Specialised equipment is that which assists the inclusion of a child with ongoing, high physical support needs in a child care service which would not usually be purchased by the service.  This includes specialised seating, standing, toileting and sleeping equipment, as well as specialist inclusion resources such as visual aids, switch sensory mats, etc.  Requests for specialised equipment form part of an application for Inclusion Support Subsidy.

Any request for specialist equipment must be based on the recommendation of an appropriate professional who has knowledge of the child's biomechanical functioning and needs, such as an occupational therapist or physiotherapist.  Access to the Online Database of Specialised Equipment is not therefore available to child care services. The Children's Therapy team and Inclusion Support Agency in your region can access this database to enable the selection of appropriate equipment to assist with the inclusion of children with specific needs in your service.