The Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP) assists entitled veterans, war widow/ers and dependants through the provision of aids and appliances to minimise the impact of disabilities, enhance quality of life and maximise independence when undertaking daily living activities.

RAP assists eligible members of the veteran community to be as independent and self-reliant as possible in their own homes. The provision of aids and appliances helps to minimise the impact of disabilities and maximises quality of life and independence.

Your health care provider will assess what your clinical needs are. This will determine the items you can access. If you decide to buy one without a clinical assessment and prescription, they may not reimburse you afterwards.

Aids include:

• assistive listening devices and tinnitus devices
• speech and communication devices
• low vision devices (non-optical)
• cognition and memory devices
• swallowing and feeding products
• bathing, toileting, continence and personal hygiene products
• diabetes products
• assistance dogs, (including psychiatric assistance dogs, guide dogs, hearing assistance dogs and mobility assistance dogs).

Equipment includes:

• personal response systems i.e. an alarm which allows you to get help quickly in an emergency
• respiratory home therapy devices, including oxygen and positive airway pressure machines
• chairs and other supports
• beds and related appliances
• lifting devices
• adaptive household appliances to help with doing everyday things around the house
• mobility devices to help with moving around, such as a walking frame, knee walkers, manual wheelchairs, electric scooters and wheelchairs
• orthoses and prostheses
• rehabilitation exercise and treatment machines
• palliative care appliances.

They can cover modifications to your home or vehicle. These modifications can help you access, use and transfer safely in and out of your home or vehicle.

Home modifications include:

• non-slip surfacing
• ramps, step modifications and rails
• ceiling hoists
• stair, platform and vertical lifts
• making the bathroom and other areas of the home more accessible for daily living.

Vehicle modifications include:

• hoists and rotating seats for transfers
• devices to transport manual wheelchairs
• customised driving controls.

Who is eligible?

Clients may be eligible for the RAP if they have an assessed clinical need and either a:

• Veteran Gold Card
• Veteran White Card and the equipment is for an accepted condition

• Phone: 1800 550 457
• Email: rapgeneralenquiries@dva.gov.au