CAEATI guidelines
The Community Aids Equipment and Assistive Technologies Initiative (CAEATI) will ensure equitable access for Disability Services’ clients to subsidy funding for Aids, Equipment and Assistive Technologies (AEAT), with a straightforward and streamlined process.
You can download and print a copy of these CAEATI guidelines here:
Intent
CAEATI will enable people with a disability to participate in their communities of choice by funding a range of aids equipment & assistive technologies that connect their choices with funded options.
Principles
CAEATI will:
- provide streamlined and equitable access to eligible clients across Queensland
- subsidise aids equipment and assistive technologies that enable community access
- align closely with other government agencies to deliver an integrated provision
- ensure that Government funding optimises economies of scale and best possible value.
Objectives
The objectives of scheme include the provision of:
- subsidised funding for aids equipment and assistive technologies to support community participation
- information on aids and equipment to people with disability and their families and carers to support their choices and goals.
- research and education opportunities for all stakeholders including clients and their families and carers and prescribers.
CAEATI categories
CAEATI subsidy funding is provided within the following categories:
Communication support
Communication Support will assist people with disability to connect and exchange information with their communities of choice, e.g: speech generating device, PODD communication books.
Funding limit
Up to a maximum of $4,500 per client
Preferred prescribers
- Speech Language Pathologists
- Occupational Therapists in consultation with a Speech Language Pathologist
Inclusions
- Communication devices that are disability specific and improve community* participation
- Disability specific additions to computers which improve a person’s ability to utilise the computer
- Disability specific computer applications and software (NOT personal computers or ipads, computer hardware or internet access)
* for the purpose of this category, community includes ‘communities of choice’— for example, cyber and internet communities.
Interaction with the Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme (MASS)
Applications for aids, equipment and assistive technologies where the applicant has also received funding through Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme (MASS) will be considered where the equipment is required for community participation.
If a communication support partly subsided by MASS requires further funding to enable communication outside the home environment, and a cost sharing arrangement is being sought, please send the MASS application form following the existing process to MASS, and the CAEATI subsidy application form to CAEATI. An internal process will be conducted with MASS once a CAEATI determination has been completed.
Community mobility
Community Mobility will improve physical access by subsidising equipment that supports people with disability to move outside their home environment, e.g: power assist wheels.
Funding limit
Up to a maximum of $4,500 per client
Preferred prescribers
- Occupational Therapist
- Physiotherapist
Inclusions:
- Aids, equipment and assistive technology that support mobility, travel and posture within community environments
- Enhancements to mobility devices that improve their durability outside the home environment
- The training of an assistance dog by an Approved Trainer under the Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dog Act 2009, when the CAEATI client is the holder of a Handler Identity Card. An Approved Trainer is the only prescriber able to assess this criteria.
- Powered mobility devices including scooters (4 wheel scooters are preferred)
- Portable ramps
Interaction with the Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme (MASS)
If a community mobility aid partly subsidised by MASS requires further funding of complimentary equipment to enable mobility outside the home environment and a cost sharing arrangement is being sought, please send the MASS application form following the existing process to MASS, and the CAEATI subsidy application form to CAEATI. An internal process will be conducted with MASS once a CAEATI determination has been completed.
Active participation
Active participation will support people with disability to be involved in a range of recreation and civic activities that supports social inclusion, e.g: outdoor recreational or sports wheelchairs.
Funding limit
Up to a maximum of $1,000 per client
Preferred prescribers
- Occupational Therapist
- Physiotherapist
Inclusions
- Leisure and recreational focused aids, equipment and assistive technologies that are uniquely designed to enable a person with a disability improved autonomous access to engage in a community based recreational activities of their choice.
All AEAT subsidised by CAEATI will need to meet any relevant Australian Standards.
CAEATI exclusions
- Disability specific items that are used only at home, or primarily used in and around the home.
- Items that are for exclusive use at work (paid employment) or in school age educational settings. (Adult learning and volunteer environments are excluded from this criteria).
- Short-term provision of items
- Consumable items
- Continence products
- Specialised clothing, shoes or orthoses
- Medical and surgical treatment items
- Personal computers, internet access and ipads
- Standard household or personal items
- Items funded by other government funding bodies
- Home and vehicle modifications
- Eating and enteral nutrition items
- Personal training
- Insurance and/or maintenance to funded AEAT
- Cost of repairs
- Items less than $100 each
- Non-disability specific items that are commercially available
- Second items for the same functional goal.
Eligibility
Eligibility for CAEATI is aligned with the broader Disability and Community Care (DCCS) guidelines as set out in the Disability Services Act 2006.
View the specialist disability services eligibility page for clients.
Client access
CAEATI operates with a Prescriber Model, in that a specified prescriber in consultation with the client recommends an AEAT that would enable increased community participation that is within the scope of the CAEATI categories.
All CAEATI applications must follow the set process as set out below:
- Clients should contact their local service centre to make sure their assessment is current and they are eligible to apply to CAEATI. The local service centre will also be able to provide information on the CAEATI process and answer any questions.
- The next step is for the client to connect with a registered prescriber for the category of AEAT that is required, who will undertake the CAEATI assessment and work with the client to complete the CAEATI subsidy application form*. (Prescribers can access clinical support if required by emailing LifeTec at CAEATS@lifetec.org.au - this is an email only service, advice is not available via phone.)
- Send all CAEATI applications to caeats@communities.qld.gov.au. If the application is a cost sharing arrangement with MASS, please send the MASS application to MASS as per the usual process, and the CAEATI subsidy application to CAEATI. An internal process will be conducted with MASS once a CAEATI determination has been completed.
- Clients and the prescribers will be notified when a determination has been made on the application.
*You can download and print CAEATI forms.
CAEATI payments
- Each of the CAEATI categories has capped funding amounts available for a period of three years. These amounts are not able to be accumulated, transferred or increased over the set limits, and CAEATI does not fund retrospectively.
- Cumulative subsidies are available up to the maximum funding per category
- Subsidy payments are made directly to the vendor or the supplier of the AEAT. CAEATI is unable to transfer funds directly to clients.
- Subsidy funding per client is available per 3 years. Clients will not be eligible to reapply for funding over the maximum amount until this period has transpired
- CAEATI has been developed to align with other Queensland Government department’s provision of AEAT. CAEATI does not retain ownership or provide payments for ongoing maintenance or repairs to AEAT that has been subsidised. Clients are expected to ensure that AEAT is maintained regularly and insured as funding for similar items will only be available every three years.
Interim subsidy—(prescription from CAEATI prescriber)
As a temporary measure up to 30 June 2013, funding will be provided for prescriptions from registered CAEATI prescribers up to the amount of $800 dollars until the 30 June 2013.
