FOI 25/26-3703 Document 9

EC PEC – Core – Equipment and consumables

SGP KP Publishing

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FOI 25/26-3703 SGP KP Publishing – EC PEC – Core – Equipment and consumables

1 Recent updates …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5

2 Before you start …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6

3 How to complete equipment and consumables questions in the PEC case for children younger than 9 ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7

4 Equipment …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8 4.1 How to consider equipment …………………………………………………………………………………… 8 4.2 Optional follow up questions to answer equipment questions ……………………………………. 8 4.2.1 Question: Does this person have any home modification needs? …………………………………………. 8 4.2.2 Questions: Does this person currently use any equipment? Does this person require any new equipment? Are mid to high-cost assistive technology supports required or likely to be required in the next 12 months? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9 4.2.3 Current equipment details ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 9 4.2.4 Future equipment needs ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9 4.2.5 Vehicle modifications ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9

5 Consumable products ……………………………………………………………………………………. 11 5.1 How to consider consumable products ……………………………………………………….. 11 5.2 Optional follow up questions to answer consumable products questions accurately …… 11 5.3 Question: Does the child need any consumable products or supports because of their developmental delay or disability? …………………………………………………………………………………. 11 5.3.1 Related to equipment ……………………………………………………………………………………. 11 5.3.2 Dysphagia ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 12 5.3.3 Continence …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 12 5.3.4 Nutrition ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 12 5.3.5 Podiatry ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 12 5.3.6 Respiration …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 12 5.3.7 Wound and/or Pressure Care ……………………………………………………………………… 13

6 Evidence requirements ………………………………………………………………………………………… 14 6.1 Consumables related to dysphagia ………………………………………………………………. 14 6.1.1 Evidence required: consumables related to dysphagia ……………………………………………………… 14 6.1.2 Understanding a dysphagia consumables request …………………………………………. 14 6.2 Continence consumable products ……………………………………………………………………… 15 6.2.1 Table 1: Continence consumables by age ……………………………………………………….. 15 6.2.2 Evidence required: continence consumables …………………………………………………….. 15 6.2.3 Understanding a continence consumables request…………………………………………….. 15 6.3 Consumables related to nutrition ……………………………………………………………………… 16 6.3.1 Evidence required: consumables related to nutrition………………………………………… 16 6.3.2 Understanding a nutrition consumables request ………………………………………………… 16 6.4 Respiratory and wound care consumables ……………………………………………………….. 17 6.4.1 Evidence required: respiratory and wound care consumables …………………………… 17 6.4.2 Understanding respiratory and wound care consumables …………………………………… 18

7 Example free text field responses for PEC questions for equipment and consumables……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 19 7.1 Question: Are low-cost assistive technology supports currently required or likely to be required in the next 12 months? …………………………………………………………………………….. 19 7.1.1 Example: Communication ………………………………………………………………………………. 19 7.2 Question: Are mid to high-cost assistive technology supports required or likely to be required in the next 12 months? …………………………………………………………………………….. 19 7.2.1 Example: Bathing …………………………………………………………………………………………… 19 7.2.2 Example: Mobility …………………………………………………………………………………………… 19 7.3 Question: Does the child need any consumable products or supports because of their developmental delay or disability? …………………………………………………………………………………. 20 7.3.1 Example: Continence …………………………………………………………………………………….. 20 7.3.2 Example: Pressure Care ………………………………………………………………………………… 20 7.3.3 Example: Dysphagia ……………………………………………………………………………………. 20 7.3.4 Example: Nutrition …………………………………………………………………………………………. 20 7.3.5 Example: Respiration …………………………………………………………………………………….. 20

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7.4 Question: Is NDIS funding required to assess, find and set up assistive technology supports? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 20 7.4.1 Example: Mobility ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 20

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This article provides guidance for early childhood partners and planner delegates on:

how to complete the Personal and Environmental Circumstances (PEC) case equipment and consumables section for children younger than 9
how to consider equipment, home and vehicle modifications
how to consider consumable products
evidence requirements for consumables.

Careful consideration should be made when completing the PEC case to best reflect the child and their family’s actual circumstances and NDIS funded support needs. The PEC case is used to inform the draft budget and planner delegate reasonable and necessary decision making.

