For years, participants and providers have faced uncertainty about a core question: can the NDIS fund off-the-shelf products bought from mainstream retailers? A 2025 ruling from the Administrative Review Tribunal's Guidance and Appeals Panel (GAP) has finally given a clear answer, and it's good news for NDIS participants who want smart home technology.
The Short Answer
Yes. An off-the-shelf product from a mainstream retailer can be funded as an NDIS support, as long as it has been modified or adapted to address the functional impairments of the specific participant. The product does not need to be exclusively designed for people with disability.
What Was the Case?
The ruling came from Hyde v NDIA (2025), a case involving Casey Hyde, a woman with severe and deteriorating loss of vision. She applied for NDIS funding for a voice-controlled home security system, including an automated gate, fence panel, and intercom system integrated through a Control4 smart home platform. The total cost was under $15,000.
The NDIA rejected the funding, arguing the system included items on the "out list" under the NDIS Supports Transitional Rules 2024. Specifically, it argued the gate, fencing, and security components were "standard household items" that could not be funded.
The Tribunal at first instance disagreed and ruled in Ms Hyde's favour. The NDIA appealed to the Guidance and Appeals Panel, which is a senior-level panel within the Administrative Review Tribunal that handles cases of broad significance.
The GAP upheld the funding for Ms Hyde. Two of three panel members found the system should be funded.
What Does "Standard Item" Actually Mean?
A lot comes down to how the NDIS Supports Transitional Rules 2024 define a "standard item":
A standard item means an item that is not modified or adapted to address the functional impairments of the participant.
The NDIA had argued this meant an item needed to be physically changed from its original form before it could qualify. But the GAP took a broader view.
The Panel found:
- "Modified" means changing or altering something
- "Adapted" has a wider meaning. It asks whether the item is fitted or suitable for the participant's particular use or purpose, without necessarily being physically altered. "Tailored" and "customised" were listed as synonyms.
Crucially, the Panel said the NDIA cannot simply point to an item being available in a mainstream shop and call it standard. The agency must consider:
- The participant and their specific functional impairments
- The support being requested
- Whether the item has been modified or adapted to address those impairments
For Ms Hyde, the gate system had components specifically because of her vision impairment, including a battery pack, sensor beam, and customised gate operator. The system as a whole was adapted to address her disability.
Why Does This Matter for Smart Home Technology?
Smart home technology is almost always sold through mainstream retailers. Amazon Echo, Google Home, smart bulbs, video doorbells, smart locks, and automated blinds can all be purchased from places like Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi, or Amazon. Under the old NDIA argument, buying any of these from a mainstream outlet might disqualify them.
The Hyde ruling rejects that approach. What matters is whether the technology, as configured and installed, addresses your specific functional impairment. A voice-controlled lighting system from a mainstream retailer is still funded if it's the right solution for a participant who cannot physically operate switches.
This matters because:
- It preserves participant choice and control
- It allows access to better value, more widely available products
- It recognises that mainstream tech is often more innovative than disability-specific alternatives
- It reduces the need to pay a premium for items from specialist disability suppliers when a mainstream product does the same job
What This Means for You in Perth
If you are an NDIS participant interested in smart home technology, this ruling strengthens your ability to access funding for off-the-shelf products, provided:
- Your occupational therapist (OT) documents your specific functional impairment
- The OT report explains how the technology is adapted or suited to address that impairment
- The item is on the NDIS "in list" and not clearly excluded for another reason
- The support is reasonable and necessary under your plan
The ruling does not mean anything from a retailer is automatically fundable. The item still needs to meet all NDIS criteria. But it removes the barrier of an item being disqualified simply because it can be bought off the shelf.
Practical Steps for Perth Participants
- Get an OT assessment that clearly documents your functional limitations and links them to the specific technology you need
- Choose technology that is genuinely adapted to your needs, not just convenient or preferable
- Work with a registered NDIS AT provider like Innogreen who can help you navigate the approval process and provide appropriate quotes
- Keep documentation showing why the specific product addresses your impairment, especially if the item could look like a general consumer product
For more on how NDIS funding works for smart home technology, read our Complete Guide to NDIS Smart Home Technology.
If you have questions about what technology might be fundable for your specific situation, get in touch with our team. We work closely with OTs and participants across Perth to identify the right solutions and navigate NDIS approvals.