Navigating the National Disability Insurance Scheme can feel overwhelming for many families, especially when trying to understand what supports and services can — and cannot — be funded through your child’s NDIS plan.
Recently, the NDIS introduced clearer support lists to help families better understand how funding can be used. While many of these rules are not entirely new, the updated information helps reduce confusion around what qualifies as an NDIS support.
At Ohana Physiotherapy, we regularly support families across the Gold Coast to understand and navigate their child’s funding, therapy goals, and support options.
What Are the New NDIS Support Lists?
The updated NDIS support lists outline:
- What you CAN spend NDIS funding on
- What you CANNOT spend NDIS funding on
The goal is to ensure funding is being used for disability-related supports that are considered reasonable and necessary.
What Does the NDIS Fund?
The NDIS generally funds supports that relate directly to your child’s disability and help improve:
- Independence
- Participation
- Functional skills
- Mobility
- Communication
- Daily living
- Community access
The support must also relate to the impairments identified in your child’s original NDIS application.
This means funding should connect clearly to your child’s diagnosed condition, functional challenges, and goals outlined in their plan.
Understanding the Different NDIS Support Categories
Funding within an NDIS plan is divided into several support categories or “budgets”.
Core Supports
Core supports help with everyday activities and disability-related needs.
Examples may include:
- Assistance with daily activities
- Continence products
- Community participation supports
- Support workers
- Low-cost assistive technology
- Communication apps or equipment
Core funding is generally the most flexible category.
Capacity Building Supports
Capacity Building funding is designed to help children develop new skills and increase independence over time.
This is where many therapy services sit, including:
- Physiotherapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech pathology
- Psychology
These supports should connect directly to your child’s functional goals, such as:
- Improving mobility
- Developing gross motor skills
- Increasing participation at school
- Building independence
- Supporting social participation
For older children and teenagers, Capacity Building supports may also help with preparation for work, community participation, and independent living skills.
Capital Supports
Capital supports fund higher-cost assistive technology and modifications.
Examples may include:
- Wheelchairs
- Walking aids
- Standing frames
- Home modifications
- Vehicle modifications
This category is usually less flexible and often requires quotes and formal recommendations from therapists.
Recurring Supports
Recurring supports are primarily used in specific plan types and may include transport funding or ongoing scheduled supports.
For example, transport funding may help when a child cannot safely use public transport due to their disability.
What Isn’t Covered by the NDIS?
The NDIS does not fund:
- Everyday living costs unrelated to disability
- General parenting expenses
- Standard school costs
- Activities not directly linked to disability-related needs
- Items considered the responsibility of other systems (such as health or education)
A helpful way to think about it is:
The support needs to relate specifically to your child’s disability and functional impact.
Why Therapy Reports Matter
Therapy reports play an important role in helping justify why certain supports are reasonable and necessary.
At Ohana Physiotherapy, our physiotherapists help families by providing:
- Functional assessments
- Therapy reports
- Equipment recommendations
- Goal setting support
- Evidence for funding reviews and applications
Strong reports help connect therapy recommendations to your child’s daily function, participation, and long-term development.
How Paediatric Physiotherapy Fits Into NDIS Funding
Paediatric physiotherapy often falls under Capacity Building supports because it focuses on helping children improve physical function, movement skills, participation, and independence.
Physiotherapy may support children with:
- Gross motor delays
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Cerebral palsy
- Hypermobility
- Genetic conditions
- Neurological conditions
- Developmental coordination difficulties
- Disability-related mobility challenges
Therapy can occur in:
- The clinic
- Home environments
- Schools or kindergartens
- Community settings
- Hydrotherapy environments
Need Help Understanding Your Child’s NDIS Funding?
Understanding the NDIS can take time, and many families feel unsure about how to best use their child’s supports.
At Ohana Physiotherapy, we’re passionate about helping families feel informed, supported, and confident throughout their NDIS journey.
If you’d like support understanding how paediatric physiotherapy may fit into your child’s NDIS plan, our team is always happy to help.