NDIS physio: what to expect at your first visit

First visits carry a lot of hope and a bit of nervousness — especially if previous therapy experiences haven’t been great. Here’s exactly how a first NDIS physiotherapy visit runs with us, so there are no surprises for you or the person you support.

Before we arrive

After the referral, Jimmy calls to talk through what’s going on and matches the physiotherapist whose experience fits — neurological conditions, paediatrics, intellectual disability, chronic health. You’ll know the physio’s name before the doorbell rings, and it’ll be the same person at every visit after that.

Worth having handy, if they exist (none are essential):

• The NDIS plan, or just the plan dates and how it’s managed
• Any recent reports — hospital discharge summary, specialist letters, previous therapy reports
• A list of medications, if mobility or fatigue is affected by them
• The equipment already in use: walker, wheelchair, orthotics, whatever’s real

The visit itself: mostly listening, then moving

The first half is conversation. What does a good day look like? What’s hard that used to be easy — or has never been possible and should be? What do you want out of this, in your words? If a support worker or family member knows the daily detail, we want them in the room.

Then we move — gently, and only as much as makes sense on day one. Depending on the person that might be walking, transfers, balance, floor-to-stand, stairs, or play. Because we’re in the real home, we assess the real environment at the same time: the step into the bathroom, the couch that’s too low, the hallway rug with opinions.

Goals, written like you said them

Everything lands in a therapy plan mapped to the NDIS plan goals — but written in your language first. “Stand at the bench to cook dinner without holding on” beats “improve functional lower-limb strength” every time, and the NDIS actually agrees: reviewers want to see therapy tied to daily life.

You’ll get the plan in writing, along with honest frequency advice — how many visits, for how long, and what happens between visits. Home practice is where most progress actually lives; our job includes making that practice doable, not aspirational.

The admin, handled

Plan managed: we invoice the plan manager directly, aligned with the NDIS Pricing Arrangements. Self managed: claim-ready invoices arrive by email after each session. Progress reports are written with plan reviews in mind — measurable, goal-linked and delivered before the review, not scrambled after it.

Ready to start? The referral takes about two minutes, and the first visit can usually happen within the week.