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1 Recent updates

7 April 2026

Guidance added to provide examples of type of information required in response to PEC case questions with examples of follow-up questions
Evidence requirements for consumables
Guidance to interpret consumables evidence
Included PEC case free text examples for DRHS consumables
PEC case question age range changed to younger than 9

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2 Before you start

You have read and understood relevant guidance from:

Our Guideline – Assistive technology (external)
Our Guideline – Home modifications (external)
Our Guideline – Vehicle modifications (external)
Would we fund it – Consumables (external)
Our Guideline – Disability-related health supports (external)
Our Guideline – Dysphagia supports (external)
Our Guideline – Diabetes management supports (external)
Our Guideline – Continence supports (external)
Our Guideline – Wound and pressure care supports (external)
Our Guideline – Nutrition supports including meal preparation (external)
Our Guideline – Podiatry and foot care supports (external)
Technical Advice and Practice Improvement Branch Mandatory and Non-Mandatory Advice Requests
National Disability Insurance Scheme (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) (NDIS Supports) Transitional Rules 2024 - Federal Register of Legislation (external).

You have also read and understood:

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3 How to complete equipment and consumables questions in the PEC case for children younger than 9

The responses for the PEC case capture information about home modification, equipment and consumable supports that a child may need in their plan.

It is important that the questions are answered in relation to the child’s developmental delay or disability related support needs and what would be considered typical development for their age, considering support that may be reasonable and necessary.

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4 Equipment

4.1 How to consider equipment

The equipment questions capture any assistive technology that a child may require in their plan, including NDIS supports to help them manage their disability related health condition. It includes low-cost, mid-cost and high-cost assistive technology items, as well as home or vehicle modifications a child may need related to their developmental delay or disability.

It is essential to capture both current equipment alongside any new equipment as a child grows and support needs change. A clear understanding of current equipment helps inform decisions about funding replacement equipment and funding for related consumables, repairs and maintenance.

This information also helps inform how the child is currently completing tasks without the equipment, and whether lower-cost options have been considered.

Note:

Some disability-related health supports are funded through the healthcare system and may not meet the reasonable and necessary criteria of the NDIS. For example, any technology related to monitoring and managing diabetes is funded through the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS).
In order to capture information regarding repairs, maintenance, rental or trial, the question ‘Is NDIS funding required for the following?’ must be answered as ‘yes.’

Consider evidence for:

any equipment a child is currently using, and any identified new or replacement items due to changing needs or growth
whether equipment remains functional and appropriate for the child’s current needs and environment
whether equipment requires repairs, ongoing maintenance or ongoing funding of consumables is required for the functioning of the equipment. For example, filters, batteries or masks.
whether equipment can be transferred with the child among all their every-day settings, including their early childhood care setting or school.

4.2 Optional follow up questions to answer equipment questions

4.2.1 Question: Does this person have any home modification needs?

Has the child already had a home modification assessment? Do they need funding in their next plan for a home modification assessment?
Has a home modification assessment and recommendation been received? Confirm whether mandatory TAPIB advice is required. You can find out more at the Technical

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Advice and Practice Improvement Branch - National Early Childhood Branch confluence page.

Provide a brief description of the type of home modification required. Examples may include grab rails, ramps, widening doorways, hoist installation, bathroom modifications.

If the response indicates that the child may have home modification needs, refer the family to Our Guidelines – Home modifications (external) to help them understand what can and cannot be funded.

4.2.2 Questions: Does this person currently use any equipment? Does this person require any new equipment? Are mid to high-cost assistive technology supports required or likely to be required in the next 12 months?

4.2.3 Current equipment details

List information about all current equipment in use across all settings.

Does the child use any equipment related to Disability Related Health Supports? For example, to support safe breathing, to monitor seizures, to support feeding.
How old is the current equipment?
Check whether it is reasonable and necessary for the NDIS to fund replacements and maintenance of all equipment. For example, some equipment may have been self-funded or funded through fund-raising. Where the original equipment would not meet NDIS funding criteria, replacements and maintenance will not be funded either.

