Paediatric physiotherapy helps children build strength, coordination and mobility so they can move, play and take part in everyday life with more confidence. This guide explains what to expect, how NDIS funding works, and how to choose the right provider in Canberra — and it features a shortlist of local clinics for you to explore.
General and NDIS physiotherapy clinic in Kambah, ACT led by Dr Diaa Attallah, combining orthopaedic surgical background with physiotherapy. Offers musculoskeletal, shockwave, EMTT, dry needling, and NDIS/disability services with cerebral palsy experience. Medicare, HICAPS, workers' comp accepted; English and Arabic spoken.
Accelerate Physiotherapy Garran offers physiotherapy services including manual therapy, dry needling, and individualised rehabilitation plans. No referral required. Located in Garran with additional sites in Jamison and Queanbeyan. No age range, NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlist details specified.
Canberra Sports Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation offers physiotherapy, musculoskeletal screening, remedial massage, orthopaedic rehab, sports injury treatment, and telehealth consultations across Kingston, Crace, and Casey locations. No paediatric-specific services, practitioner names, or NDIS registration are mentioned.
General and sports physiotherapy clinic in Canberra with two locations; no explicit mention of paediatric-specific services, practitioner names, NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlist information found in the provided text.
Sport & Spinal Physiotherapy offers physiotherapy, massage therapy, exercise physiology and group classes (hydrotherapy, Pilates, strength). No paediatric-specific services, ages seen, NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlist information explicitly stated on the page.
Incite Physiotherapy in Gungahlin, ACT offers physiotherapy services. No specific paediatric age range, NDIS registration, telehealth, waitlist, or named practitioners explicitly stated on the website.
General physiotherapy clinic in Belconnen, ACT, offering personalised, evidence-based physiotherapy care. No specific paediatric focus, age ranges, NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlist details mentioned in the provided text.
Website text provides limited details; mentions Exercise Physiology services and a team page, but does not explicitly state paediatric therapy types, ages seen, NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlist information.
Paediatric physiotherapists are movement specialists who work with babies, children and teenagers. Unlike physio for adults, their focus is on helping children reach gross motor milestones — rolling, sitting, crawling, walking, running, jumping and climbing — as well as building balance, coordination, core strength and overall mobility.
Sessions are usually play-based. A good paediatric physio will disguise hard work as games, obstacle courses and activities so your child stays motivated. They often work alongside families, early educators and other allied health professionals (such as occupational therapists and speech pathologists) to support the whole child.
Every child develops at their own pace, so one "late" milestone isn't necessarily a concern. That said, it can be worth speaking to your GP, paediatrician or a physiotherapist if you notice things like:
This guide is general information only and isn't medical advice — a qualified physiotherapist or doctor can assess your child's individual needs.
Paediatric physios work with children from newborns (including premature babies and those with conditions like torticollis or plagiocephaly) right through to adolescence. The earlier a difference is identified and supported, the better — but it's never "too late" to start, and older children and teens benefit too.
An initial assessment usually runs 45–60 minutes. The physio will chat with you about your child's history, your concerns and your goals, then observe how your child moves — watching them play, walk, climb or complete age-appropriate tasks. They may take some measurements of strength, range of motion and coordination.
At the end, they'll talk you through their findings, whether ongoing therapy is recommended, and roughly how many sessions might help. You'll often leave with a few simple activities to practise at home, which is where much of the progress actually happens.
As a general guide, private paediatric physiotherapy in the ACT region tends to fall somewhere in the range of around $180–$230 per session, with initial assessments sometimes costing more. The NDIS publishes price caps that registered providers must not exceed, and many clinics set their fees at or near these caps — always confirm current pricing directly with the provider, as it changes over time.
Under the NDIS, physiotherapy is typically funded through the Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living budget. How you use it depends on how your plan is managed:
Some families access physio through Medicare's Chronic Disease Management (with a GP referral for eligible children), private health extras, or fee-for-service. Check what you're entitled to before booking.
When comparing clinics — including those featured on this page, such as Movehappy Healthcare Centre in Wanniassa, The Paediatric Hub in Bruce and Canberra Children's Physiotherapy in Waramanga and Phillip — consider:
Or read the full paediatric physiotherapy guide, or browse all Canberra providers.
No, physiotherapists are primary contact practitioners, so you can book directly. However, a referral from your GP or paediatrician can be useful for continuity of care, and is required if you're accessing funding through Medicare's Chronic Disease Management program.
Physiotherapy is usually funded under the Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living budget if it's a reasonable and necessary support linked to your child's goals. How you access providers depends on whether your plan is NDIA-managed, plan-managed or self-managed. Check your plan and confirm details with your provider or plan manager.
As a general guide, sessions in the Canberra region often range from about $180–$230, with initial assessments sometimes higher. The NDIS sets price caps that registered providers must not exceed. Prices change, so always confirm current fees directly with the clinic.
Waitlists vary a lot between clinics and can be several weeks or longer for paediatric services. It's worth contacting a few providers, asking about their current wait times, and requesting to go on a cancellation list to be seen sooner.
All physiotherapists in Australia must be registered with AHPRA (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency), which you can verify online. For children, also ask about their specific experience in paediatrics and with your child's particular needs.