Choose an NDIS therapy provider that matches your goals, funding arrangements, clinical needs and daily life. Check the therapist’s qualifications or professional accreditation, relevant experience, approach to communication and consent, appointment options, fees and how progress will be reviewed. Speak with two or three providers if you can, then choose the one that makes you feel safe, heard and clear about what happens next.

Key takeaways

  • Start with the everyday activities or outcomes you want to improve—not a diagnosis or therapy discipline alone.
  • Check the clinician’s qualifications, professional registration or accreditation, and experience with your age group and goals.
  • Ask for clear written information about rates, travel, reports, cancellations, wait times and the service agreement before you commit.
  • Your plan-management type affects which providers you can use and which price limits apply. Some regulated supports must always be delivered by a registered provider.
  • You can change providers. Check the notice terms in your agreement and plan the transition so essential supports continue.

1. Start with the support you want

Choosing a provider is easier when you can describe what is difficult now and what you would like to do more independently. NDIS therapy supports can build or maintain skills for everyday activities at home, school, work and in the community. Funding depends on your individual plan and whether the support meets current NDIS funding criteria. See the NDIS guidance on therapy supports.

Before contacting a provider, write down:

  • What is hardest or least accessible at the moment?
  • What would you like to do more safely, confidently or independently?
  • Where does the difficulty happen—at home, school, work or in the community?
  • Who should be involved in therapy, and how do you prefer to communicate?
  • What practical limits matter, such as travel, school hours, work, fatigue, sensory needs or technology access?

You do not need clinical language. A short list of real-life tasks and hoped-for changes is enough to start a useful conversation.

2. Work out which type of therapist may help

Different allied health disciplines focus on different aspects of everyday life. You may work with more than one therapist over time.

  • Occupational therapy: daily activities, routines, sensory processing, school or work participation, managing finances, catching public transport, assistive technology, home modifications and functional assessments.
  • Physiotherapy: movement, mobility, strength, balance, coordination, transfers, positioning and falls prevention.
  • Speech pathology: speech, language, social communication, literacy, feeding difficulties involving fussy eating, swallowing and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), including communication devices.
  • Psychology: cognitive assessments, building skills for emotional regulation, problem solving, resilience, confidence, social skills, coping, relationships, behaviour and participation in daily life.
  • Positive behaviour support: understanding the function of behaviour, developing behaviour support plans, reducing restrictive practices and training support teams.
  • Social work: advocacy, navigating services, strengthening informal and formal supports, and connecting with community resources.

Important: The NDIS only funds therapy supports that meet its funding criteria and are included within the way your plan can be used. Ask the provider or your NDIS contact how the proposed service fits your plan before booking.

3. Check the provider and therapist

Qualifications and professional standing

Ask who will deliver the support and how their qualifications are verified. The NDIS says therapy supports must be delivered by appropriately qualified allied health professionals who are registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) or accredited by the relevant peak body for a self-regulated profession. You can check Ahpra-regulated professions on the register of practitioners. Ask about supervision if you will work with a new graduate or provisional practitioner.

Experience that matches your goal

Relevant experience may relate to your life stage, communication needs, disability, environment or the specific task involved. Experience prescribing a wheelchair, completing a functional assessment or developing a behaviour support plan may matter more than experience with a diagnostic label alone.

A person-centred and rights-based approach

The therapist should ask what matters to you, explain options in an accessible way, seek informed consent and involve the people you choose. Look for respect for your culture, identity, communication preferences, privacy and right to make decisions. For children, the provider should listen to the child as well as working with parents, carers and other supports.

Evidence, goals and progress

Ask how the therapist chooses approaches, records progress and reviews whether therapy is helping. Goals should connect to everyday outcomes and be reviewed with you. A good provider will discuss what is and is not working, adjust the plan when needed and ensure you work together towards results.

Communication and collaboration

Confirm who your contact person is, how quickly the provider usually responds and how reports or changes will be explained. If several people are involved, ask how the provider collaborates with family, schools, support coordinators and other clinicians—with your consent—without duplicating work.

4. Make sure the service fits everyday life

A clinically suitable therapist still needs to be practical to access. Compare where therapy can happen, how consistently you can see the same therapist, and the full cost to your plan.

Setting May be useful when Ask about
Home or community The goal involves routines, access or participation in the place where the activity occurs. Travel charges, privacy, safety and whether the provider services your area.
Clinic Specialised equipment or a focused environment is helpful. Accessibility, parking, transport, sensory environment and who can attend.
Telehealth Travel is difficult, you live regionally, or coaching and follow-up can be delivered remotely. Clinical suitability, privacy, technology, accessibility and a backup plan for connection problems.

