How movement supports NDIS participants — a guide for plan managers and families

What is Movement Support Under the NDIS?

Movement support refers to professionally delivered exercise, physical activity, and movement programs that help NDIS participants build capacity, improve function, and work toward their individual goals. Under the NDIS, this type of support is typically funded under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living or Capacity Building — Improved Health and Wellbeing, depending on the participant's plan and goals.

It can include Clinical Pilates, individualised exercise programs, hydrotherapy, balance and coordination training, mobility work, and general fitness development — all delivered by a qualified professional and tailored to the participant's specific disability-related needs.

At Yodgee's Health and Fitness in Carnegie, movement support is delivered by Josh Freedman — an ESSA-accredited Exercise Scientist with a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science, a Bachelor of Health Science in Psychology, and a Diploma of Remedial Massage. Josh has been working with NDIS participants across self-managed, plan-managed, and case-managed plans since the scheme's inception, with a particular focus on goal-driven fitness, capacity building, and mobile and park-based sessions for participants who cannot access a studio environment.

Why Movement Matters for NDIS Participants

The evidence base for the role of structured physical activity in supporting people living with disability is extensive and well established. Movement supports are not a luxury addition to a participant's plan — for many, they are one of the most direct pathways to achieving meaningful functional goals.

Regular, professionally supervised exercise can contribute to:

Improved physical function and independence

Structured movement programs help participants develop the strength, balance, and coordination needed for daily tasks — getting in and out of a vehicle, climbing stairs, carrying groceries, or maintaining posture during seated activities. Functional gains in these areas directly support independence goals.

Neurological benefit and cognitive engagement

Movement has well-documented effects on neurological function. For participants with acquired brain injuries, autism spectrum conditions, intellectual disabilities, or neurological conditions, exercise programs that incorporate coordination, sequencing, and proprioception training can support cognitive engagement, reduce anxiety, and improve overall wellbeing.

Capacity building over time

NDIS funding is oriented toward building a participant's capacity — not creating dependency. A well-designed movement program works progressively. As the participant's strength, fitness, and confidence improve, the program evolves to match. Over time, many participants develop the skills and physical capacity to engage in mainstream fitness and community activities independently — a genuine long-term outcome of capacity building.

Mental health and emotional regulation

Exercise is one of the most consistently effective non-pharmacological supports for mood, anxiety, and emotional regulation. For participants whose disability includes a mental health component, regular physical activity delivered by a practitioner who understands both the physical and psychological dimensions of health can make a measurable difference.

What Plan Managers and Support Coordinators Need to Know

Plan managers and support coordinators play a critical role in helping participants access the right supports. When it comes to movement and exercise services, there are a few things that are worth understanding before making a referral or funding decision.

Not all exercise providers are equivalent

There is a significant difference between a personal trainer and an ESSA-accredited Exercise Scientist. An Exercise Scientist holds a university-level qualification in exercise physiology, biomechanics, and health science. They are trained to work with complex clinical presentations — chronic conditions, disability, post-surgical rehabilitation, and neurological conditions — in a way that a certificate-level fitness professional is not.

For NDIS participants with complex needs, the qualification of the provider matters. An Exercise Scientist can design programs that account for the participant's full clinical picture, adapt in real time when a participant is having a difficult day, and communicate with the broader support team in professional clinical language.

ESSA accreditation is the relevant professional standard

In Australia, Exercise Scientists are accredited through Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA). ESSA-accredited Exercise Scientists are not AHPRA-registered — their work sits within the Allied Health umbrella but outside the AHPRA regulatory framework. This distinction is relevant for plan managers: ESSA-accredited providers can be funded through NDIS plans under the appropriate support categories, and their services are recognised as allied health services by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

Mobile and park-based sessions increase accessibility

Not every participant can travel to a studio. At Yodgee's Health and Fitness, Josh provides mobile home visit sessions and park-based sessions for participants across Melbourne — including clients in Carnegie, Bentleigh, Oakleigh, Caulfield, Murrumbeena, and Glen Huntly. This removes a significant access barrier for participants with transport limitations, physical frailty, or complex support needs that make community access difficult.

Goal alignment is built into every program

NDIS funding is goal-directed. Movement programs at Yodgee's are designed with the participant's NDIS goals at their centre — whether those goals relate to mobility, independence, social participation, or overall health and wellbeing. Progress toward goals is monitored and can be documented for plan review purposes on request.

How to Make a Referral to Yodgee's Health and Fitness

Yodgee's Health and Fitness works with self-managed, plan-managed, and case-managed participants. Plan managers and support coordinators are welcome to make contact directly to discuss a participant's needs before making a formal referral.

Josh is based in Carnegie and is available Monday to Friday from 7am to 7pm and Saturday from 8am to 2pm. Mobile and park-based sessions are available across Melbourne for eligible participants.

For referrals, enquiries, or to discuss whether Yodgee's movement support is appropriate for a specific participant, visit yodgeeshealth.com.au or contact Josh directly through the website. Service agreements can be provided for plan-managed and case-managed participants on request.