Specialised Driver Training referrals for NDIS coordinators
Assessment and training to help a participant learn to drive with their disability, including advice on the vehicle modifications they may need.
NDIS registration group: Specialised driver training
What Driver Training is under the NDIS
Specialised Driver Training is a capacity-building support that helps a person with disability learn to drive, or return to driving after an injury, illness or a change in their condition. It combines an occupational therapy driving assessment with practical, on-road tuition delivered by a driver-trained occupational therapist working alongside an accredited driving instructor experienced with disability.
The support usually begins with an off-road assessment of vision, cognition, reaction time and physical function, then progresses to on-road lessons in a vehicle fitted with any adaptive controls or modifications the participant needs. It also covers advice on which vehicle modifications or adaptive driving equipment would suit the participant so they can drive safely and as independently as possible.
The focus is on building the participant's capacity for independent transport and reducing reliance on paid or informal travel supports. Importantly, the physical vehicle modifications themselves are assistive technology and are quoted and funded separately; driver training covers the assessment, the tuition and the recommendations that inform any modification or licensing decision.
What it covers
- Occupational therapy off-road driving assessment (vision, cognition, physical function)
- On-road driving assessment with a driver-trained occupational therapist
- Practical driving lessons in a modified or dual-control adapted vehicle
- Advice on adaptive driving controls and vehicle modifications
- Training to use hand controls, left-foot accelerators, spinner knobs and similar equipment
- Guidance on licence conditions and liaison with the state or territory licensing authority
- Assessment of wheelchair-accessible vehicle access, transfer and stowage needs
- Report writing to support licensing decisions and assistive technology funding requests
- Refresher or top-up training after a change in condition or a new vehicle setup
Who it suits
Refer when a participant with disability wants to learn to drive for the first time, or needs to be reassessed and retrained to drive safely after an injury, illness or progression of their condition.
It suits participants whose goals include independent transport, employment or community access, particularly those who may need adaptive driving controls or vehicle modifications to get behind the wheel.
How to refer Driver Training on Novida
Use Novida to search verified providers offering specialised driver training or occupational therapy driving assessment in the participant's area. Filter to providers with the right qualifications, driver-trained occupational therapists and accredited disability driving instructors, and confirm they hold current capacity to take on a new referral before you make contact.
Contact the provider directly with a complete referral: participant consent, NDIS number, plan-management type, the relevant plan goals and line items or budget, the participant's current licence status, and any known physical, sensory or cognitive requirements. The more context you give up front, the faster the provider can confirm suitability and book an assessment.
Novida is free to use and never sits in the middle of the referral. You search, contact and engage the provider directly, at no cost to you or the participant.
What to check before you refer
- Confirm the provider uses a driver-trained occupational therapist for the assessment, not a standard driving instructor alone, and that they work with an accredited instructor who has a suitably modified, dual-control vehicle.
- Check the plan has capacity-building funding available for the assessment and lessons, and be clear that physical vehicle modifications are funded separately as assistive technology.
- Verify the participant holds, or is eligible for, the appropriate learner or driver licence with the relevant state or territory licensing authority.
How it’s priced
"Specialised driver training is priced according to the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (the NDIS Price Guide); the occupational therapy assessment component and the practical driving instruction may sit under different price limits, so confirm current rates on ndis.gov.au. Travel and report writing may be claimable within the rules set out in the pricing arrangements."
Coordinator FAQs — Driver Training
- Does the provider need to be NDIS registered to deliver driver training?
- Not necessarily. Specialised driver training is not a support that legally requires registration the way behaviour support or SDA does. Agency-managed participants must use a registered provider, but plan-managed and self-managed participants can use registered or unregistered providers, provided they hold the right professional…
- Are vehicle modifications covered by driver training?
- No. Driver training covers the assessment, the lessons and the recommendations about what a participant needs. The physical modifications and adaptive equipment, such as hand controls or a wheelchair hoist, are assistive technology and are quoted and funded separately, usually after the occupational therapy assessment identifies the…
- What qualifications should the assessor have?
- A driver-trained occupational therapist should complete the driving assessment, as they combine clinical knowledge of the disability with specific driver-assessment training. They typically work alongside an accredited driving instructor who has experience teaching people with disability and access to a dual-control, modified vehicle. Ask…
- Which part of the plan funds this support?
- Specialised driver training is generally funded from a participant's capacity-building budget, because it builds the skills for independent transport. The exact budget and line items depend on how the plan is written and the participant's goals, so check the plan and the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Confirm…
- Can a participant learning to drive for the first time access this?
- Yes. Driver training supports both first-time learners with disability and people returning to driving after an acquired injury or a change in their condition. For a new learner, the assessment establishes whether driving is realistic and what supports are needed. The participant still progresses through the normal learner licence…
- What happens after the assessment?
- The occupational therapist provides a report with recommendations: whether the participant can drive, what adaptive controls or modifications are needed, any licence conditions, and roughly how many lessons are likely. This report supports both the driver licensing authority and any assistive technology funding request. Practical lessons…
- Does the driver licensing authority need to be involved?
- Yes. Driving with a medical condition or disability is regulated by the state or territory driver licensing authority. The occupational therapy assessment often feeds into their decision about licence conditions, such as an automatic-only or modified-controls condition. The provider usually liaises with the authority, but confirm the…
- How do I refer through Novida?
- Search Novida for verified providers offering driver training or occupational therapy driving assessment near the participant, check their qualifications and current capacity, then contact them directly with a complete referral: consent, NDIS number, plan-management type, relevant goals and budget, and the participant's licence and…
Related NDIS registration groups
- Supported Employment referrals
- Finding & Keeping a Job referrals
- School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) referrals
- Assistance with Transport referrals
- Assistive Technology referrals
- Consumables referrals
How to check a provider’s credentials
- NDIS Commission provider register — NDIS registration
- How worker screening works — Worker screening
- Make a complaint to the NDIS Commission — Complaints & conduct