Reviewed by Matt Stanlake — Head Physiotherapist & Director, Upwell Health Collective. APA Member. AHPRA Registration: PHY0000975408. 20 years clinical experience. Last reviewed: May 2026.
The short answer: The NDIS covers physiotherapy under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living when it is reasonable and necessary to help a participant achieve their goals. The 2025–26 NDIS price guide allows up to $193.99 per hour for physiotherapy delivered by a registered provider. This typically includes assessment, treatment, hydrotherapy where indicated, exercise programs, equipment prescription, and reports. NDIS funded physio is fully covered with no out-of-pocket cost when used appropriately.
The NDIS funds physiotherapy that helps a participant build, maintain, or restore functional capacity. This is a broader scope than typical private physio because the goal is functional independence rather than pain treatment alone.
Covered services include initial and ongoing assessments, hands-on physiotherapy treatment, individualised exercise programs, gait re-education, transfer and mobility training, hydrotherapy where clinically indicated, mobility aid and equipment prescription, splinting and orthotic recommendations, postural management, falls prevention programs, and reporting required for plan reviews or equipment funding requests.
For children and young people, paediatric physiotherapy is also funded — covering developmental delay, cerebral palsy, autism-related motor difficulties, gross motor skill development, and school-based functional intervention.
NDIS plans don't include a fixed amount allocated specifically to physiotherapy. Instead, physiotherapy is funded from your Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living budget, which is shared across all therapy services including occupational therapy, exercise physiology, speech pathology, and psychology.
The amount allocated depends on your goals, disability impact, and what the planner considers reasonable and necessary. For a participant with significant physical disability requiring weekly physio, allocations of $5,000 to $15,000 per year in Improved Daily Living funding are typical. For more complex participants, allocations can exceed $30,000 annually.
The price guide caps how much a provider can charge per hour. A standard one-hour physiotherapy session at the 2025–26 maximum NDIS rate of $193.99 uses $193.99 of your Capacity Building budget.
"The most common mistake I see NDIS participants make is not using their physiotherapy funding strategically. A plan with $10,000 of Capacity Building funding can deliver 50+ physio sessions across the year, or it can be burnt through in 6 months with poorly structured care. A good NDIS physio plans the year alongside you, not session by session." — Matt Stanlake, Head Physiotherapist, Upwell Health Collective
Not always. Whether you need a referral depends on how your plan is managed and how the funding has been allocated.
If you are self-managed or plan-managed, you generally do not need a referral. You can choose any physiotherapist — registered or non-registered with the NDIS — and book directly. The provider sends invoices either to you (self-managed) or to your plan manager (plan-managed) for payment from your NDIS budget.
If you are agency-managed (NDIA-managed), you must use a registered NDIS provider. Most registered providers can begin treatment without a GP referral, though they will request a copy of your NDIS plan and confirm funding availability before commencing.
The NDIS does not fund physiotherapy that should be covered by another system. This includes physiotherapy for acute injuries not related to your disability, post-surgical rehabilitation following private surgery (covered by private health or self-funded), workplace injuries (covered by WorkCover), motor vehicle accident injuries (covered by TAC or CTP insurance), and physiotherapy purely for fitness or general wellness purposes.
The NDIS also does not fund physiotherapy that is not considered reasonable and necessary for your goals. If you can't articulate how the physiotherapy helps you achieve functional independence or your stated NDIS goals, the funding may not be approved at plan review.
The NDIS price guide for the 2025–26 financial year sets the maximum rate for standard physiotherapy at $193.99 per hour delivered by a registered provider. Travel and reporting are billed separately under their own line items.
Yes, when delivered by a registered physiotherapist as part of a physiotherapy program tied to your NDIS goals. Standard recreational Pilates with a non-physiotherapist instructor is generally not funded.
Yes. NDIS physiotherapy can be delivered in clinic, in the participant's home, in a school or community setting, or via telehealth where clinically appropriate. Home visits attract additional travel charges within NDIS limits.
Self-managed and plan-managed participants can choose any physio — registered or non-registered with the NDIS. NDIA-managed (agency-managed) participants must use a registered NDIS provider only.
Physiotherapy is funded from Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living, not Core funding. Core funding generally covers daily personal care and assistance, while Capacity Building covers therapy aimed at building skills and independence over time.
Yes. The NDIS funds time spent on assessments, treatment planning, and report writing under the same Capacity Building budget. Reports are commonly required for equipment funding requests and plan reviews.
Upwell Health Collective is a registered NDIS provider with a fully wheelchair-accessible Camberwell facility, 28 free undercover carparks, and physiotherapists experienced in NDIS goal-setting, reporting, and equipment prescription. We work with self-managed, plan-managed, and agency-managed participants. Book online at upwellhealth.com.au or call (03) 8849 9096.
Matt Stanlake is the Head Physiotherapist and Director of Upwell Health Collective in Camberwell. He is a member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APAM) and AHPRA-registered (PHY0000975408) with 20 years of clinical experience. Matt has built Upwell into a 7x award-winning multidisciplinary allied health clinic trusted by AFL legends Mick Malthouse and Jonathan Brown. He is the author of Not Broken and the creator of the Whole Person Care framework.