Robotic pets and NDIS funding
How NDIS participants may fund a robotic companion pet as low-cost assistive technology, what evidence helps, and why Support at Home is a harder route.
A robotic pet can sometimes be funded by the NDIS, but it is not automatic. The item must relate to the person’s disability and support a goal in their plan.
The low-cost assistive technology rule
The NDIS treats assistive technology under $1,500 as low cost. For low-risk items in that range, participants do not need quotes or an assessment and do not need prior approval, and the item is usually paid from the Consumables budget. A companion cat or pup sits well under that limit.
The NDIS still expects the item to be disability-related, linked to a goal, safe, and value for money. It is not funded as a pet or a toy. A short recommendation from an occupational therapist or psychologist explaining how the pet helps with anxiety, emotional regulation, sensory needs or social engagement makes the purchase easier to support.
Who uses them
- Younger people with dementia living in the community.
- People with intellectual disability or autism who use a pet for calming.
- People with acquired brain injury who become distressed or isolated.
Support at Home is a different story
Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025. Its assistive technology list does not name robotic or companion pets, and it lists touch-based sensory products as excluded. Do not assume a Support at Home budget will pay for one; ask your provider in writing before buying. The low tier for assistive technology under that scheme is $500.
Next step
Check your plan budget, get a short recommendation from your therapist, and buy from a supplier who will issue a proper invoice. Tell us what you need and we can put you in touch with a supplier who works with NDIS participants.