NDIS Allied Health Explained
A plain-English guide to allied health on the NDIS: the main therapy professions, how they're funded, assessments and reports, and choosing a provider.
Allied health is the umbrella term for the therapists who help you build skills, move more easily, communicate, and do the everyday things that matter to you. If your plan mentions therapy but you're not sure where to begin, this guide gives you the big picture: who the main professionals are, how their work is usually funded, what assessments and reports involve, and how to choose someone who…
What allied health means on the NDIS
The main allied health professions
How allied health is funded
Assessments, reports and reviews
Stretching your therapy budget
Choosing and starting with a provider
Frequently asked questions
What does allied health mean on the NDIS?
Allied health refers to university-trained therapists who aren't doctors or nurses, such as occupational therapists, physios, speech pathologists, psychologists and dietitians. On the NDIS they focus on the disability-related side of your life, building your skills, function and participation…
Which budget pays for therapy?
Most allied health comes from your Capacity Building budget, which funds skills and independence. Some therapy-related supports can come from Core, and equipment a therapist prescribes may come from Capital. All of it must be reasonable and necessary and related to your disability.
Do I need a doctor's referral to see an NDIS therapist?
Not usually for the NDIS itself, though a GP referral can help you find the right professional and provides useful background. What matters is that the therapy is reasonable and necessary for your disability and connected to your plan goals. Your LAC or support coordinator can help you get started.
Is therapy for a mental illness covered by the NDIS?
Generally no. Clinical treatment of a mental illness usually belongs to the health system through Medicare and hospitals. The NDIS funds disability-related capacity building. Our psychology and counselling guides explain this boundary in more detail, as it's a common point of confusion.
How can I make my therapy funding last?
Plan across the whole life of your plan rather than using it all early, and consider a therapy assistant who can deliver parts of your plan under supervision at lower cost. Telehealth can reduce travel time too. See our guide Therapy assistants explained for how this works.
Can I use more than one therapist at once?
Yes. Many people work with several allied health professionals — for example an OT and a speech pathologist — where each addresses different goals. The therapists can coordinate so their work fits together. Just keep an eye on your funding so it covers everyone you need across the plan.