Key Takeaways
- The NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) can fund play therapy for children who qualify, through the Capacity Building budget.
- The two most useful support categories are Improved Daily Living and Improved Relationships. Under Improved Daily Living the line item depends on age:
15_005_0118_1_3(Early Childhood) for children under 9,15_056_0128_1_3for 9 and over.- Self-managed and plan-managed families have more choice in who they can see. Agency-managed (NDIA-managed) families can only use registered providers — and Potentialz Unlimited is not a registered NDIS provider, so agency-managed funding cannot be used with us.
- Your child’s NDIS plan goals must show the need for play therapy. Our practitioners can help you find the right words for your goals.
- Support coordinators can help you find and set up a play therapist through the NDIS.
- Potentialz Unlimited gives you reports, session notes, and progress records to support your child’s plan reviews.
Learning about the NDIS can feel like too much, especially when your child is already facing challenges that take up your time and energy. This guide cuts through the tricky parts. It gives you clear, useful facts about how NDIS funding works for play therapy.
One thing to know upfront: NDIS rules, categories, and prices change over time. This post covers general points and is correct at the time of writing. We always suggest you check the latest details with the NDIS, a support coordinator, or by contacting us at Potentialz Unlimited.
A Brief Overview of How the NDIS Works
The National Disability Insurance Scheme is run by the Australian Government. It funds support and services for people with a lasting, serious disability. For children, it works through the Early Childhood Approach (for children under 9 with a delay in growth or a disability), and through standard plans for older children.
NDIS funding falls into three broad groups:
- Core Supports: help with day-to-day tasks and living
- Capital Supports: equipment and home changes
- Capacity Building Supports: support that builds skills over time
Play therapy from a qualified practitioner falls under Capacity Building. This is because it aims to build your child’s feelings, social, and behaviour skills over time.
Within the Capacity Building budget, there are several support groups. The two that matter most for play therapy are:
-
Improved Daily Living (Support Category 15): The group most often used for play therapy. It covers assessment, therapy, and report writing. Which line item applies depends on your child’s age, and this trips up a lot of families:
- Under 9:
15_005_0118_1_3— Early Childhood Intervention Professional – Other Early Childhood Professional. Children under nine get support through the NDIS Early Childhood Approach, and this is the line item that matches. - 9 and over:
15_056_0128_1_3— Assessment Recommendation Therapy or Training – Other Professional.
We see children from about three years old, so for most families we work with, it is the early childhood item that applies. If the line item you were quoted does not match your child’s age, sort this out before you sign a service agreement.
- Under 9:
-
Improved Relationships (Support Category 10): This group funds support that helps a person build positive behaviour and relationships. For children with trust or attachment struggles, big behaviour challenges, or social differences, this group may also fit.
Self-Managed, Plan-Managed, and NDIA-Managed: What’s the Difference?
How your child’s NDIS plan is managed changes two things: which providers you can use, and how much choice you get.
NDIA-managed (Agency-managed): The NDIA pays providers straight from your plan. You can only use NDIS-registered providers, and prices must follow the NDIS Price Guide. Potentialz Unlimited is not a registered NDIS provider, so agency-managed funding cannot be used for our services.
Plan-managed: A plan manager handles the money side of your plan. They pay your bills for you. You can use both registered and unregistered providers. This gives you more choice in who you see.
Self-managed: You manage the funding yourself. You pay providers, then claim the money back. You have the most choice here. You can use any provider, listed or not. The NDIS Price Guide does not bind you for unlisted providers, but you should still check you are getting fair value.
Want play therapy with a qualified practitioner? Plan-managed or self-managed plans give you the most choice. Is your child’s plan NDIA-managed and you want more choice? You can ask to change your plan management at your next plan review.
New to the NDIS and have questions about what support your child might get? Our NDIS psychologist Bella Vista page has more information about our practice.
