Effective from 31 October 2025

Approved by: Head of Care and Quality

At a Glance

As a provider of quality care and services we want to ensure that equipment purchased, leased, and/or used during service provision is safe to use and appropriate for the Member’s care needs.

Scope

This policy applies to all Five Good Friends workers (employees, Helpers, contractors) and Members.

Objective

The objective of this policy is to ensure that Members receive safe and appropriate equipment to meet their care needs.

Definitions

• Assistive Technology (AT) - Assistive technology includes items, pieces of equipment or products that are used to help a Member to do things more easily or complete activities they can no longer do independently.
• Home Modifications (HM) - Home modifications provide changes to a Member’s home to make it safer and more accessible, allowing the Member to live there safely.
• SAH – Support at Home

Policy Statement

• Equipment may be purchased or leased when:
  • it is identified as being essential to achieve the objective of the Member’s Help Plan,
  • it is part of the program deliverables,
  • it is not available from other government funded programs, and
  • access via a government funded program would require a long waiting period that would significantly hinder the implementation of the Member’s Help Plan.
• A Member’s care needs, as assessed by an appropriately qualified health professional, will identify the most appropriate equipment required.
• Information regarding the Member’s circumstances and how the supply of equipment will aid in the Member’s independence, safety, health, and wellbeing will inform the decision-making process.
• A Member has the choice to accept or not accept equipment recommendations, including having the right to choose not to use the equipment once it has been leased/purchased.