NDIS therapy and assessment: choosing the right support
Our Guide to Therapy and Assessment
By Tristram Peters · Originally published 21 September 2018
Original article
Tristram Peters is a writer, editor, and disability advocate with a keen passion for sport. He recently represented Australia at the powerchair football world cup and sits on the sport’s executive board for the Asia Pacific Oceania zone. Most importantly, he’s part of the Clicka-family.
When I was young and newly diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, my doctors and therapists formed a super team (let’s definitely call them Avengers 2.0), tasked with figuring out the best ways to ensure I retained as much strength as possible. It was no small feat.
From physios planning hydrotherapy regimes to occupational therapists ensuring my wheelchair set-up improved my independence, I had the best support possible. And look at me now! It might take me a solid 10 minutes to swim 100m (quiver in ya flippers, Cameron McEvoy), but I feel healthy and strong within myself.
Therapy and assessment is obviously one key to maintaining your independence, but with the NDIS rolling out, there’s a lot to get your head around. To simplify the jargon and all the processes, we’ve chalked up another guide to make things easier for you.
We’re starting with a bang! OTs, physios, and speech therapies almost deserve their own entry each, but this is a mega guide, so simple and efficient is name of the day. Here goes:
Occupational Therapy: These services help you assess what equipment is needed to help you with day-to-day activities. This includes equipment that helps you get to work.
Physio: These services help you recover from injuries, maintain movement or make sure you can continue to do things. For instance, a physio helped me with my power wheelchair. We’ve also got this guide to finding a good physio.
Speech therapy: These services help you with communication, such as speaking, reading or writing. Simple!
To find a service provider in your area, just ensure you ‘tick’ whichever type of service you’re looking for in the search drop-down menu and enter your postcode.
As well as OTs, physios, and speech therapists, Clickability also has a number of services that provide support within the psychology and mental health space. These services deal with things such as depression, anxiety, stress, drug and alcohol abuse and PTSD.
Undoubtedly, there’s previously been a bit of uncertainty around what the NDIS will and will not cover when it comes to supporting people who experience disability because of mental health issues.
Simply, it won’t replace ‘community health services or treatment services’ currently offered through the health system. But through the NDIS, individuals can be connected to other government services, as well as local or community-based supports.
However, individualised NDIS packages can also be offered to people with severe and persistent mental health issues, which will remain across a person’s lifetime and which affect day-to-day life. To receive this support, you must apply to access the NDIS.
To explore what evidence is required or various myths that exist in this space, click here. Or, simply search for providers on our website by ticking the ‘psychology and mental health’ box in our search drop-down menu.
[Clickability update, October 2026: Current NDIA early childhood guidance covers children younger than six with developmental delay and younger than nine with disability. Early connections and funded NDIS access are different questions.]
Next up, we have Early Intervention services for children with a disability under 6 years of age. They’re all about improving health and well-being or finding social groups. As always, just tick ‘Early Intervention‘ in the drop-down menu and choose your suburb to find those services closest to you.
But choosing the right early childhood intervention provider can seem like a tough task. We all obviously want what’s best for our kids in their formative years! Thankfully, Early Childhood Intervention Australia VIC/TAS wrote this super blog post for us.
[Clickability update, October 2026: The broad historical grouping is not a funding rule. Current therapy guidance requires evidence, appropriate professional qualifications and individual funding criteria, and lists massage among supports not funded as therapy.]
We’re nearly at the finish line! This large category on our website covers a few things, so it’s worth unpacking. Simply, these services offer dietetic advice, massage therapy, and other therapeutic supports, including those with a therapeutic intention like music, dance and art.
And that’s it! If you have any questions, flick us an email and don’t forget to review a service! It’s super quick and will help others choose their perfect service provider.
Clickability editorial update: October 2026
Start with the task you want therapy to support
Explain what you want to do more safely, independently or comfortably, then ask which professional is suited to that need. Ask what assessment involves, what evidence supports the proposed approach and how you will know whether it is helping.
For a child, discuss strengths, preferences and the tasks that matter to them and the family. Ask what practice is expected between sessions and whether it is realistic. Agree how the child’s comfort and feedback will shape the approach.
Check early childhood options rather than assuming a diagnosis or a particular age automatically decides funding. Clarify which services belong to health or education and which additional supports may be considered through the NDIS.
Questions readers ask
Does a therapeutic label establish NDIS eligibility?
No. The approach, evidence, professional requirements and individual funding rules matter. Official guidance
Is early childhood support only for children under six?
No. Current guidance distinguishes developmental delay under six and disability under nine. Official guidance
Find therapy support for the goals that matter to you
Tell Clickability which daily tasks you want help with. Compare reviewed and rated providers and ask about relevant experience, assessment and follow-up.