What Goals to Include in Your Child’s NDIS Plan
One of the most important parts of NDIS planning is goals. It is also one of the most misunderstood parts. Your child’s NDIS plan must have goals. These goals should match the areas of life they want to get better at. Support and services get funded to help reach these goals.
Want play therapy funded through your child’s plan? The goals need to match what play therapy can help with. Here are some example goals. They are based on what your child needs.
For big emotions. “[Child’s name] will build ways to manage big emotions. Outbursts will happen less often and feel less intense, at home and at school.”
For social skills and friendships. “[Child’s name] will build skills to start and keep positive friendships. They will learn to work well with others.”
For trauma. “[Child’s name] will build a sense of safety and ways to cope. This is after early trauma.”
For attachment struggles. “[Child’s name] and their caregiver will strengthen their bond. They will build skills to tune in to each other and calm together.”
For anxiety. “[Child’s name] will build ways to manage anxiety. They will take part more fully in activities suited to their age.” You can also read about our anxiety support for children at Potentialz Unlimited.
For ADHD-related challenges. “[Child’s name] will build self-control skills. These skills help with staying focused and managing impulses.” See also our ADHD psychologist Bella Vista page.
Important: The more clear and specific your goals are, the stronger the case for therapy support. Focus on what your child will be able to DO, not just how they will feel. Our practitioners can help you find the right words before a plan meeting or review.
How to Find a Play Therapist Through the NDIS
There are a few ways to find a qualified play therapist through the NDIS:
Through your support coordinator: Does your child’s plan have a Support Coordination budget? Your coordinator’s job is to help you find and set up the right providers. Ask them to look into qualified play therapists near you, and help with service agreements.
Through the NDIS Provider Finder: The NDIS website has a search tool for providers. Search for “therapeutic supports” or “psychology” near you. This tool only lists registered providers. If you have a plan-managed plan, you can also contact unregistered providers yourself.
Through direct referral: Many families find their child’s therapist through a GP referral, a tip from a school counsellor, or word of mouth. You do not always need to start on the NDIS website.
Through your child’s school or paediatrician: Schools and paediatricians who work with NDIS children often already know local therapy providers, and can make a warm introduction.
At Potentialz Unlimited, we work with self-managed and plan-managed families. (Agency-managed funding cannot be used with us, as we are not a registered NDIS provider.) We know how to talk through NDIS goals, service agreements, and paperwork. Not sure if your child’s plan could fund play therapy? Contact us and we can talk it through.
What Documentation Potentialz Unlimited Provides
Clear paperwork matters a lot for NDIS families. It backs up your child’s current plan, gives proof for plan reviews, and shows the funding is being used the right way.
At Potentialz Unlimited, our practitioners provide this paperwork as part of therapy for NDIS families:
Initial Assessment Report: A full written report after intake and assessment. It covers your child’s concerns, their history, and how they are growing. It also names the therapy approach we suggest, and links it to your child’s NDIS goals. This report is very useful for plan reviews. It also helps us talk to support coordinators and other providers.
Service Agreement: A formal document. It lists the services, how often sessions happen, the cancellation rules, the fees, and how we deliver the service. This is a standard NDIS requirement.
Progress Notes: Short notes after each session. They sum up what was worked on and how your child responded. We keep these on file and can share them with your support coordinator or the NDIA if needed.
Progress Reports: At set times — often every six months or every year, or before plan reviews — your practitioner writes a progress report. It covers your child’s progress towards their goals, their strengths, what still needs work, and what to do next.
Functional Capacity Assessment: Is your child close to a plan review? Do you need an updated picture of what they can do each day? Your practitioner can do a structured functional capacity assessment. NDIS planners value this document highly. It links your child’s support needs to the exact things they find hard.
Good paperwork is one of the most important things a therapist can give you. It can be the difference between a plan review that gives you the right funding, and one that leaves your family short of support.
