The quick answer
The improved daily living ndis budget is part of Capacity Building supports and can help participants develop skills, independence and confidence in everyday life. Physiotherapy may be funded through this budget when it is related to your disability, supports your NDIS goals and meets the NDIS funding criteria. What you can access depends on your individual plan and circumstances.
Key takeaways
Check your plan for Improved Daily Living funding.
Connect therapy to your NDIS goals.
Ask your support coordinator or planner if you are unsure.
Improved Daily Living
A category of Capacity Building funding in an NDIS plan that can support assessments, therapy and training to help participants build skills and independence in everyday life.
What Improved Daily Living means in your NDIS plan
Improved Daily Living is a Capacity Building support category designed to help NDIS participants develop or maintain their ability to manage everyday activities and participate in daily life.
Depending on your individual circumstances, this funding may support services from health professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists and other allied health providers.
The important distinction is that Capacity Building supports generally focus on developing or maintaining your abilities, rather than simply providing assistance with daily tasks.
For example, therapy might focus on improving your ability to move around your home, participate in community activities or manage physical tasks that are important to you.
Not every participant has the same funding, and not every therapy service will be covered. Your NDIS plan and the relevant funding criteria determine which supports you can access.
Improved Daily Living compared with Core supports
Question, Improved Daily Living, Core supports
What is the main purpose?, To develop or maintain skills, independence and functional capacity, To support everyday activities and disability related needs
What might it include?, Assessments, therapy and training related to your goals, Assistance with daily activities, community participation and some disability related consumables
How is funding used?, For eligible Capacity Building supports within the relevant funding arrangements, For eligible Core supports according to your plan and funding arrangements
Can it include physiotherapy?, Yes, when the service meets the relevant NDIS funding criteria, Physiotherapy is generally funded through Capacity Building rather than Core supports
How physiotherapy can fit into it
Physiotherapy can fit into Improved Daily Living when it addresses disability related functional needs and helps you work towards the goals in your NDIS plan.
At Wild Physio Fitness, we are a registered NDIS provider. We work with participants to understand what matters to them and how physical activity, exercise and rehabilitation may help them participate more confidently in everyday life.
If you are wondering what physiotherapy is, it involves assessing and supporting movement, physical function and participation through approaches such as education, exercise and rehabilitation.
Depending on your needs and goals, physiotherapy might focus on:
Improving strength and physical capacity for everyday activities.
Developing balance and confidence with walking or moving around.
Maintaining mobility and physical function.
Building tolerance for activities at home or in the community.
Supporting participation in physical activity, recreation or sport.
Some participants may also benefit from neurological physiotherapy, which focuses on movement and physical function in people with conditions affecting the nervous system.
The specific approach will depend on your circumstances, preferences and goals.
It is also important to understand that not every physiotherapy service is automatically covered by the NDIS. Services generally need to relate to your disability and meet the NDIS funding criteria. Treatment for health conditions that are primarily the responsibility of the broader healthcare system may need to be accessed through other pathways.
Goals, progress reports and plan reviews
Your NDIS goals help guide which therapy supports may be appropriate and how progress is reviewed over time.
You might have a broad goal such as becoming more independent at home, participating in community activities or maintaining your physical abilities.
We can work with you to translate those broader goals into practical activities that are meaningful to your everyday life.
For example, if your goal involves greater independence in the community, physiotherapy might focus on your ability to walk, manage stairs or tolerate physical activity, where these are relevant to your needs.
Progress does not always mean doing more or achieving a particular number. Maintaining your current abilities, reducing the assistance you need or feeling more confident with everyday activities may also be meaningful outcomes.
Progress reports can help explain what you have been working towards, how you have responded to therapy and what support may be useful in the future.
These reports may be relevant when your NDIS plan is reassessed or when you need to explain your ongoing support needs.
Good to know
Your therapy goals do not need to use exactly the same wording as your NDIS goals, but there should be a clear connection between them.
Preparing for a plan review
Keep a record of your therapy goals, what has changed, any ongoing difficulties and the support you may need. Ask your treating professionals whether a progress report would be helpful for your review.
Questions to ask your planner or support coordinator
Your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator can help you understand how your NDIS plan relates to the therapy supports you want to access.
If you are unsure about your improved daily living ndis funding, it can help to ask some specific questions rather than assuming a service is covered.
Some useful questions include:
Does my current plan include funding for Improved Daily Living?
Can this funding be used for the type of physiotherapy I need?
How does the proposed therapy relate to my disability and NDIS goals?
Are there any restrictions or requirements I should know about?
Do I need a therapy report or other supporting information for my next plan review?
Who should I contact if my circumstances or therapy needs change?
If your plan is managed by a plan manager, they can also help you understand your available budget, payments and how claims are processed. However, a plan manager cannot independently decide whether a support meets the NDIS funding criteria.
For official information about NDIS funding and support categories, you can also visit ndis.gov.au.
What a first physio session can look like
Your first physiotherapy session is generally an opportunity for us to understand your needs, discuss your goals and work out what support may be appropriate.
We recognise that everyone has different abilities, experiences and preferences. There is no expectation that you need to complete a particular exercise or physical test.
A first session may include a discussion about your day to day activities, physical abilities, challenges and what you would like to achieve.
With your consent, we may also assess aspects of your movement, strength, balance or physical function that are relevant to your goals.
From there, we can discuss a plan that may involve education, exercises or strategies to help you build or maintain your physical capacity.
1. Discuss what matters to you and your NDIS goals.
2. Understand your current abilities and challenges.
3. Complete relevant assessments where appropriate.
4. Agree on a practical plan based on your needs.
5. Discuss how progress could be monitored.
You are welcome to involve a family member, carer or support person in the discussion if that would be helpful.
We also recognise the importance of working alongside other professionals involved in your care, including occupational therapists, exercise physiologists, doctors and support coordinators.
Red flag: Unsure whether therapy is funded
If you are uncertain whether physiotherapy is covered by your plan, or if your circumstances or support needs have changed, speak with your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. Your plan manager can also help clarify your budget and payment arrangements. Seek advice from your GP or another appropriate health professional for medical concerns.
Our aim is to help you work towards the activities that matter to you, at a pace that suits your needs and circumstances.
What to do this week
Read your NDIS plan and check your funding categories.
Write down one everyday activity you would like to improve or maintain.
Ask your support coordinator or planner about any funding questions.
