How Many Physio Sessions Does the NDIS Cover?

This is one of the most common questions we are asked, and the answer surprises people: the NDIS does not fund a set number of physiotherapy sessions. It funds a dollar amount. How many appointments that buys depends on the hourly rate charged, the length of each session, and what else is being paid for out of the same budget.

How to work it out

Look at the Capacity Building, Improved Daily Living amount in your child's plan. Divide it by the hourly rate your provider charges, remembering that this budget may also cover occupational therapy, speech pathology and other therapy supports unless the plan states otherwise.

As an example only: a budget of \$5,000 at an hourly therapy rate of around \$185 works out to roughly 27 hours of support across the plan period, which is a little over half an hour a week across a year. That is before travel, reports or assessment time are taken into account.

What affects the number of sessions

• The hourly price limit. NDIS pricing arrangements set maximum hourly rates for therapy supports, and these are reviewed regularly. Prices are now published in ten-minute increments rather than assuming a full hour.
• Whether your plan is agency, plan or self managed. Self-managed participants are not bound by NDIS price limits and can negotiate rates.
• Session length. Not every appointment needs to be an hour. Shorter reviews can stretch a budget considerably.
• Provider travel. Home and childcare visits can attract a travel charge within the rules, which comes out of the same budget.
• Non-face-to-face time such as report writing, equipment applications and liaison with educators, where agreed in advance.
• How many therapy disciplines are drawing on the same budget.

Making a budget go further

• Ask for a written service agreement with the hourly rate, expected session length, travel charges and any non-face-to-face charges set out clearly.
• Agree on a small number of goals so effort is not spread thinly.
• Consider blocks of therapy with review gaps, rather than weekly appointments all year, where clinically appropriate.
• Use home programmes and educator coaching so progress continues between visits.
• Ask whether some sessions can be delivered at daycare or school to cut duplication and travel.
• Ask your therapists to coordinate, so you are not paying two professionals to write about the same issue.
• Track spending across the plan period rather than discovering in month nine that the budget is gone.

If the funding is not enough

Talk to your Early Childhood Partner, support coordinator or planner well before the plan review, with evidence: therapy reports, progress against goals, and a clear statement of what additional support would achieve. If circumstances have changed significantly, a plan reassessment can be requested rather than waiting for the scheduled review.

A reassuring takeaway

More sessions is not automatically better. A well-targeted plan with clear goals, good home and childcare strategies and periodic review often achieves more than frequent appointments with no plan behind them. Ask your physiotherapist what they expect to achieve, over what timeframe, and how you will know it is working.

NDIS price limits and arrangements are updated periodically. Check the current pricing arrangements on ndis.gov.au, and confirm rates with your provider, before relying on any figure.

Sources and further reading

NDIS --- Pricing arrangements and price limits

NDIS --- 2025-26 pricing arrangements release

NDIS --- Guide to the early childhood approach

Suggested closing call to action

Still unsure about something you have noticed? A GP, child health nurse or paediatric physiotherapist can help you decide whether your child would benefit from an individual assessment. Contact PHYSITEK to ask about a paediatric physiotherapy visit.