Advice Support Tool

Theme: Vehicle Modifications

Sub-Theme(s): Wheelchair Accessible Passenger Modifications

References:

• NDIS Act 2013 Section 34 1. (a) - (f) and 2.
• NDIS Support for Participant Rules 2013
• Vehicle Modification Assessment Template
• Our Guideline – Vehicle Modifications and Driving Supports
• MACA website
• TAB digest advice on second hand modified vehicles

Note: All criteria need to be met for the supports to be funded through the NDIS.

Criteria for reasonable and necessary supports	Is criteria met?	Considerations (including evidence used)
34.1(a) Enabling the participant’s goals and objectives (supports will assist the participant to pursue the goals and objectives in their plan)	☑️ Yes	Does the participant have a goal to access the community? s47E(d) - certain operations of agencies
34.1(b) Assist the participant’s social and economic participation (supports will assist the participant to undertake activities to facilitate their social and economic participation)	☑️ Yes	A wheelchair accessible vehicle facilitates transportation in the community, which assists the participant to undertake social and economic activities. s47E(d) - certain operations of agencies
34.1(c) Value for money (supports represents value for money, ie the costs of support are reasonable, both in terms of the benefits achieved and the cost of alternative support)	☐ No	Is a passenger or drive from wheelchair modification requested? For a passenger conversion: * Has a rear access or side access wheelchair accessible conversion been requested? s47E(d) - certain operations of agencies

Criteria for reasonable and necessary supports

Criteria for reasonable and necessary supports	Is criteria met?	Considerations (including evidence used)
S47E(d)-certain operations of agency	Are there comparable support options which would achieve the same outcome at a substantially lower cost? What alternative supports were considered?	cannot reasonably achieve the same outcome.

| Is there evidence that the support will substantially improve the life stage outcomes and be of long-term benefit to the participant? | Has the participant trialed the wheelchair accessible vehicle conversion in the wheelchair they will be using? The VMOD assessor should address compatibility of the participant’s dimensions when seated in their wheelchair with the space available at entry and inside the vehicle, with consideration that there is adequate above, rear and forward head clearance plus side clearance of the wheelchair If a trial has not been completed, the VMOD assessor should detail why this has not occurred, and demonstrate how it has been determined that the wheelchair will be compatible with the conversion in the absence of physical trial. |

| Is there evidence that funding support is likely to increase independence and reduce funded support costs in the long-term? | Has the participant trialed the conversion with the provider who will be completing the modification? Each conversion is completed slightly differently, so a physical trial in the demonstration vehicle from the provider completing the modification is encouraged where possible. |

| Is there evidence the support will increase the participant’s independence and reduce the participant’s need for other kinds of supports? | outlined in the NDIS Vehicle Modifications Operational Guidelines, there is an expectation that the recommended vehicle modifications would be suitable for the participant’s anticipated transport needs over the next 8 years. |

| Is there evidence the quoted support cost is comparable to expected cost of same kind of supports? | Version 1.0 Page 2 of 7 Page 349 of 442

Criteria for reasonable and necessary supports	Is criteria met?	Considerations (including evidence used)
years: “Vehicle modifications and driving supports we don’t fund - High cost modifications if it’s been less than 8 years since the last modifications were made, unless there are exceptional circumstances,” “we’ll usually reconsider replacement vehicle modifications every 8 years.”

Is the vehicle a suitable age for modification? As outlined in the NDIS Vehicle Modifications Operational Guidelines “Vehicles up to 5 years old, or older if it’s still under manufacturer’s warranty, are generally suitable to have changes made to them.” “For vehicles older than this and no longer under warranty, you’ll need to organise a vehicle condition report.” “You can get a vehicle condition report from your state or territory motoring organisation.” Refer to information outlined in the Operational Guidelines for further details.

Has participant already purchased the vehicle, or are they waiting until funding is made available before purchasing? s47E(d) - certain operations of agencies | | | | Is the vehicle requested for funding a second hand already modified vehicle? Relevant guidance can be located in the NDIS Vehicle Modifications Operational Guidelines and the TAB digest advice.

Have standard level accessories been recommended? As per the NDIS VMOD operational guidelines “Your vehicle modifications must be value for money. This means the modifications must be a good use of money in terms of: the benefits you will get from them, and the cost compared to other supports that would achieve the same outcome.” | | |

Criteria for reasonable and necessary supports

Criteria for reasonable and necessary supports	Is criteria met?	Considerations (including evidence used)
How will effectiveness of achieved outcome be measured? When will effectiveness of achieved outcome be achieved? Are there other supports required to achieve or maximise the reported support outcomes for participant?		s47E(d) - certain operations of agencies
Has the VMOD assessor considered any state based road laws for a child to sit in a seat that does not comply with local legislation? Further information can be located on the MACA website.
34.1(e) Support coordinates with but does not replace informal support (funding or provision of supports takes account of what it is reasonable to expect families, carers, informal networks and the community to provide)
Consider NDIS Support for Participant Rules 2013 Part 3.4	☑️ Yes	Is private vehicle access the most appropriate way to assist the participant in meeting their transport goals? Have alternatives been considered such as public transport, school transport and community transport options?
34.1(f) Support is most appropriately funded by the NDIS (supports are not more appropriately funded or provided through other general service systems or universal service obligations)
Consider NDIS Support for Participant Rules 2013 Schedule 1	☐ No	s47E(d) - certain operations of agencies

Criteria for reasonable and necessary supports

Criteria for reasonable and necessary supports	Is criteria met?	Considerations (including evidence used)
Support will not cause harm & Yes ~ [As outlined in Section 34.1d above:
(Supports will not be funded if it is e Has it been identified that it is the safest
likely to cause harm to the ONo —~ option for the participant to stay seated in
participant or pose a risk to others, their wheelchair for transport?
or the support would be contrary to
a law of a jurisdiction) e Has AS/NZS 4370:2013 and state based
road laws been considered for children
under 16? Has engineer certification been included in the
quotation?
Consider NDIS Support for Participant Rules 2013 Part 5.1 and 5.3
Support is directly related tothe	K Yes
participant’s disability & (supports will not be funded under	O1 No
the NDIS if they do not relate to the
participant’s disability or are day-to-
As per the example provided in
day expenses or income https://ourquidelines.ndis.gov.au/supports-you-can-
replacement) Consider NDIS Support for access-menu/equipment-and-technology/vehicle-
Participant Rules 2013 Part 5.1 and modifications-and-driving-supports
Support does not duplicate other	X Yes
supports & (supports do not duplicate other O No —P
supports delivered under
alternative funding through the
NDIS such as Information,
Linkages and Capacity Building
(ILC) funding.)
Consider NDIS Support for Participant Rules 2013 Part 5.1
Are all of the above criteria met & &) Yes
for all supports?
O No —>

Version Control

Version #	Status	Date	Modified by	Brief Description of Modification
V1.0	Cleared	31/08/2023	SRL469	Production of initial V1.0
V1.0	Cleared	05/09/2023	JIF775	Transferred to Key Advisor Advice Resources repository

MR25/00038 | FOI 24/25-0317

Version 1.0 Page 7 of 7 Page 354 of 442