This resource covers the reccent therapy guidelines released by the NDIS last month. We will answer:
- What does the NDIS mean when it says “Therapy Supports”
- What does ‘evidence-based’ mean?
- What therapy supports the NDIS will and won’t fund?
- What are Therapy Assistants?
- What Therapy Reports do I need to give the NDIS?
What does the NDIS mean when it says “Therapy Supports”
Therapy supports are evidence-based supports to help you build or maintain your skills and independence.
These supports are delivered by allied health professionals to help you manage everyday activities at school or work, in your home and community.
They can help you to:
- build skills to increase your independence and
- take part in social and community activities.
They can also help you pursue work or study goals.
Types of Therapy Supports:
- Capacity building – helps develop new skills and independence (e.g. learning self-care, mobility, communication).
- Maintenance – helps prevent decline or keep current abilities (e.g. muscle stretching, ongoing speech therapy).
They’re evidence-based supports delivered by a therapist to help you build or maintain your skills and independence, in areas such as:
- language and communication, like conversation and social skills
- personal care, like getting washed and dressed
- mobility and movement, like walking and moving around your home
- interpersonal interactions, like social and relationship skills at school or work
- functioning (including psychosocial functioning), like problem-solving and decisionmaking
- community living, like using public transport
What does ‘evidence-based’ mean?
Evidence-based means the therapy uses current best practice and quality research
When deciding whether therapy is evidence-based, the NDIA looks at research, participant data, expert advice, community input, value for money vs mainstream systems, and safety.
They need to be sure there’s enough evidence this type of therapy is effective and beneficial to improve or maintain your skills and independence.
You will also need evidence showing the therapy is right for you.
What therapy will the NDIS fund?
See our comprehensive list of therapies the NDIS will and won’t fund and who they need to be delivered by.
Resource: What therapy will the NDIS fund?
What are ‘Therapy Assistants’?
Some therapy supports can be delivered by a ‘therapy assistant’ or ‘allied health assistant’.
They have the skills to perform specific tasks or deliver therapy support programs under the supervision or delegation of an allied health professional.
They usually hold relevant TAFE qualifications and can be members of the Allied Health Assistants’ National Association Ltd (AHANA).
There are 2 levels of therapy assistant:
• level 1 must always work under the direct supervision of the allied health professional
• level 2 can work without direct supervision of the allied health professional.
When would you use a Therapy Assistant?
Your therapist may agree to have a Therapy Assistant work alongside them. They would develop your therapy plan and show the Therapy Assistant how to help you implement it.
For example you may see your Occupational Therapist every second week and the Therapy Assistant inbetween sessions.
Using a Therapy Assistant to help deliver your therapy means your funding will last longer as their hourly rate is less than half of a therapist.
They can also help you practise these skills in natural environments like your home, community or school.
You can use your therapy budget flexibly for a mix of allied health therapy supports.
NOTE: You need to make sure they are covered by the supervising allied health professional’s insurance.
What Therapy Reports do I need to give the NDIS?
The NDIS should have regular check-ins with you to make sure your therapy supports are working for you.
They will also ask about your therapy outcomes at your Plan Reassesment when your NDIS plan is due to renew.
As your capacity and independence build, they may want to change:
- the amount of therapy funding or
- the type of therapy funding
you have in your NDIS plan
Therapy Progress Reports
IMPORTANT: you will need a progress report from your therapist for your Plan Reassessment to show:
- you’re making progress towards the goals you set for therapy,
- your skills and independence are being improved or maintained.
- if you need to continue to receive therapy supports in your next plan,
- what type of therapy supports you need and the outcomes you want to achieve.
A progress report should include:
- a summary of the supports you’re getting
- your experience with how therapy supports have helped you with your disability in the past
- how the support has helped you pursue your goals
- how the support has helped you increase or maintain your independence
- any measurable, functional gains you’ve made since receiving therapy supports
- if relevant, details of how your therapy supports are being coordinated with other therapists
- how you’ve been linked to additional informal, community or mainstream supports to help you take part in social, work or study activities
- any barriers to using your supports or getting them provided, and how these have been resolved
- any risks to you or others
- best-practice recommendations for ongoing therapy, if relevant.
NOTE: Make sure your therapist ear marks some funding for this report towards the end of the plan. They don’t write the report for free!
