PARO seal price in Australia
PARO is listed in Australia from a directory figure checked in September 2026 and quoted by distributors. What changes the price and what to budget for.
Facilities searching for a PARO price find very little published. This page sets out the one listed figure we could verify, what changes the quote and the running costs to include in a business case.
What does PARO cost in Australia?
PARO is listed from $6,500 per unit on an independent Australian aged care robotics directory, checked on 24 September 2026. Treat it as a starting point. Distributors quote each buyer, and the quote you receive is the price that counts.
What changes the quoted price?
- The number of units, since some distributors price larger orders differently.
- Whether GST and freight are included in the figure.
- The warranty period and any extended cover.
- Extras such as a spare charger.
- Whether you buy outright, lease, or start with a trial or loan unit. See leasing and trials.
Ask for these as separate lines on the quote, so procurement can compare like with like.
Which running costs should a budget include?
| Cost | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Staff time | Planned sessions with residents or patients, usually by lifestyle, therapy or nursing staff |
| Cleaning | Staff time and products, following the maker’s instructions and your infection control policy |
| Charging | Somewhere secure to keep and charge the unit between sessions |
| Repairs | Out-of-warranty repairs and freight to the repairer |
A cost study nested in the Queensland PARO trial (Mervin and colleagues, 2018) found that PARO added cost per resident compared with usual care over 10 weeks. It judged both PARO and a plush toy to be cost-effective ways to reduce agitation, with the plush toy slightly better value.
Is a cheaper companion pet enough?
For some residents it is. Joy for All style companion cats sell for $259 to $300 and pups for $269 to $315 at Australian specialist retailers. They have a smaller research base than PARO. Many providers keep PARO for dementia units and use companion pets in general wings. The value comparison covers the trade-off in more detail.
Paying for it
Residential aged care providers usually buy from their operating budget. Hospital wards often turn to a foundation or charity: see foundation funding.