CAT stands for Communication Assistive Technology. CAT levels 1 & 2 are areas of accreditation that assessors can obtain from Enable New Zealand in order to assess for Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People funded services for people with disabilities. CAT Levels 1 & 2 sit under the Equipment and Modification Services (EMS).
Assessors play and important role in helping disabled people access funded services by:
CAT accreditation is available to:
A therapist with CAT 1 accreditation can assess clients who fit the following description:
CAT Level 2
A therapist with CAT 2 accreditation can assess clients who fit the following description:
To apply for CAT 2 accreditation, you need to have been providing communication assistive technology under CAT 1 for at least 1 year.
To apply for EMS accreditation please see https://www.enable.co.nz/working-with-us/apply-for-ems-assessor-accreditation/
Assessor responsibilities
Your responsibilities as a CAT 1 or 2 assessor include:
There are more details about the accreditation process here on the TalkLink Website.
3 years - then you will need to apply for re-creditation.
To re-credential for CAT 1 you will need to:
To re-credential for CAT 2 you will need to:
CAT accreditation enables assessors to assess a client’s needs without having to refer to an external agency (provided the assessment is within their scope of accreditation). This can speed up service delivery and reduce wait times for clients, their whānau and teams.
CAT assessors are able to access ATANZ funded trial equipment to support their assessment process. TalkLink Trust currently manages the provision of this equipment on ATANZ’s behalf. To request trial equipment, please complete the form found here.
Anyone with a valid CAT accreditation can complete an assessment, trial and application.
You can access trial equipment privately, or access the ATANZ trial equipment. This equipment is managed by TalkLink, access it by filling out the form here.
For clinicians with CAT level 1 accreditation applying for a tablet which a person can direct access, a CAT report detailing the assessment, trial, and rationalle for equipment needs to be sent to TalkLink for review.
This is to ensure consistent, and high quality AAC services accross Aotearoa.
The criteria that your CAT report needs to cover can be found here: compact version, extended version.
The report template can be found here.
CAT reports only need to be sent for review for tablet based communication apps.
TalkLink holds the contract to set up all tablet technology funded through Ministry of Health, Whaikaha, or ACC. This includes devices which have been completed by clinicians outside TalkLink. During set up, TalkLink document and label equipment, meaning later on people are able to recover account details/logins, or access tech support if their device is broke.
You can request equipment set up after you have completed a successful equipment application, using the form here.
Other CAT 1 equipment (e.g. switches, or GoTalk) can be sent directly to the client or clinician.
TalkLink tech support hold the contract for all CAT equipment repair. Clinicians, or clients/AAC users can contact TalkLink for support.
If a person's communication device:
a CAT accredited clinician can apply for a like-for-like replacement. This does not require a new CAT report, but can be completed with an equipment quote, and completing application on AccessAble asap Portal or the Enable Ordering System. Select 'like-for-like' within the application.
You will still need to send any tablet based equipment to TalkLink for set-up.
A CAT application can include both equipment and professional hours.
To access funding for professional support hours you need to provide a quote for training hours based on the training plan from your report.