a client of the Specialist Palliative Care Service, or have a prognosis of less than 6 months.

Those not eligible for TasEquip should always consider the option to privately hire or purchase.

Equipment supplied

It is not clear precisely what equipment is approved/available for use.

Orthotic Prosthetic Services Tasmania

Orthotic Prosthetic Services Tasmania (OPST) is a state‐wide service with facilities in Burnie (NWRH), Hobart (94 Davey St) and Launceston (LGH). OPST plays an important role in the treatment and rehabilitation of clients through the provision of orthotic, prosthetic and specialised seating services. [7]

Inpatient and outpatient orthotic and prosthetic services are provided at all three facilities.

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Access to OPST is prioritised dependent upon urgency and accordingly attended to within acceptable time‐frames. Clients funded through third party compensable bodies such as DVA, MAIB and Workers Compensation may also access the service.

Outpatients are seen by appointment only and require a letter or referral form to be sent by post, fax or email, so that the client’s priority can be assessed and a place on the waiting list allocated.

Unclear exactly whether orthoses/CROW are funded through this clinic or patients are required to pay for the AT.

South Australia

Domiciliary Equipment Service

The Equipment Program funds and arranges equipment and home modifications for South Australians who are otherwise unfunded for these services through Commonwealth Government options. [8]

Eligibility

Services are provided to people who are:

  • Requiring an Advanced Palliative Equipment Response (APER), or
  • Aged 65 years or over, are clients of the Commonwealth Continuity of Support Programme (CoS) and already have equipment or require customised mobility equipment, or
  • Adults with chronic health conditions, or
  • Requiring wigs or orthoses.

Funding is not available for people who are eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Qualified health professionals and registered nurses’ complete assessments and make equipment selections.

Foot Orthoses and Ankle Foot Orthoses
Foot Orthoses / Ankle Foot Orthoses ‐ Prefabricated Off the shelf orthoses that are fitted to the foot and shoe (length, width and depth may be adjusted) includes Foot Orthoses, foot‐up splints and prefabricated Ankle Foot Orthoses; includes situations when the prefabricated option needs to be customised to the individual’s needs

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Foot Orthoses / Ankle Foot Orthoses ‐ Custom Made Foot Orthoses and Ankle Foot Orthoses that are custom made to the needs and measurements of the person
Ankle and knee supports May include shaped support banadages (e.g. tubigrip) and knee braces/immobilisers

Foot Orthoses and Ankle Foot Orthoses will be provided in the following circumstances with prescription by an Approved Prescriber and when it can be demonstrated that:

  1. One or more of the following key approval criteria for equipment apply:
  • Safety: Orthoses will minimise the risk of serious injury to the client.
  • Independence/function: without Orthoses the client is compromised when completing daily living tasks.
  • Prevention of deterioration: Orthoses will reduce progression of functional and or postural deterioration.
  • Potential for functional gain: Orthoses will facilitate the client to make improvements in their functional capacity.
  1. Provided as clinically required

Foot Orthoses and Ankle Foot Orthoses will be provided when the Approved Prescriber can prove they are clinically required for the client. In all situations the most cost effective method to address the concerns of the person will be implemented first. The Foot Orthoses and Ankle Foot Orthoses provided includes:

  • Foot Orthoses / Ankle Foot Orthoses – Prefabricated
  • Foot Orthoses / Ankle Foot Orthoses – Custom Made
  1. Not Provided
  • For aesthetic reasons
  • When a client has had intervention by an acute care service provider (e.g. hospital) –the external service is responsible for the issue of the Foot Orthoses / Ankle Foot Orthoses (i.e. orthoses to relieve pressure from an acute wound being treated in an acute care setting).
  • Foot Orthoses will not be provided to clients who are non‐weight bearing.
  • Repairs to any privately purchased Foot Orthoses / Ankle Foot Orthoses will not be provided by DCSI Equipment program

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Northern Territory

Territory Equipment Program

Does not provide any information on orthoses or custom footwear relating to lower limbs. [9]

High Risk Foot Service

The High Risk Foot Service (HRFS) offers specialised multi‐disciplinary care for people with active wound complications as a result of advanced diabetes. [10]

The team assesses and manages people who have diabetes‐related foot problems such as:

  • foot ulceration
  • Charcot foot
  • cellulitis
  • osteomyelitis
  • Acute lower limb ischaemia.

No mention as to whether AT devices/orthoses are provided through this service.

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References

  1. State of Victoria ‐ Department of Health & Human Services. Victorian Aids and Equipment Program operational policies 2019 [Available from: https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/Api/downloadmedia/%7B51D63C24‐7997‐4A3E‐8249‐340568D71D52%7D.

  2. NSW Health. EnableNSW Assistive Technology Program Operational Guidelines 2020 [Available from: https://www.enable.health.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/600030/EnableNSW‐Assistive‐Technology‐Program‐Operational‐Guidelines.pdf.

  3. Government of Western Australia ‐ Department of Communities and Disability Services. Community Aids and Equipment Program (CAEP) 2020 [Available from: http://www.disability.wa.gov.au/individuals‐families‐and‐carers/for‐individuals‐families‐and‐carers/services‐supports‐and‐eligibility‐new/services/services‐provided‐by‐the‐commission/equipment‐and‐technology/community‐aids‐and‐equipment‐program‐caep‐/.

  4. Queensland Government ‐ Queensland Health. Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme 2020 [Available from: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/mass/subsidy‐schemes/mass.

  5. ACT Government Health. Canberra Hospital and Health Services ‐ Operational Procedure ‐ ACT Equipment Scheme. 2017.

  6. Tasmanian Government Department of Health. TasEquip 2020 [Available from: http://www.health.tas.gov.au/service_information/services_files/RHH/treatments_and_services/tasequip.

  7. Tasmanian Government Department of Health. Orthotic Prosthetic Services Tasmania 2020 [Available from: http://www.health.tas.gov.au/service_information/services_files/RHH/treatments_and_services/orthotic_and_prosthetic_service.

  8. Government of South Autralia ‐ Department of Human Services. Domiciliary Equipment Service 2017 [Available from: https://des.sa.gov.au/equipment‐program.

  9. Northern Territory Government of Australia ‐ Department of Health. Territory Equipment Program (TEP) and the Seating Equipment and Technical Service (SEAT) 2020 [Available from: https://health.nt.gov.au/professionals/disability‐equipment‐program.

  10. Northern Territory Government of Australia ‐ Department of Health. Podiatry and High Risk Foot Service 2020 [Available from: https://nt.gov.au/wellbeing/hospitals‐health‐services/general‐hospital‐services/podiatry‐and‐high‐risk‐foot‐service.

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