4.2.4 Future equipment needs

Is current equipment functional and appropriate for the child’s current needs and environments?
Is it possible that the child may outgrow any of the current equipment during the next year?
Is it possible that the child may need equipment replaced during the next year due to wear and tear or frequent repairs?
Will the child need new equipment due to changing needs or environments?
Will the child need funding for rental or trial of new equipment to replace current equipment or to support an unmet need and reduce the risks to the child in the interim?
Will the early intervention professionals need additional hours to assess, source and set up all low-cost, mid-cost or high-cost equipment recorded?
Is any of the equipment used to manage a child’s behaviour, rather than their physical support needs? Refer article EC PEC – Capacity building – Regulated restrictive practices.

4.2.5 Vehicle modifications

For children with mobility equipment:

Is there information that indicates difficulty fitting the child’s wheelchair into the family’s vehicle during the next 1 to 2 years?

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Is there information that indicates difficulty lifting the child into the family’s vehicle during the next 1 to 2 years?
Does the child need funding for a vehicle modification assessment?

If the response to any of these questions is ‘yes,’ refer the family to Our Guidelines – Vehicle modifications (external).

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5 Consumable products

5.1 How to consider consumable products

The consumable questions capture some of the items a child uses regularly to help them with a condition which directly relates to their disability.

For resources regarding consumables for specific disabilities, refer to TAPIB Digest - Technical Advice and Practice Improvement Branch.

Consumable products may include:

Dysphagia support for children who have trouble eating, drinking or swallowing, such as thickeners.
Continence supports such as nappies, pads, bedding, and catheterisation products. Refer to TAPIB Talks - Technical Advice and Practice Improvement Branch for additional information regarding continence supports.
Nutrition support such as tubing, tape, or formula for children who require Home Enteral Nutrition (HEN) support.
Other supports such as oxygen tubes, wound, and pressure care products.

5.2 Optional follow up questions to answer consumable products questions accurately

In order to answer PEC questions about consumable products accurately, you may need to probe for more information from the family or use information from provider reports. Families may not remember to mention their child’s consumable product needs without prompting. The questions below are intended as a guide during the information gathering process. Early childhood partners can determine whether to ask these questions during interactions with families.

5.3 Question: Does the child need any consumable products or supports because of their developmental delay or disability?

Does any of the child’s current equipment need consumables (small components that may need to be replaced regularly)?

Does the child need equipment or products that cost less than $1,500 in the following categories:

Communication or Cognitive supports (e.g. visual schedules, paper-based communication choice-boards, mid-technology such as communication buttons)

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Hearing related AT (noting that Hearing Australia will fund most hearing AT) For older children, this may include visual or tactile (vibrating) alerting systems such as alarms or doorbells.
Personal Care and Safety. For example, seizure alarms or adapted cutlery.
Orthotics
Vision Related AT such as a long cane or Braille related consumables.

5.3.2 Dysphagia

Does the child have any difficulty with eating or drinking?
Has a speech pathologist recommended changing the consistency of food and drinks?
Does the child have a report or a meal-time management plan from their speech pathologist?
Does the child need any special utensils or thickener for eating and drinking?

5.3.3 Continence

Does the child have a disability related need to use catheters to help drainage of urine?
Is the child older than 5 years and still needs nappies as a direct result of their disability? Do they need nappies all the time or only some of the time?
Is the child on a medication or a HEN feeding regime that causes excessive urination or defecation? (Please use culturally appropriate everyday terms when recording).
Was the child previously fully toilet trained and now needs continence products due to an acquired or progressive disability?
Does the child need complex bowel care such as enemas, abdominal massage or trans-anal irrigation to manage bowel movements/stools?
Has the child had a continence assessment by a nurse?

5.3.4 Nutrition

Is the child tube-fed?
What type of tube do they have (through the nose into the stomach [nasogastric], or directly into the stomach or intestine [PEG])? Is tube feeding likely to be an ongoing need, or is it intended as a temporary/transitional support?
Does the child receive food through a pump or a syringe?
Do they get all their food, liquid and medication through the tube?
Is there a report or recommendations from a dietitian and/or nurse?

5.3.5 Podiatry

Has a podiatrist, prosthetist and orthotist or physiotherapist recommended specialised footwear or orthotics for the child?

