NDIS therapeutic supports are therapies from qualified allied health professionals, such as occupational therapy, speech pathology, physiotherapy and psychology, that help you build or keep everyday skills linked to your disability. The NDIA calls them “therapy supports”, and they are usually funded through the Improved Daily Living category of your Capacity Building budget. Getting them into your plan comes down to three things: a clear link to your disability, goals, and good evidence from your therapist.
This guide walks through which therapies count, which budget pays, who can deliver them, what evidence helps, and how a support coordinator can make the whole process easier.
What NDIS therapeutic supports are
The NDIA says therapy supports can help improve your skills and independence with everyday activities (NDIS, What are therapy supports, page current as of 17 July 2026). That includes areas such as:
- communication and social skills
- personal care, like getting washed and dressed
- mobility and moving around your home
- relationships at school or work
- problem-solving and decision-making
- community living, like using public transport
There are two broad types:
- Capacity building therapy helps you build skills. It has goals and a timeframe, and you will often need less of it as your independence grows.
- Maintenance therapy helps you keep the skills you have, or slow them from getting worse.
Many people have a mix of both. Therapy can also include training for family members or carers, such as an occupational therapist showing a family how to use support equipment safely.
Which budget pays for therapy
In the NDIA’s description of Capacity Building supports, the Improved Daily Living category covers supports such as assessments, training or therapies that build living skills and independence, including speech therapy and occupational therapy (NDIS, What are capacity building supports, page current as of 16 July 2026).
Two rules are worth knowing:
- Therapy funding is a stated support. It is set aside for therapy, so you cannot swap it for something else.
- You can choose the therapy mix within it. The funding appears as a total amount you can spend on the therapy supports that best suit your needs, such as physiotherapy or occupational therapy.
For families with young children, the NDIA notes that the way it funds therapy changes when a child turns 9 and their plan is reassessed.
The professions, and what each typically helps with
Only qualified and registered allied health professionals can deliver therapy supports. They must be registered with AHPRA or accredited by the relevant peak body for their profession.
The NDIA’s list of therapy types it can fund includes:
- Occupational therapy: everyday skills like dressing, cooking, handwriting or using equipment
- Speech pathology: communication, social skills and, for some people, eating and swallowing
- Physiotherapy: movement, strength, balance and getting around safely
- Psychology: coping skills, behaviour and psychosocial functioning linked to disability
- Others: art and music therapy, audiology, counselling, developmental education, dietary support, exercise physiology, orthoptics, podiatry, rehabilitation counselling and social work
For example, a family in Western Sydney might use one therapy budget for a speech pathologist in Liverpool and an occupational therapist who visits the home, depending on what the plan goals need.
How therapy differs from high intensity support
The two are easy to mix up. Therapy is delivered by allied health professionals to build or maintain skills. High intensity support is complex daily personal care, delivered by trained support workers as part of day-to-day care.
You can have both in a plan, but they are funded and delivered differently. For the personal care side, read our guide on what high intensity support is.
What “disability-related” means, and why it decides funding
Every NDIS support must meet the “reasonable and necessary” criteria. Among other things, a support must relate to your disability, help you work towards your goals, be value for money and be likely to be effective.
In practice, this is the question that decides most therapy requests:
- Funded by the NDIS: therapy that helps you manage the everyday impact of your disability, like building communication skills or learning safer ways to move.
- Usually not the NDIS: supports that duplicate what mainstream services provide. Treatment of a health condition generally belongs with the health system, including care you access through your GP.
The NDIA also says therapy must be evidence-based. Some supports cannot be funded as therapy at all, including massage therapy, animal therapy, gym memberships, personal training and wellness or coaching therapies.
The evidence that helps at planning and review
The NDIA says you will need evidence from your allied health professional that the therapy is right for you. Strong evidence usually includes:
- A clear report describing how your disability affects everyday life, not just the diagnosis
- Specific goals, such as making a simple meal or catching the bus to TAFE
- A recommended approach, including how often and for how long
- Progress notes showing what has changed since the last plan
- Your own words about what matters to you and what is still hard
Evidence is a common worry with the recent law changes, so it is worth asking your therapist early for a report written with your next plan review in mind. Our guide on how to prepare for an NDIS plan reassessment has more practical tips.
How a support coordinator and a recovery coach can help
ADCS does not deliver therapy itself. What we do is help you find the right therapists, get your plan working and keep everything connected.
A support coordinator can:
- explain what your plan funds and how to use your therapy budget
- find registered therapists in your area with availability
- help you organise reports and evidence before a review
- keep track of your budget so therapy does not run out early
Learn more about support coordination in Sydney.
A psychosocial recovery coach supports people with psychosocial disability. The NDIA says a recovery coach can help build capacity and resilience, find and organise supports, and connect you with health and mental health services outside the NDIS. Learn more about our psychosocial recovery coach in Sydney service.
Common reasons therapy requests are knocked back, and how to respond
Requests usually fall short for a few predictable reasons:
- Not enough evidence that the therapy will improve or maintain your everyday skills
- No clear link to your disability, or no clear connection to your goals
- The support belongs to another system, such as the health system
- The therapy is on the NDIA’s “can’t fund” list, like massage or personal training
What you can do:
- Ask the NDIA to explain the decision.
- Talk to your therapist about what the report is missing.
- Gather updated evidence that addresses the gap.
- Request a review of the decision if you disagree. A support coordinator can help you through each step.
Frequently asked questions
Is therapy free on the NDIS?
Therapy funded in your plan is paid from your plan budget, so sessions covered by that funding do not come out of your own pocket. Once the therapy budget is used, further sessions are not covered unless your plan changes. For NDIA-managed and plan-managed funding, therapists cannot charge more than the maximum prices in the current NDIS Pricing Schedule.
How many therapy sessions will the NDIS fund?
There is no set number. Your funding is based on your goals, your disability-related needs and the evidence from your therapist. Your therapist’s recommended frequency and your progress over time both matter.
Can I choose my own therapist?
Yes, as long as they are a qualified allied health professional registered with AHPRA or accredited by their peak body. If your plan is NDIA-managed, you will also need to use registered NDIS providers.
Does the NDIS pay for psychology?
Psychology is on the NDIA’s list of therapy supports it can fund, when it relates to your disability and meets the funding criteria. Treatment of a mental health condition through the health system, such as care arranged by your GP, is separate.
Do I need new reports for every plan review?
Not always, but up-to-date evidence makes a big difference. A recent progress report showing what has changed, and what you still need, is usually the most useful thing you can bring.
Can I use my therapy funding for something else?
No. Therapy funding is a stated support, so it can only be used for therapy. Within that budget, you can usually choose the mix of therapy that best suits your needs.
Talk to ADCS about your next plan
Working out therapy funding can feel like a lot to take on, especially at a first plan meeting. Our team can help you understand your plan, find therapists in your area and keep your supports working together.
Get in touch with the ADCS team about support coordination in Sydney to book a time that suits you. You can also learn more about us as a registered NDIS provider in Sydney, or read about choosing an NDIS day program.
