NDIS Therapy
The NDIS may fund therapies under three separate categories of your NDIS plan:
- Improved Daily Living – Also known as CB Daily Activity
- Improved Relationships – Also known as CB Relationships
- Improved Health & Wellbeing – Also known as CB Health & Wellbeing
Can I access ANY therapy I want?
At the end of the day, the therapy supports you engage with must be evidence-based and related to your disability for the NDIS to deem it reasonable. If you wish to access therapies for health-related issues, this would be funded by the health department (such as Medicare).
Certain therapies such as osteopathy, chiropractic, and myotherapy (if reasonable) will require approval from your LAC in writing in order to use your NDIS funds.
For example, if your child with autism is engaging with a podiatrist for gait-related issues, the NDIS would only consider funding this if the gait-related issue was caused by their disability. You can read more about disability-related health supports here.
Improved Daily Living funding
This is the most commonly funded category to help increase your skills, independence, and community participation. These services can be delivered in groups or individually. This can include assessments, training, or therapy for a range of supports including (but not limited to):
- Occupational therapy
- Speech therapy
- Psychology
- Physiotherapy
- Exercise physiology
- Counselling
- Developmental educator
- Rehabilitation counsellor
For children under 9 years of age, this may also include Early Childhood Professionals such as:
- Developmental educator
- Early childhood teacher or educator
- Occupational therapist
- Social worker
- Speech pathologist
- Other professional
Improved Relationships
This funding category is aimed at developing positive behaviours and interacting with others. It is usually funded for participants who may have complex or unclear needs that require long-term or intensive supports to address behaviours of concern.
These supports must be provided by a trained professional who follows the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework. These supports may include:
- Specialist behavioural intervention support
- Behaviour management plan, including training in behaviour management strategies
- Individual social skills development
Improved Health & Wellbeing
This funding category includes exercise or diet advice to manage the impact of your disability. Your goal might be to learn about healthy eating and managing your diet, engage in a specialised exercise program to meet your goals, or return to exercise following injury.
The types of supports that can fall under this category include:
- Dietitian
- Exercise physiologist
- Personal training
How can I find a therapist?
There are several people you can go to for help finding a therapist, and the best place to start is with a trusted source who knows supports in your local area. You can try:
- MyCareSpace – a free community service that can help you find the right services in your area
- LAC/NDIS Planner: Ask your planner if they have any recommendations for therapists in your area
- Support Coordinator: If you have support coordination in your plan, your support coordinator can help you find the right services
- Family & friends: Word of mouth is a great way to find a therapist that’s right for you
- NDIS Provider Finder
Use our Provider Finder to search local providers in your area.
