NDIS participants in Victoria and New South Wales will be able to claim the cost of personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, in what will be a temporary funding arrangement.
With community transmission of coronavirus evident in both states and in line with current health advice, NDIS Minister Stuart Robert said the government was acting to ensure participants more at risk are supported to access PPE and continue to receive their disability supports.
NDIS participants who have face-to-face assisted daily living supports can flexibly use their existing NDIS funds to cover the cost of the PPE they need to keep themselves safe, the minister said.
“We know that participants who receive face-to-face supports may be at higher risk of transmission, with daily support from their workers regularly involving close physical contact.”
Participants can use an existing support item (Low Cost Disability-Related Health Consumables) to claim on the cost of PPE for the times their worker is with them.
In Victoria and NSW, the ability to claim for the cost of PPE will be extended to providers allowing workers to continue delivering essential disability supports to NDIS participants.
Participants living in their own home who test positive for COVID-19 and are required to self-isolate or quarantine will also be able to claim for related cleaning costs.
Existing measures that provide additional funding for providers of Supported Independent Living (SIL) where there is a confirmed case of COVID-19, as announced on April 27, will also be extended. SIL providers will now also be able to claim for higher intensity supports to cover situations where there is a potential COVID-19 positive case of a participant and they are required to self-isolate or quarantine.
The announcement is in addition to existing NDIS participant-focused coronavirus response measures, including offering alternatives for face-to-face planning meetings to participants, plan extensions for up to 24 months following review and flexible use of funds to purchase low cost assistive technology.
Further information on funding of PPE can be found at www.ndis.gov.au.