NDIS physiotherapy: what is covered?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funds a range of supports for Australians with permanent and significant disabilities — and physiotherapy is one of the allied health services that may be included in a participant’s plan. If you are an NDIS participant or a support person trying to understand what physiotherapy coverage may look like, this article provides an overview of how NDIS physiotherapy works, what it typically covers, and how Alpha Physio works with NDIS participants.

Note: NDIS funding decisions are individual and depend on your plan, your goals, and what the NDIA determines to be reasonable and necessary. This article provides general guidance only. For specific questions about your plan, contact your support coordinator, plan manager, or the NDIA directly.

What NDIS physiotherapy may cover

Physiotherapy under the NDIS typically falls under two broad support categories:

Capacity Building — Improved Health and Wellbeing (CB Daily Activity) — this category may fund physiotherapy aimed at building a participant’s functional capacity, including mobility, strength, and independence in daily activities. Assessment, exercise programmes, and ongoing treatment sessions may be funded under this category, depending on the goals in the participant’s plan.

Core Supports — Assistance with Daily Life — in some cases, physiotherapy that directly supports a participant’s ability to complete daily living activities may be funded under core supports. This is less common and depends on individual plan circumstances.

The types of physiotherapy services that may be included in an NDIS plan include individual assessment and treatment sessions, functional capacity assessments (which may be required for plan reviews or access requests), home programme development and monitoring, and hydrotherapy. What is funded will depend on the goals in your plan and what the NDIA considers reasonable and necessary for your situation.

How to access physiotherapy through the NDIS

How you book and pay for physiotherapy depends on how your NDIS plan is managed:

• Agency managed (NDIA managed): You use a provider registered with the NDIS. The provider claims directly through the NDIS portal. You do not pay out of pocket for funded services.
• Plan managed: A plan management organisation administers your funds. You can use any registered provider (and in some cases, unregistered providers — check with your plan manager). The plan manager pays the provider on your behalf.
• Self-managed: You manage your own funds and can engage any provider, registered or unregistered. You pay the invoice and then seek reimbursement from the NDIS.

If you are unsure which management type applies to you, this information is in your NDIS plan document. Your support coordinator or plan manager can also assist.

NDIS sessions are structured to document progress against plan goals — which is important for plan reviews.

What happens in an NDIS physiotherapy session

An initial NDIS physiotherapy session typically begins with an assessment of the participant’s current functional abilities, movement, strength, and any relevant health history. The physiotherapist will discuss the participant’s NDIS goals and how physiotherapy may contribute to working toward those goals.

Subsequent sessions may involve hands-on treatment, exercise instruction and supervision, monitoring of progress, and programme adjustments. For participants who require home programmes, the physiotherapist may also provide written or illustrated exercise instructions. NDIS sessions are structured to document progress against plan goals, which is important for plan reviews.

Types of physiotherapy services under the NDIS

Depending on the participant’s goals and plan, physiotherapy services that may be funded include:

• Individual physiotherapy assessment and treatment sessions
• Hydrotherapy — physiotherapist-led aquatic exercise, which may be particularly relevant for participants with conditions where land-based exercise is difficult
• Functional capacity assessments — detailed reports on a participant’s functional abilities used in NDIS access and review processes
• Home exercise programme development, with review and monitoring over time
• Assistive technology assessment (for items such as walking aids or orthotics, where physio input is required)

What is not typically covered

The NDIS funds supports that are directly related to a participant’s disability and their goals. Physiotherapy for conditions that are unrelated to the participant’s disability, general health and wellness services, and treatments that are considered the responsibility of the health system (Medicare) are generally not funded by the NDIS. There is sometimes ambiguity in what falls to the NDIS versus the health system, and a support coordinator or plan manager can help navigate specific situations.

How Alpha Physio supports NDIS participants

Alpha Physio works with NDIS participants in the Sumner area and broader western Brisbane suburbs. Our physiotherapists conduct assessments focused on participants’ NDIS goals, provide clear documentation, and work collaboratively with support coordinators and plan managers as needed. We understand that navigating the NDIS can be complex, and we aim to make the physiotherapy component of the process as straightforward as possible for participants and their families.