Technology In Homes

The Technology in Homes Program is funded by the Australian Government under the Commonwealth Home Support Program.

Generally, there is no cost to join the program, but we will require one or more referrals for you from My Aged Care. My Aged Care can be contacted on 1800 200 422.

My Aged Care may need to go through an assessment process if you’re not already registered with them or you may require a further assessment by them.  If you’re eligible for services, please request a referral for  ‘Social Support Individual’ be issued to ‘MidCoast Assist – Technology’, which allows us to provide one-on-one technology support at your home, online or over the phone.

If you’d like to access funds to assist with the purchase or technology to keep you connected, you will also require a ‘Goods, Equipment & Assistive Technology’ referral from My Aged Care. When we have received the correct referrals from My Aged Care, we will contact you to complete our registration paperwork so that we can assist you.

If you have a Home Care Package you can access the one-to-one technology support. This can be charged to your package, provided that your package provider confirms that it fits within your budget.  If you require technology equipment, this will need to be purchased through your package with the assistance of your package provider.

We appreciate that each client has different needs or goals.  In addition to devices such as smart phones, tablet computers, laptops, peripherals, etc, we can offer funding towards devices designed to assist those with hearing or vision impairment. 

Examples may include a special camera that attaches to your reading glasses and converts text-to-voice to read a label in the supermarket, or written pages in a book, etc.  Or perhaps you may require a device that assists you to hear your TV using Bluetooth headphones?

The current program, which runs until the end of June 2022, provides eligible people with up to $500 towards purchasing technology to assist them to stay connected online with family, friends, services and the wider community. 

Should you wish to purchase technology exceeding this amount, you would be required to pay any amount over $500.

We can also offer ongoing technology training and support.  To access this service you need to obtain a referral for ‘Social Support Individual’ from My Aged Care.

This support will be available until the end of the program, currently end of June 2022.   We will endeavour to attract further funding to keep the program going beyond this date.

The technology purchased through the program is yours to keep.  You will receive an invoice in your name as proof of purchase and for warranty purposes.

The program is funded until the end of June 2022, but we will endeavour to attract further funding to keep the program going beyond this date.

Places on the program are limited, so we suggest you contact MidCoast Assist as soon as possible so that we can add your name to the program waiting list.  Once you have joined the program, there may be a delay in us visiting you due to resourcing and high demand, so we do appreciate your patience.

Please contact MidCoast Assist on 1300 65 88 30 (press 1) to let us know you’re interested in participating.

If you’re not already registered with My Aged Care, they will require you to go through an assessment process.

If you’re eligible for services, you can request a referral for ‘Social Support Individual’ from My Aged Care.  This referral will allow MidCoast Assist to provide one-on-one technology training and support at home, online or over the phone.

If you’d like to access funds to assist you with the purchase or technology equipment to keep you connected online, you will also require a referral for ‘Goods, Equipment & Assistive Technology' from My Aged Care.  When we have received the correct referrals from My Aged Care, we will contact you to complete our registration paperwork so that we can assist you.

If you are a carer of a client (that is an authorised representative through My Aged Care), you can apply on behalf of the client. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact My Aged Care to discuss.

MidCoast Assist engaged the services of Charles Sturt University (CSU) to evaluate the program to measure sustainability, social participation, well-being outcomes and provision.

 Download the CSU Evaluation:

Technology for Homes CSU Evaluation Report(PDF, 50MB)