Availability and continuity

Ask about current wait times, the intake process, likely appointment frequency and whether you can see the same therapist consistently. Quick availability can help, but it should not outweigh clinical suitability, safety or experience for complex supports.

Fees and service agreements

Before starting, ask for rates and written terms covering travel, reports, non-face-to-face work, cancellations, notice periods and how price changes are agreed. The NDIS pricing schedule sets maximum prices for NDIA-managed and plan-managed supports. Self-managed participants have more flexibility, but should still agree to the price and understand how it affects their budget.

Registered and unregistered providers

You must use registered providers for NDIA-managed supports. If your funding is plan-managed or self-managed, you can generally use registered or unregistered providers, but some regulated supports—including specialist behaviour support—must be delivered by registered providers. Check the current NDIS guidance on when registration is required and confirm your plan-management arrangement.

5. Ask these questions before deciding

  • Who will be my therapist, and what relevant experience, qualifications, registration or accreditation do they have?
  • How will you involve me in setting goals and deciding what therapy looks like?
  • How will you measure progress and review whether the support is helping?
  • Where can sessions happen, and is telehealth clinically suitable for my needs?
  • What is the current wait time, and will I usually see the same therapist?
  • What will be charged for sessions, travel, reports, cancellations and other work?
  • How does this service fit my NDIS plan, funding category and plan-management type?
  • How do you communicate with family, schools or other providers, obtain my consent, handle feedback and end the service?

6. Compare providers and watch for warning signs

Shortlist two or three providers and compare the same factors: clinical fit, practical fit, cost, wait time, communication and how comfortable you feel asking questions. Online reviews may provide context, but they do not replace checking credentials, written terms and the therapist’s suitability for your goals.

Possible warning signs

  • Vague or changing answers about fees, travel, reports or cancellations.
  • Little interest in your goals, preferences, consent or communication needs.
  • Guaranteed outcomes or pressure to buy more sessions than you understand or want.
  • Frequent therapist changes without explanation or a continuity plan.
  • You feel rushed, unsafe, disrespected or unable to raise concerns.

Changing providers

You can change providers. Review the service agreement for notice requirements, resolve legitimate outstanding invoices, request copies of relevant records and confirm the new provider’s capacity. With your consent, providers can share information needed for continuity. If you are concerned about the quality or safety of NDIS supports, you can report an issue or make a complaint to the NDIS Commission. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 000.

Why consider LiveBig?

LiveBig is a registered NDIS provider offering occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychology, speech pathology, positive behaviour support and social work. LiveBig supports children and adults across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia, with Australia-wide telehealth where clinically appropriate.

Services may be delivered at home, school, work, in the community or by telehealth, depending on your goals, location and clinical needs. A multidisciplinary team can make collaboration simpler when you choose more than one therapy, while you retain choice over the services and providers you use.

When you enquire, tell us what you would like help with, your suburb or postcode, the therapies you are considering and how your NDIS funding is managed.

Frequently asked questions

What should I bring to a first appointment?

Bring the information that is relevant and that you are comfortable sharing: a goals summary, relevant parts of your current NDIS plan, recent reports, a medication or equipment list if it affects therapy, and your main questions. For a child, relevant school or early-learning information may help. You do not need a perfect file—the therapist can start by listening to what is difficult and what you hope will change.

Is home, clinic or telehealth therapy better?

There is no single best setting. Home and community visits can help when therapy relates to real routines and environments. Clinics may provide specialised equipment or fewer distractions. Telehealth may improve access when travel is difficult, but it must suit the clinical goal, your privacy and your technology. Some people use a mix of settings.

Can I use more than one NDIS provider?

Yes. You can choose different providers for different supports. Make sure each provider understands the relevant goals, knows who else is involved and obtains your consent before sharing information. Using one multidisciplinary provider may simplify coordination, but it is not required.

How should I choose a provider for my child?

Look for relevant paediatric experience, a safe and engaging approach, and clear explanations for parents or carers. The therapist should listen to the child’s preferences and communication, involve the family without taking over the child’s voice, and connect therapy to meaningful activities at home, school and in the community.

Useful official information

Information checked 25 August 2026. NDIS rules, pricing and service availability can change. This article provides general information and does not replace advice about your individual plan or clinical needs.