Common Conditions NDIS Physiotherapy Supports

NDIS physiotherapy isn’t restricted to a fixed list of diagnoses. Whether physiotherapy is funded in your plan comes down to whether it’s linked to a genuine functional goal and meets the NDIS’s “reasonable and necessary” test — not which condition you have. That said, some conditions come up far more often than others when physiotherapy is part of a participant’s plan. Here’s a look at eight of the most common, and how NDIS funding for physiotherapy actually works.

How NDIS Funds Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is most commonly funded through the Capacity Building support budget, under the Improved Daily Living category. This funding is designed for therapy, assessment, and training that builds a participant’s skills and independence, rather than ongoing maintenance care alone.

For physiotherapy to be included in a plan, it generally needs to be reasonable and necessary under Section 34 of the NDIS Act — meaning it’s linked to your disability-related goals, likely to be effective, and represents value for money. This is assessed against your individual functional needs and goals, not a checklist of qualifying diagnoses.

8 Common Conditions NDIS Physiotherapy Can Support

The conditions below are some of the most common reasons physiotherapy appears in an NDIS plan.

Cerebral Palsy — Physiotherapy is regularly funded for people living with cerebral palsy, with treatment focused on managing muscle tone, improving posture, and supporting gait and mobility over the long term.

Autism Spectrum Disorder — Where autism is accompanied by low muscle tone, coordination difficulties, or motor planning challenges, physiotherapy can support gross motor skill development and physical confidence.

Stroke and Acquired Brain Injury — Physiotherapy plays a central role in retraining balance, movement coordination, and functional mobility following a stroke or brain injury, particularly when delivered in the home environment where daily tasks actually happen.

Spinal Cord Injury — For participants with a spinal cord injury, physiotherapy can support upper limb function, pressure care and skin integrity, and ongoing physical conditioning.

Multiple Sclerosis — Physiotherapy helps manage the fluctuating symptoms of MS, including fatigue, balance, and mobility changes, with programs adjusted as symptoms evolve.

Parkinson’s Disease — As a progressive neurological condition, Parkinson’s disease often benefits from physiotherapy focused on gait, balance, and maintaining independence for as long as possible.

Developmental Delay — For children with global developmental delay, physiotherapy supports the development of gross motor skills, core strength, and balance during key developmental windows.

Intellectual Disability with Physical Support Needs — Where an intellectual disability is accompanied by physical or motor challenges, physiotherapy can support safe transfers, mobility, and day-to-day physical function.

What NDIS Physiotherapy Can Involve

An NDIS-funded physiotherapy service typically includes:

An initial assessment of movement, strength, balance, and functional goals
A treatment plan linked directly to your NDIS goals
Hands-on treatment and tailored exercise programs
Equipment and assistive technology recommendations, such as mobility aids, shower chairs, or orthotics
Progress reports to support plan reviews and funding reassessments

Physiotherapy at Home Under NDIS

For many participants, getting to a clinic is its own barrier — whether that’s due to mobility limitations, transport, or the complexity of arranging support worker assistance for appointments. A home visit means treatment happens in the environment participants actually live in, with programs built around their real daily routine rather than a clinic setup.

How do I start NDIS physiotherapy at home?

Get in touch with our team to discuss your goals and needs or ask your support coordinator to submit a referral on your behalf.

If you’d like to discuss whether physiotherapy could be included in your plan, get in touch with Bayside Mobile Physio to arrange a home visit assessment.