The following information is to provide you with examples of what the NDIS may fund in relation to therapeutic supports.
It’s important to note that this is only a guide to assist you make an informed decision. Only your My NDIS Contact, an NDIS Delegate, or the explicit written information in a current NDIS plan serves as the source of truth. The NDIS considers requests based on whether the support is related to your disability and whether it meets the NDIS Reasonable and Necessary Guidelines.
Low Risk Supports – Commonly Funded
These are supports that are commonly funded by the NDIS. They are usually included in a plan if the Support Category is available without the need for extensive supporting evidence. It's important to note that if the plan is 'stated', the plan must be spent with the therapies listed within the plan.
Therapeutic Supports
- ✅ Supports that provide evidence-based therapy to help participants improve or maintain their functional capacity in areas such as language and communication, personal care, mobility and movement, interpersonal interactions, functioning (including psychosocial functioning) and community living. This includes an assessment by health professionals for support planning and review as required, such as, speech pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychologist, art therapy, music therapy, counselling or social work.
- ✅ Functional assessments
- ✅ Psychotherapy can be charged under ‘counselling’ supports provided they fulfill NDIS professional requirements
- ✅ Psychology/counselling services for parents if the support is directly related to the child’s disability capacity building
- ✅ Hydrotherapy if provided by an Allied health professional. This should be charged as the specific therapy, e.g. physiotherapy.
Sometimes Funded by the NDIS – Participant Evidence Required
These are supports that are sometimes funded by the NDIS. They require participant substantiation to determine the relevance within the plan. Your Plan Manager can support you to understand the related compliance requirements and personal risks. As a Plan Manager we recommend gaining written evidence from the NDIS to avoid risks associated with the inability to pay providers for support provided, return of funds or loss of NDIS Plan Management support.
Therapeutic Supports
- ⚠️ Confirmation of related to disability (as recognised by the NDIS) if not in the NDIS plan. Supports may include Dietitian, Exercise Physiologist and Podiatry.
Sometimes Funded by the NDIS – NDIS Evidence Required
The NDIS has not provided firm evidence if the following supports are funded by the NDIS, however the NDIS must provide written approval to confirm their inclusion to ensure effective support and safe practices for the participant. If this support is included in the relevant NDIS plan, then we would be able to process. If the support is not written into the NDIS Plan, the support would require written confirmation from ‘My NDIS Contact’ or NDIS Delegate.
Therapeutic Supports
- ⚠️ Supports that provide evidence-based therapy to help participants improve or maintain their functional capacity in areas such as language and communication, personal care, mobility and movement, interpersonal interactions, functioning (including psychosocial functioning) and community living. This includes an assessment by health professionals for support planning and review as required, such as, acupuncture, aquatic therapy, behaviour support, chiropractor, cranial sacrel therapy, myotherapy, naturopath, nutritionist, osteopath and vagus nerve stimulation.
- ⚠️ Hydrotherapy provided by a provider who is not an allied health professional.
Alternative and Complementary Therapies
- ⚠️ Supports that provide evidence-based therapy to support participants to build their capacity, such as, Neurophysics, VR Therapy, meditation, colonic irrigation and tai chi.
NOT Funded by the NDIS
These items are considered by the NDIS as day-to-day living costs, not evidence-based or best funded by another service and are therefore not eligible for funding under a participant’s plan.
Therapeutic Supports
The NDIS consider these supports ‘Not Evidence-Based’ and will not fund them
- ❌ Massage that is not provided by an allied health professional for disability
- ❌ Hypnotherapy, Neurofeedback, Gaming therapy, Mastermind coaching including Apps and software, Somatic therapy, Kinesiology.
The NDIS consider these supports best funded by another service as they are ‘Related to Health’ and will not fund them
- ❌ Exercise Physiology, Physiotherapist, Dietitian, Psychologist, Counselling and Podiatry not related to the disability as recognised by the NDIS
- ❌ Cognitive assessment diagnostic assessment.
Alternative and Complementary Therapies
The NDIS consider these supports a 'day to day living cost’ and will not fund them
- ❌ Crystal therapy, Tarot card reading, psychics, mediums and clairvoyants, Cuddle therapy, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Sound therapy, Yoga therapy, Wilderness therapy, Animal therapy, For example, puppy therapy, goat therapy, Hair therapy, Alternative or complementary medicine.
The NDIS consider these supports ‘Not Evidence-Based’ and will not fund them
- ❌ Reiki (including intuitive reiki), Scalar lounge, Frequency healing and energy balanced massage, Deep energy clearing, Spinal flow technique, Shamanic healing.
Additional Information
Participant Responsibilities
NDIS participants have an important responsibility to ensure supports are spent in line with their plan. Key responsibilities for participants include ability to understanding the inclusions of the plan, which includes:
- Know the Goals - All supports purchased should contribute to achieving these goals
- Understand Budget Categories – Ensure each category is used within the specific rules about what can be purchased within it
- Be aware of stated supports - If a plan states the exact supports on how the plan should be used, this is the prescribed use of the funds. If the supports are not stated, the NDIS plan has some flexibility within the funded supports, this does require the supports fulfill NDIS requirements and is spent in-line with the plan as intended by the NDIS.
- Know the plan funding periods - Understand how the plan funding is allocated across timeframes within the plan
- Spend in line with the plan and fulfil the NDIS Reasonable and Necessary Guidelines.
If you are uncertain if a support can be funded within the NDIS plan, you should discuss this with your plan manager or My NDIS Contact to ensure this support can be claimed.
Want to Get A Support Funded By The NDIS?
The NDIS is best placed to support you to determine if a support may be funded by the NDIS. To learn more, click here.
Helpful Links
- Additional NDIS Information: