EnableNSW & Compression Stockings: How Funding Works

EnableNSW is the NSW Health program that supplies assistive technology — including some compression garments — to eligible NSW residents. This guide explains how the compression garment stream works, who typically qualifies, what your prescriber provides and where a private retailer fits in. Checked against EnableNSW’s published criteria on 28 Sep 2026.

How EnableNSW compression garment funding works

EnableNSW does not hand you money or a voucher. Your prescriber assesses you, chooses garments from the EnableNSW online catalogue (or gets a quote for a custom item) and submits the request form with clinical justification. EnableNSW assesses it, orders through the state contract and has the garments delivered. Your only direct cost is your band’s co-payment.

EnableNSW funds garments for long-term management once swelling and limb shape are optimised and a successful six-week trial has been completed. That is why the first set, and any trial garment, sit outside the scheme, and why it is not designed for short-term needs such as travel, pregnancy, work or post-surgical recovery.

Who typically qualifies

You need to meet EnableNSW’s general eligibility (NSW residency, Medicare, no other funder responsible, not a private in-patient) and the clinical criteria your prescriber assesses. EnableNSW publishes an eligibility indicator you can use before booking. A financial test sets your band: Band 1 is pensioners and under-16s, Band 2 is households under the published income thresholds, Band 3 is everyone else. EnableNSW does not fund garments where the annual cost is under $100 (Bands 1–2) or under $800 (Band 3).

What your prescriber provides

• A completed Form ENAB0027 with your Medicare number, the affected areas, garment codes from the EnableNSW catalogue, quantities and costs.
• Clinical justification: why this garment, the outcome of the six-week trial, and confirmation you have been shown how to put the garment on and care for it.
• Their own qualifications and a signed declaration.
• For custom-made or non-contract items, a supplier quote attached to the form.

How to order with EnableNSW funding

1. Check eligibility and find a prescriber. Use the EnableNSW eligibility indicator, then book with an OT, physiotherapist, nurse or doctor who has done an ALA-recognised lymphoedema course.
2. Complete the trial. EnableNSW needs evidence of a successful six-week trial in a suitable garment before it will fund ongoing supply. The trial garment is not funded, so you buy it privately — we can help match the class, length and style recommended and get the size right.
3. Your prescriber submits Form ENAB0027. They select garments from the EnableNSW catalogue, attach clinical notes and email the form to EnableNSW. EnableNSW assesses it and invoices you for any co-payment.
4. EnableNSW orders and delivers. Approved garments are ordered through the NSW Government contract and delivered. If you need a spare set beyond your allocation, a different colour, or a pair for an occasion the scheme does not cover, that is a private purchase.

Where Compression Stockings Online fits

We are an Australian-owned retailer (TW Marketing Pty Ltd, ABN 58 635 434 507, Riverview NSW) and an authorised stockist of Sigvaris, JOBST, Venosan, Juzo and Bauerfeind. Compression Stockings Online is not an EnableNSW contracted supplier, so we cannot supply garments under the scheme, submit requests or decide eligibility. We can help with:

• Trial and first-set garments. These sit outside EnableNSW. Tell us the class, style and brand your prescriber named and we will match it.
• Sizing help. Use our 60-second sizing calculator or call (02) 9062 3243 and we will walk you through the measurements over the phone.
• Tax invoices with our ABN, item descriptions, class and size, useful for private health insurance claims.
• Size swaps on unopened items under our returns policy.

Compression Stockings Online does not supply under the NSW Government compression garment contract (Contract 963). EnableNSW supplies approved garments through its own contracted suppliers, so anything you buy from us is a private purchase and is not funded or reimbursed by EnableNSW.

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy compression stockings from Compression Stockings Online and claim the cost back from EnableNSW?

No. EnableNSW is not a reimbursement scheme, and we are not one of its contracted suppliers. It orders approved garments through the NSW Government contract after assessing your prescriber’s request, and they are delivered to you. Anything you buy yourself is a private purchase.

Does EnableNSW fund a first set of garments?

No. The criteria exclude the first set and trial garments. Many people buy these privately, then move to scheme supply once the 6-week trial has gone well.

How much is the EnableNSW co-payment?

For people in Band 1 or Band 2 the co-payment is capped at one $100 payment per financial year across all EnableNSW services. People in Band 3 (higher income) pay 20% of the cost of equipment costing $800 or more and are not eligible for equipment under $800.

Who can write the EnableNSW request?

A registered occupational therapist, physiotherapist, medical officer or nurse who has completed an Australasian Lymphology Association (ALA) recognised lymphoedema management course. Custom-made garments need a prescriber with more than one year of experience and more than three custom prescriptions. Speech pathologists may prescribe head and neck garments in limited circumstances.

Can Compression Stockings Online help if I am waiting on an EnableNSW decision?

Yes. If you need a pair sooner than the scheme can supply, or a spare set beyond your allocation, we can match the class and style your prescriber has written down, work out your size and dispatch from Sydney within two business days. This is a private purchase; we cannot speed up the scheme itself.