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The complete guide to
funding aged care robots
in Australia

ARIIA grants, aged care reform funding, NDIS and state programs — everything an Australian facility needs to know to offset the cost of deploying care robotics.

Funding snapshot
Up to 50%
Cost offset available via ARIIA for eligible facilities
$8.3B
AU government committed to aged care reform 2023–2026
4 pathways
Federal grants, NDIS, state programs and innovation funds

Why now is the right time to apply

The Australian government has committed $8.3 billion to aged care reform following the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. A significant portion of this investment is directed toward technology adoption, workforce augmentation and quality-of-life improvements — all areas where care robots directly qualify.

The window is open now. ARIIA (Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia) is actively funding technology pilots with turnaround times as short as 8 weeks. Facilities that move in 2025–2026 are positioned to access the most generous funding rounds before the reform budget cycles close.

ARIIA — the primary pathway

🏛️
ARIIA Innovation Fund
Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia · Federal

ARIIA's Innovation Fund provides co-investment grants for technology pilots in residential aged care, home care and supported living. Companion robots, telepresence devices and therapeutic robots have all received funding in previous rounds.

Grants typically cover 40–50% of technology costs for the pilot period (usually 12 months), with the expectation that facilities will present outcomes data that can be shared across the sector.

Co-investment grantResidential & home careOutcomes reporting required12-month pilot minimum
Typical grant range$50,000 – $250,000
📋
ARIIA Emerging Technologies Seed Fund
Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia · Federal

Designed specifically for first-time technology adopters. Simplified application process with lower minimum co-investment requirements — ideal for smaller facilities deploying their first robot.

Simplified applicationFirst-time adoptersLower co-investment
Typical grant range$20,000 – $80,000

NDIS pathways

🔵
NDIS Assistive Technology
National Disability Insurance Scheme · Federal

For NDIS participants in care settings, assistive technology funding can cover robots that directly support individual participants' goals. Therapeutic robots (such as PARO, which has FDA medical device classification) are strong candidates.

Key requirement: The robot must be linked to specific goals in the participant's NDIS plan. Work with support coordinators to document goal alignment before applying.

Per-participant fundingGoal alignment requiredSupport coordinator needed
Per participant (AT budget)$1,500 – $15,000+

State & territory programs

StateProgramRobots eligibleAmount
VICSector Transformation FundYesUp to $100K
NSWSeniors Technology PilotYesUp to $75K
QLDAdvancing Queensland — Aged CareYesUp to $50K
SADigital Health InnovationPartialUp to $40K
WACare Futures FundYesUp to $60K
TASInnovation in Care GrantYesUp to $30K
ACTAged Care Digital UpliftYesUp to $25K
NTRemote Aged Care TechnologyYesUp to $80K

Quick eligibility checker

Is your facility eligible?

Answer 3 questions to see which funding pathways best apply to your situation.

1. What is your facility type?
2. Have you deployed care technology before?
3. Do you have NDIS participants?
Your best funding pathways:

How to apply — step by step

1
Document your facility's need
ARIIA and state programs want to see evidence of workforce pressure, resident isolation or specific clinical challenges. Pull staffing ratios, incident reports and resident engagement data.
2
Identify robots that match your goals
Use our directory to shortlist 2–3 robots. Match their documented outcomes to your facility's stated goals. Suppliers can provide outcome data sheets.
3
Get supplier quotes and outcome data
Book demos and request formal quotes. Ask suppliers for peer-reviewed evidence or Australian pilot data — ARIIA reviewers respond well to documented clinical outcomes.
4
Submit expression of interest
Most programs begin with an EOI before a full application. Keep it focused: the problem, the solution, the evidence and your measurement plan.
5
Deploy and report outcomes
Grant conditions typically require outcomes reporting at 6 and 12 months. Prepare your measurement framework before deployment.
Need help with your application?

Our team can connect you with experienced aged care technology consultants who specialise in ARIIA and state grant applications. Many work on a success-fee basis.