How the NDIS Funds Hoists, Slings & Transfer Equipment
NDIS hoist funding explained: how hoists and slings are funded as assistive technology, the AT assessment and quotes needed, plus repairs and replacement.
A hoist can transform daily life — making transfers safe, comfortable and dignified — but families often aren't sure which part of their plan pays for it or how to get it approved. Hoists are funded as assistive technology, which follows its own path: an assessment, quotes, and approval in your Capital budget. This guide explains how hoist and sling funding works, step by step.
Hoists are assistive technology, not a support hour
Which budget pays: Capital, and where slings sit
The assessment that unlocks funding
Types of hoist and matching one to you
Getting it into your plan: quotes and approval
Repairs, servicing and replacement
The equipment and the workers go together
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Which part of my NDIS plan pays for a hoist?
A hoist is assistive technology, so it's funded from your Capital budget, not your support hours. Slings are also assistive technology; depending on cost and type they may sit in Capital or be funded as a lower-cost AT item. Because it's higher-cost AT, it follows an assessment-and-quote process.
What do I need to get a hoist funded?
You'll need an assistive technology assessment, usually by an occupational therapist or physiotherapist, who recommends the right hoist for you and your home and provides supporting evidence. A quote — often more than one for higher-cost items — then goes to the NDIA for approval in your Capital…
Does the NDIS fund different types of hoist?
Yes. The assessment matches the hoist to you — a mobile floor hoist, a ceiling hoist on a track, or a standing hoist — based on your transfers, your body and your home layout. The right type is a clinical decision documented by your therapist, not just the cheapest option.
Will the NDIS pay to repair or replace my hoist?
Yes. Repairs, servicing and eventual replacement of hoists and slings are fundable, as maintenance keeps the equipment safe to use. Slings wear out and need replacing more often than the hoist itself. Keep records and report faults promptly, since an unsafe hoist shouldn't be used.
Does funding the hoist include training to use it?
The equipment and the workers go together. Your manual handling plan specifies how the hoist and sling are used, and workers must be trained and competent in your specific transfers. That training and the worker hours come from your supports budget, alongside the hoist funded as capital AT.
Related guides
- How the NDIS Works With Palliative Care & Health Services
- How the NDIS Funds Personal Care & Self-Care Supports
- Overnight Complex Care: Active Overnight vs Sleepover for Clinical Needs
- Palliative & End-of-Life Care on the NDIS: A Participant & Family Guide
- Choosing & Directing Personal Care Workers (Your Rights)
- 2:1 (Two-Person) Support on the NDIS: When It's Funded