NDIS Funding
Can you use NDIS funding for a sensory tent?
Often, yes — and for most participants it’s simpler than people expect.
Every tent we sell costs well under $1,500. That puts it in the range the NDIS calls low-cost assistive technology, where the rules are deliberately light: no quote, no assessment, no waiting for approval.
What follows is how that category works, where sensory tents sit within it, and exactly what we can give you for your claim.
What the NDIS says about low-cost assistive technology
The NDIS defines low-cost AT as anything under $1,500. On its own guidance page, the NDIS says that where an item is low cost and low risk, you don’t need to provide quotes, evidence or assessments, and you don’t need approval before you buy.
Three things are worth knowing:
It comes out of your consumables budget, not a separate AT allocation.
It has to be directly related to your disability and help you work towards your plan goals.
It has to be something the NDIS rules say can be funded.
That last point is where sensory tents need an honest answer, so here it is.
Where sensory tents sit
Sensory tents are not named in the NDIS’s published examples of low-cost AT. Those examples cover things like walking sticks, portable ramps, shower chairs, screen magnifiers and modified utensils.
They are also not named in anything the NDIS says it won’t fund.
So the honest position is that sensory tents sit in neither list. Whether one is funded under a particular plan comes down to the same three tests as any other low-cost item:
Is it directly related to the participant’s disability?
For a child whose plan documents sensory processing difficulties, sleep disturbance or difficulty self-regulating, a dark, enclosed, low-stimulus space is straightforwardly related.
Does it help work towards a goal in the plan?
Goals about independent sleep, self-regulation, reducing meltdowns or participating at school are the usual fit.
Is it reasonable and necessary, and not something a person would ordinarily buy regardless of disability?
If the answer to all three is yes, participants routinely purchase items like ours. If a plan doesn’t mention sensory needs at all, it’s a harder case — and that’s worth discussing with your planner or support coordinator before you buy.
How to buy, by plan type
We offer two convenient options for a hassle-free experience:
For Self-Managed Participants:
You can buy from any supplier, including us. Pay by card at checkout, then claim through the myplace portal using the invoice we email you.
Option 1: Immediate Payment
Complete your order via credit/debit card or any other payment method available.
Receive a receipt immediately upon payment.
Simply submit your payment request on the NDIS portal.
Option 2: Pay Later
Select the “By Invoice” option at checkout.
We’ll email an invoice to the address you provide. We do not claim funds directly from NDIS.
You can claim through NDIS and transfer funds to us once received.
Notify us of payment, and your order will be dispatched promptly.
For Plan-Managed Participants:
Your plan manager can pay us directly. Choose Pay by invoice at checkout, or email us and we’ll issue one made out to your plan manager.
What we give you for your claim
Every order comes with a claim-ready tax invoice showing:
Our ABN and business details
A clear description of the item and what it’s for
The date, the amount and the GST position
Your name, or your plan manager’s, as the billed party
We also provide two things on request, free:
An OT support letter template — a one-page format your occupational therapist can complete if you’d like written backing for the purchase. Not required for low-cost AT, but some families prefer to have it on file.
A written product description setting out dimensions, materials and intended sensory function, if your plan manager asks for detail.
Notes on NDIS funding:
We are not a registered NDIS provider. That doesn’t stop self-managed or plan-managed participants buying from us, and most of our NDIS customers are in one of those two categories. It does mean the NDIA can’t pay us directly on behalf of agency-managed participants.
This page is general information, not financial or NDIS advice. For anything specific to your plan, speak to your plan manager, support coordinator or the NDIA.