How travel works when your NDIS physio visits you at home

If your physio comes to your home, part of what's claimed for each visit can be their travel. The NDIA has said participants told it that "therapy travel costs are draining their funding faster than expected" [1]. This short guide explains how therapy travel works under the NDIS, what to look for on your invoice, and what to ask before you start.

How therapy travel is claimed

  • Travel time is claimed at a lower rate than the session itself. Since 1 July 2025, therapy providers can claim half of the relevant price limit for time spent travelling [1].

  • Travel can be claimed both ways, to you and back, within time caps [1].

  • There are time caps based on where you live [1]:

    • up to 30 minutes each way in metro areas (MMM 1–3), which includes metropolitan Melbourne
    • up to 60 minutes each way in regional areas (MMM 4–5)
    • remote and very remote areas (MMM 6–7) aren't subject to these caps.

    If a trip takes longer than the cap, the extra time can't be claimed from your plan.

  • Other travel costs. Separately from travel time, providers may claim non-labour travel costs such as road tolls, parking and vehicle running costs, and may negotiate a reasonable contribution with you [1]. Ask up front whether these apply.

These rules come from the NDIA's 2025-26 travel guidance. The NDIA reviews pricing each year, so check the NDIS website or ask your plan manager for the current rules.

What should appear on your invoice

  • Travel and therapy time listed separately. The NDIA says it's "important that travel time and therapy time is shown separately on invoices" [1].

  • No extra fees. Providers can't add charges such as gap fees or credit card surcharges, and plan managers can't pay invoices above the NDIS price limit, whether the provider is registered or unregistered [1].

  • Any agreed non-labour travel costs shown clearly.

Questions to ask a home-visit physio

  • Do you charge travel time, and is it charged both ways?
  • Roughly how long will the trip to me take?
  • Do you charge for parking, tolls or vehicle costs? How are they worked out?
  • Will travel appear as a separate line on each invoice?
  • Can we put how travel is charged in writing before the first visit?

Talking to your support coordinator or plan manager can also help you plan how many sessions your budget will cover once travel is included.

For questions about the rules, you can contact the NDIS on 1800 800 110.

About Thrive United Physio: we provide home-visit physiotherapy for adults with NDIS plans in Melbourne's south-east, inner south and west, and right across Melbourne, and we're currently taking new referrals. Our fees are in line with standard NDIS pricing limits. We are not a registered NDIS provider (registration is in progress), so we can only see self-managed and plan-managed participants. Visits are delivered by an Ahpra-registered physiotherapist.

To ask about a referral, use the form at thriveunitedphysio.com.au or call 0426 207 796. We reply within 48 hours.

This article is general information, not financial advice. NDIS rules can change; check the NDIS website or talk to your plan manager.

Sources

  1. NDIS. Travel claiming rules, gap fees and other costs (23 July 2025). https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/10827-travel-claiming-rules-gap-fees-and-other-costs

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