5.3.6 Respiration

If the child uses any equipment to support safe breathing: Has a health professional provided an itemised quote for consumable products needed for this equipment?

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5.3.7 Wound and/or Pressure Care

Has a health professional talked to the family about the need for pressure care to keep the child’s skin healthy?
Has a health professional recommended products that need to be used regularly specifically to keep the child’s skin healthy and prevent skin breakdown? Do you have a report from a health professional with an itemised quote?

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6 Evidence requirements

While gathering information about consumables, you may find that there is no evidence or that families are requesting supports that are not NDIS supports. You may also find that responses to questions about consumables have implications for capacity building supports.

Use the guidance below to help you answer the PEC questions about consumables and support families to gather the necessary evidence for their requests.

Typically, a recommendation from a speech pathologist is expected, such as a mealtime management plan recommending any adjustments to food texture or liquid consistency. Ideally, an itemised quote will specify the amount of thickener required, as this can vary substantially among children who require different levels of consistency or who have fluctuating impairments. Where a mealtime management plan is not yet available, the evidence provided by the family or treating professionals can be considered to make a reasonable and necessary decision to fund an interim amount of dysphagia consumables.

Note the need for funding of capacity building Improved Daily Living for delivery of health supports by a speech pathologist. Refer to article Understand disability-related health supports – capacity building supports. Read more about the role of a speech pathologist in dysphagia support in Our Guideline – Dysphagia supports (external).

6.1.2 Understanding a dysphagia consumables request

Respond ‘YES’ to ‘Does the child need any consumable products or supports because of their developmental delay or disability?’ if the child’s family requests supports that are NDIS supports, such as:

Modified cups, bottles or cutlery to manage dysphagia. For example, cut-out cups will promote the correct head position and reduce choking risk.
Thickener added to food or drink will that assist to change the texture of food/drink to support safe swallowing.
Nutritional supplement formula that is not funded by PBS.

Respond ‘NO’ to ‘Does the child need any consumable products or supports because of their developmental delay or disability?’ if the child’s family requests supports that are NOT NDIS supports, such as:

Pre-prepared blenderised meals (available in shops or from a meal preparation service), that have not been modified in any way other than changing the consistency, are considered food. As food is considered a day-to-day living cost, it is not an NDIS support. If an itemised quote separates the cost of the ingredients from the preparation and delivery, a planner delegate could consider funding the meal preparation component.

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Medication and supplements. Many of these items are available through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

6.2 Continence consumable products

Consider the information in the table below when recording information about continence consumables.

6.2.1 Table 1: Continence consumables by age


<4 years	Responsibility of families to fund for standard supports such as nappies/pullups. Non-standard items such as catheters are NDIS supports.	Responsibility of families to fund	Responsibility of families to fund
5 years	Funding consumables (e.g. nappies), AT and continence assessment	Responsibility of families to fund Fund continence assessment	Funding consumables (e.g. nappies), AT and continence assessment
6 to 8 years	Funding consumables (e.g. nappies), AT and continence assessment	Funding consumables (e.g. nappies), AT and continence assessment	Funding consumables (e.g. nappies), AT and continence assessment

6.2.2 Evidence required: continence consumables

Evidence is required to demonstrate that the support is related to a child’s developmental delay or disability. Typically, a continence assessment by a nurse within the last year is considered the most reliable evidence. For children younger than 3 who request catheters or bowel management products, where a change in continence may be expected, more recent evidence may be needed. Where a continence assessment is not yet available, the evidence provided by the family or treating professionals can be considered to make a reasonable and necessary decision to fund an interim amount of continence consumables.

If a child is incontinent after the age of 5, or requires non-standard continence supports such as catheters, keep in mind that a continence assessment will be needed when you answer questions about capacity building supports. Read more in Our Guidelines — Continence supports (external).

6.2.3 Understanding a continence consumables request

Continence products for children older than 5
Continence products for children of any age with a disability-related health condition resulting in a requirement for higher cost continence needs or a higher volume of continence supplies. For example, a child who has a neurogenic bladder, which is disability related, and needs catheters.

