Therapy and health
What therapy supports does the NDIS fund?
· Written by the Forward Planning Plus team · Last reviewed 22 October 2026
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Who this is for: NDIS participants and families planning or using therapy, and support coordinators.
General information only. This isn't legal, financial, medical or clinical advice. Talk to your treating health professional about what's right for you.
What does the NDIS mean by "therapy supports"?
The NDIA says therapy supports are evidence-based supports delivered by a therapist to help you build or maintain your skills and independence in areas like:
- language and communication
- personal care, like getting washed and dressed
- mobility and movement
- social and relationship skills at school or work
- functioning (including psychosocial functioning), like problem-solving
- community living, like using public transport.
There are two kinds:
Capacity building therapy
What it's for: Building new skills, with goals, outcomes and a timeframe. You'll likely need less over time as your skills grow
Maintenance therapy
What it's for: Keeping the skills you have, or slowing them from getting worse. For example, a stretching program to maintain range of movement
You might have a mix of both.
Which therapies can the NDIS fund?
The NDIA lists these as examples of therapy supports it can fund, if they meet all the NDIS funding criteria:
- Art therapy
- Audiology
- Counselling
- Developmental education
- Dietary support
- Exercise physiology
- Music therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Orthoptics
- Physiotherapy
- Podiatry
- Psychology
- Rehabilitation and vocational counselling
- Social work
- Speech pathology
The NDIA can also fund training for your family or carers, for example an occupational therapist showing family members how to use equipment like a chair lift safely.
Which therapies can't the NDIS fund?
The NDIA says it can't fund a therapy if there isn't enough evidence it will have good functional outcomes for your disability, even if the provider is an allied health professional. Supports it can't fund as therapy include:
- alternative and complementary therapies
- animal therapy
- energy and health practices
- gymnasium or swimming pool memberships
- massage therapy
- personal training
- social group programs described as "therapy"
- "therapy in a box"
- wellness and coaching therapies.
The NDIS "supports that are not NDIS supports" list also names therapies like aromatherapy, crystal therapy and hypnotherapy.
Health or NDIS? The NDIA's guideline says that if you need a psychologist for a mental health diagnosis or treatment, that's the responsibility of the health system, not the NDIS. The not-NDIS list also excludes time-limited therapies where the main purpose is treating a health condition, or rehabilitation after a recent medical or surgical event.
Who can deliver NDIS therapy?
The NDIA says only qualified allied health professionals can deliver therapy supports. They must be either:
- registered with AHPRA (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency), or
- accredited by the relevant peak body for self-regulated professions.
This is about professional registration. It's different from being an NDIS-registered provider. If your therapy is plan-managed, the NDIA says you can choose providers who are registered or unregistered with the NDIS Commission, except for supports that need a registered provider, such as specialist behaviour support.
Therapy assistants can deliver parts of a therapy program under the supervision or delegation of an allied health professional. Students and provisional psychologists can help under supervision with your consent, but can't claim from your plan themselves.
How does therapy funding work in my plan?
- Where it sits: therapy is included as a stated support under Improved Daily Living Skills. You can only use it for therapy, not for other capacity building supports.
- Flexibility inside the therapy budget: if your plan doesn't name a specific therapy type, you can choose your provider and, where appropriate, the type of therapy. You can choose individual or group sessions, intensive blocks or regular sessions, or a mix of therapies.
- When it is specific: if your plan names a therapy type or an outcome, you must use the funding that way.
- Evidence to get it: you need an assessment or report from your therapist with the supports you need, how often, and why. If the NDIA asks you to have an assessment, it includes funding for it in your plan.
- Before a reassessment: the NDIA may ask your therapist for progress reports showing how you're going against your goals.
For children: the NDIA says the way it funds therapy changes when your child turns 9 and when their plan is reassessed. It may mean individual therapy supports rather than a team of professionals delivering early childhood supports.
Budget changes: Improved Daily Living Skills is one of two categories whose budgets are being reduced as plans are created or reassessed from 1 October 2026, or renewed from 1 February 2027. The NDIA's list of supports not affected includes hearing services (audiology), but not the main therapy items like occupational therapy, speech pathology, physiotherapy or psychology. Read what to expect at your reassessment or renewal.
How much can therapists charge?
For plan-managed and NDIA-managed funding, the NDIS price limits apply. Some national maximums from the Pricing Schedule 2026–27 (effective 24 September 2026), per hour of direct service:
Psychologist
National maximum: $252.99
Occupational therapist
National maximum: $193.99
Speech pathologist
National maximum: $193.99
Podiatrist
National maximum: $188.99
Physiotherapist
National maximum: $183.99
Dietitian
National maximum: $178.99
Exercise physiologist
National maximum: $161.99
Art therapist, music therapist, counsellor
National maximum: $156.16
Therapy assistant (level 1 / level 2)
National maximum: $56.16 / $86.79
Remote and very remote areas have higher limits. The schedule also has separate items for cancellations, non-face-to-face time, provider travel, NDIA-requested reports and telehealth, so ask your therapist what they'll charge for each before you start. Our NDIS pricing arrangements explainer covers how limits work.
Want a plan manager for your therapy budget?
How Forward Planning Plus can help
Forward Planning Plus is a registered NDIS plan manager (NDIA registration 4050161030) with a Queensland-based team. Plan management is at no cost to you. See how plan management works.
- Valid, correctly submitted invoices processed within 1–2 business days.
- Our portal sends low-funding alerts.
- We work alongside your support coordinator.
- We call back within 24 hours on business days. Call 0405 589 006, Mon–Fri 9am–5pm AEST.
Related reading:
Frequently asked questions
What therapy does the NDIS fund?
Evidence-based therapy from qualified allied health professionals that meets the NDIS funding criteria. The NDIA's examples include occupational therapy, speech pathology, physiotherapy, psychology, exercise physiology, podiatry, dietary support, audiology, counselling, social work, art and music therapy, developmental education, orthoptics, and rehabilitation and vocational counselling.
What therapy won't the NDIS fund?
The NDIA says it can't fund therapy without enough evidence of good functional outcomes for your disability, including alternative and complementary therapies, animal therapy, massage, personal training, gym or pool memberships, wellness and coaching therapies, and "therapy in a box".
Does the NDIS pay for psychology?
It can fund psychology as a therapy support. But the NDIA's guideline says psychology for a mental health diagnosis or treatment is the responsibility of the health system, not the NDIS. Psychologists must have current AHPRA registration as a psychologist.
Can I use my therapy funding for other things?
No. The NDIA includes therapy as a stated support under Improved Daily Living Skills, so you can only use it for therapy. If your plan doesn't name a therapy type, you can choose the type and the therapist.
Does my therapist need to be NDIS registered?
Your therapist must be a qualified allied health professional, registered with AHPRA or accredited by the relevant peak body. If your funding is plan-managed, the NDIA says you can choose providers who are registered or unregistered with the NDIS Commission, except for supports that need a registered provider, such as specialist behaviour support.
How much can an NDIS therapist charge per hour?
For plan-managed and NDIA-managed funding, the 2026–27 national maximums per hour include $252.99 for a psychologist, $193.99 for an occupational therapist or speech pathologist, and $183.99 for a physiotherapist (Pricing Schedule effective 24 September 2026).
All read 22 October 2026.
Last reviewed: 22 October 2026
General information only. This isn't legal, financial, medical or clinical advice. For advice about therapy, talk to your treating health professional; for questions about your plan, talk to your my NDIS contact or support coordinator. Always check the latest on ndis.gov.au.