The Early Childhood Approach: A Note for Under-9s
If your child is under 9 and has a delay or disability that has not been diagnosed yet, they may qualify for the NDIS Early Childhood Approach (once called Early Childhood Early Intervention, or ECEI). Under this approach, an Early Childhood Partner (usually a community group) sets up early support without needing a full NDIS plan.
Play therapy can be part of an Early Childhood Approach plan. If your child is already in this system, ask your Early Childhood Partner about adding play therapy to your child’s support.
Research suggests early support leads to better outcomes than support that starts later. If you are waiting on a diagnosis before you seek help, know this: you do not always need a diagnosis to access early support.
What If My Child Does Not Have an NDIS Plan?
You do not need the NDIS to access play therapy. Potentialz Unlimited also offers services to families without NDIS funding, including:
- Medicare: Children with a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) from their GP may get Medicare rebates for psychology sessions. Ask your GP if this path suits your child.
- Private health insurance: Some private health funds offer rebates for psychology or allied health services. Check with your insurer.
- Fee-for-service: Families without NDIS or Medicare funding can see Potentialz Unlimited on a private, pay-as-you-go basis. We aim to make our services as easy to access as possible, and we are happy to talk through your situation.
For more on seeing a child psychologist, with or without NDIS funding, visit our website.
Common Mistakes to Avoid at Plan Reviews
Families sometimes miss out on funding for therapy support because of mistakes at planning meetings. Here are the most common ones:
Mistake 1: Vague goals. “I want my child to be happier” is hard to turn into funded support. Clear, functional goals work much better.
Mistake 2: Not bringing proof. If you have assessments, reports, or letters from your child’s school or paediatrician, bring them. The NDIS planner needs to see how your child’s disability affects their daily life.
Mistake 3: Not asking for what you need. Many families just accept what is offered. You are allowed to speak up for your child’s needs. If you think your child needs more than what is on the table, say so, clearly and with proof.
Mistake 4: Leaving therapy support out of capacity building. Some families focus their plan on Core Supports — day-to-day care, day programs — and forget Capacity Building. Support that builds skills is a key part of a well-rounded plan.
Mistake 5: Waiting until crisis point. The NDIS works best when support starts early, before things get hard. By the time a child is in crisis, families are often scrambling for emergency help the plan was never built to give.
How Potentialz Can Help
Whether you are new to the NDIS, getting ready for a plan review, or looking for a qualified play therapist for your child’s support team, the team at Potentialz Unlimited is ready to help.
Our practitioners have experience with NDIS families. We understand the paperwork, goal-setting, and reporting that families and support coordinators need. For more on the therapy itself, see how play therapy supports NDIS children, how play therapy helps autistic children build social skills, and how we measure progress in play therapy.
Potentialz Unlimited Unit 608, 8 Elizabeth Macarthur Drive, Bella Vista NSW 2153 Phone: 0410 261 838 Hours: Monday to Friday, 10am–7pm
Book online at live.potentialz.com.au or call 0410 261 838.
You can also learn more about our play therapy services in Bella Vista.
References
Australian Government Department of Social Services. (2013). National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cth). https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2013A00020
Bratton, S. C., Ray, D., Rhine, T., & Jones, L. (2005). The efficacy of play therapy with children: A meta-analytic review of treatment outcomes. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 36(4), 376–390. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.36.4.376
National Disability Insurance Agency. (2023). NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2023–24. https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/pricing-arrangements
National Disability Insurance Agency. (2024). Support Catalogue 2024–25. https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/pricing-arrangements/support-catalogue
Ray, D. C., Armstrong, S. A., Balkin, R. S., & Jayne, K. M. (2015). Child-centered play therapy in the schools: Review and meta-analysis. Psychology in the Schools, 52(2), 107–123. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.21798
This information is general in nature and reflects the author’s understanding of NDIS processes at the time of writing. NDIS rules and pricing are subject to change. Please consult the NDIS directly, a support coordinator, or a qualified health professional for individual advice.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
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