Are Allied Health Services Covered by NDIS?

allied health services covered by NDIS

Are Allied Health Services Covered by NDIS?

There are around 4.3 million Australians who have a disability. Within the next five years, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will provide $22 billion in funding a year to an estimated 500,000 Australians aged under 65, who have a permanent and significant disability. The NDIS’ central objective is for people with disability to achieve their life goals. For many people, it will be the first time they receive the disability support they need.

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) makes decisions about whether someone is eligible to become an NDIS participant and, if so, how much funding they will receive. This is based on legislation called the NDIS Act 2013 which sets out what supports and services are considered reasonable and necessary for the NDIS to fund.

The NDIS can provide all people with disability with information and connections to services in their communities such as doctors, Physiotherapists, Occupational therapists, sporting clubs, support groups, libraries and schools, as well as information about what support is provided by each state and territory government. Key outcomes for NDIS participants include overall increased independence with greater participation in employment, the economy, society and community life.

The NDIS provides funding to eligible people based on their individual needs.

What types of supports are funded?

The NDIS funds reasonable and necessary supports according to the participant’s situation, needs and goals. The types of supports that the NDIS may fund include:

  • daily personal activities
  • help with household tasks to allow the participant to maintain their home environment, including cooking and shopping
  • transport to enable participation in community, social, economic and daily life activities
  • workplace help to allow a participant to successfully get or keep employment in the open or supported labour market
  • accommodation services
  • therapeutic supports including behaviour support, speech therapy, language and communication skills, and personal care
  • health and wellbeing including exercise and diet
  • respite services and supports, other supports for family and carers
  • help to a participant by skilled personnel in assistive technology, aids or equipment assessment, set up and training
  • home modification design and construction
  • mobility equipment, and
  • vehicle modifications

Find out more about the range and types of services you might be able to access with your NDIS plan.

There are some kinds of supports that will not be funded or provided by the NDIS, according to the NDIS Act and the rules made under the NDIS Act.

The NDIS cannot fund a support that is:

  • the responsibility of another government system or community service
  • not related to a person’s disability
  • relates to day-to-day living costs that are not related to a participant’s support needs, or
  • is likely to cause harm to the participant or pose a risk to others.

Allied Health Services

Occupational therapy and physiotherapy allied health services are a critical and essential part of any NDIS plan. Both are often included in the Core Supports or Capacity Building parts of a participant’s plan.

The allied health assessments release the funding for the participant by providing individual reports and recommendations to help them achieve their long-term and short-term goals. Allied health services can be sourced either directly by the NDIS participant, their support co-ordinator or the plan managers.

Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy

Below is a list of common services covered by the NDIS, which we provide at Bodyright Healthcare.

  • Physiotherapy Treatment (Home-based & tailored to the individual)
  • Occupational Therapy Assessment
  • Functional Capacity Assessment
  • Home Modifications Assessment
  • Assistive Technologies Assessment
  • Capacity Building Assessment
  • Physiotherapy Assessment
  • Home Therapy Support
  • Personal Mobility Prescription
  • Driving Assessment
  • Car Modification Assessment
  • Other Allied Health Services if required

As a registered NDIS Service Provider, our focus is to help NDIS participants realise their short-term and long-term goals described in their plans. Our team of expert Allied Health Professionals have extensive experience in providing capacity building supports and empowering participants to move forwards. For more information, please visit our website or give us a call on (03) 9558 9111.

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