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Refer to the Technical Advice and Practice Improvement Branch - National Early Childhood Branch confluence page to understand if the request needs mandatory TAPIB advice. Once items that are not NDIS supports have been excluded from the quote, a request may no longer require mandatory TAPIB advice.

Continence products for children younger than 5 without a disability-related health condition
Medication, such as laxatives or stool softeners. Many of these items are available through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
Pharmaceuticals such as bladder flushes/washouts, for example Uro-Tainer
General household items such as bin bags, bins, mops and cleaning materials, or laundry products
Personal protective equipment (PPE) for use by paid supports such as support workers or nurses. Examples include gloves, masks, or hand sanitiser.

Apart from nappies, the following items may also be NDIS supports and require a response of ‘YES’ on the PEC. For example:

Protective sheets – a higher quantity than would be expected for the child’s age.
Personal protective equipment for use by informal supports when in the community where no hand-washing facilities are available.

Nutrition consumables may be requested for children who are tube-fed or who cannot meet all their nutritional needs through the food they eat. Typically, a dietitian is considered the most appropriate professional to provide the recommendation and itemised quote for nutrition consumables. A nurse may be able to provide a quote for the equipment but is not qualified to recommend the feeding formula. Similarly, a speech pathologist can make recommendations about changes to texture, such as thickener, but not the formula required for tube feeding. A medical professional may provide a letter/report to indicate whether the tube feeding is temporary or likely to be long-term.

Note that additional funding will be needed under CB Improved Daily Living in addition to the early intervention funding calculated based on support needs for a dietitian to provide a standard or complex nutrition plan. Refer to Our Guideline – Nutrition supports including meal preparation (external).

6.3.2 Understanding a nutrition consumables request

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Equipment such as tubing for tube-feeding
Personal protective equipment for use by the informal supports and wound care consumables where a child has a stoma (a hole through which the feeding tube passes into the body. The stoma site will require regular cleaning to prevent infection).

Health funded formula: some of the tube-feeding formulas recommended for children are funded through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). If you cannot find the recommended formula listed on the PBS website Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) (external), consider a request for Early Childhood technical advice. Declining to fund feeding formula without confirmation that it is funded by PBS can hold significant risk to the child.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) for paid supports.
Medication and supplements.

6.4 Respiratory and wound care consumables

6.4.1 Evidence required: respiratory and wound care consumables

Any requests for respiratory, wound or pressure care consumables will need evidence that these are related to the child’s disability to be considered a NDIS support.

A health professional should provide a recent (less than one year old) recommendation and itemised quote. For young children whose condition may change rapidly, a more recent assessment may be needed.

In many instances, especially for very young children, the recommendation will come from a hospital-based nurse. For children with respiratory support needs, a letter from a respiratory physician can confirm that the support need is related to the child’s disability.

Where a child has a listed disability of Developmental Delay or Global Developmental Delay, and there is no listed disability that is associated with respiratory needs, consider a request for Early Childhood technical advice.

If a child’s family requests funding for respiratory consumables, note that the child will need funding under capacity building for a health professional such as a physiotherapist or RN to provide a respiratory assessment, recommendation and itemised quotes.

Refer to Technical Advice and Practice Improvement Branch - National Early Childhood Branch confluence page for the mandatory referral criteria for respiratory and wound care consumables.

Read more in article Understand disability-related health supports – core supports and Determine disability-related health supports and meal preparation supports.

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6.4.2 Understanding respiratory and wound care consumables

Consider respiratory consumables that need to be replaced frequently, such as tubing, filters and masks.

Consider wound care consumables:

to prevent skin breakdown or pressure injuries in children with limited independent mobility, such as moisturiser, barrier cream, pressure relief cushions, non-pH wash when used to prevent wounds, not as a replacement for soap
for the management of chronic pressure injuries for children.

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7 Example free text field responses for PEC questions for equipment and consumables

When completing the free text fields in the PEC case equipment and consumable questions, describe the child’s support needs for each relevant support area ensuring the child’s age and what would be considered as age-appropriate development has been considered.

If the information is available in a report, include the name, profession, date of report/s in your response. Reports must be uploaded into PACE.

The free text fields have character limits. If more space is required, add the information to an internal note in the Activity log for the PEC case.

These example responses are a guide only.

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