Paediatric physiotherapy supports children to build gross motor skills, coordination and mobility so they can move, play and take part in everyday life. This guide explains what to expect, how NDIS funding works, and how to choose a Toowoomba provider — and it features a shortlist of local clinics you can compare.
MET Phys is an allied health provider in Highfields/Toowoomba/Crows Nest offering occupational therapy and speech pathology among broader services (exercise therapy, osteopathy, counselling). Serves ages 2 to 100. Offers face-to-face, telehealth, and home visit delivery.
Website is a placeholder 'Launching Soon' page with no substantive content about services, practitioners, ages seen, NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlist information.
Supports children and young people aged 0–18 with autism, developmental delays, speech/language, motor, and mental health needs. Offers speech pathology, OT, psychology, physiotherapy, and early intervention (up to age 9). NDIS registered; clinic, telehealth, and mobile services; no GP referral required.
Specialised dietetic clinic in East Toowoomba, QLD, founded 2019, focusing on complex medical/metabolic nutrition care including sports nutrition for adolescents. Offers online (telehealth) consultations, Medicare rebates for GPCCMP referrals, and private health rebates. No specific NDIS registration or paediatric age range stated.
Toowoomba Kids Physiotherapy offers physiotherapy and exercise physiology for babies, toddlers, school-aged children and teenagers in East Toowoomba, QLD, including hydrotherapy and support for musculoskeletal, sporting injuries and paediatric disabilities.
Registered NDIS provider offering general and paediatric-inclusive physiotherapy across two Toowoomba clinics (Glenvale & Westbrook), plus home visits, aged care, workplace and telehealth services throughout Queensland; no specific ages or waitlist mentioned.
Podiatry, physiotherapy, and Pilates clinic in Toowoomba/Warwick treating foot, heel, sports, joint, and children's foot & leg problems. No explicit paediatric allied-health services (speech, OT, psychology), NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlist information stated.
General physiotherapy and exercise physiology provider with multiple Toowoomba-area clinics. Pelvic health physiotherapy treats children from age four. No mention of NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlists; no other paediatric-specific allied health services listed.
Paediatric (children's) physiotherapy focuses on how a child moves. A physio looks at gross motor skills such as rolling, crawling, sitting, standing, walking, running, jumping and climbing, as well as balance, coordination, core strength, muscle tone and posture. The aim is always practical: helping a child keep up at the playground, join in sport or PE, get around the classroom, or manage stairs at home.
Sessions are play-based. A skilled paediatric physio will use games, obstacle courses and equipment to build strength and confidence, while coaching parents on activities to continue at home. For some children, therapy also includes advice on supportive footwear, orthotics, walking aids or equipment referrals.
Every child develops at their own pace, so these are general prompts to discuss with your GP, paediatrician or child health nurse rather than diagnoses:
Paediatric physiotherapy supports children from birth through to the teenage years. Early intervention (roughly 0–6) is often emphasised because young brains and bodies respond well to practice, but school-aged children and teens also benefit, particularly around coordination, sport and independence.
An initial assessment usually runs 45–60 minutes. The physio will ask about your pregnancy and birth history, milestones, medical history and your goals for your child. They'll watch your child move and play, and may complete a standardised motor assessment. You'll typically leave with some initial ideas, a home program, and a suggested plan for how often to attend. It helps to bring any reports from your GP, paediatrician or previous therapists, plus your child's favourite comfort item.
As a general guide, private paediatric physiotherapy in Australia often ranges from around $190 to $230+ per hour. The NDIS publishes price limits (caps) that registered providers must not exceed, and these are reviewed each year. Actual fees vary between clinics, and assessments or report writing may be charged separately, so always ask for a written schedule of fees before you start.
Under the NDIS, physiotherapy usually sits within the Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living budget. If your child's plan is self-managed or plan-managed, you can generally use both registered and non-registered providers; if it's NDIA-managed, you'll need an NDIS-registered provider. Outside the NDIS, some families access support through Medicare Chronic Disease Management (with a GP care plan and referral, giving a limited number of subsidised sessions each calendar year) or private health extras — check your individual coverage.
This page features local providers including Early Start Australia Toowoomba, Toowoomba Kids Physiotherapy, Intrinsic Allied Health, Therapy Alliance Group (TAG), Healthy Lifestyles Australia, Thrive Wellness, Northcott Toowoomba, Pacific Health & Wellbeing, ClearSky Allied Health Toowoomba and Your Hand Therapy. Ratings and review counts vary, so use them as one signal among several rather than the whole picture.
When comparing clinics, consider:
Take your time, contact two or three clinics, and choose the team that best suits your child and your NDIS plan.
Or read the full paediatric physiotherapy guide, or browse all Toowoomba providers.
You generally don't need a referral to see a physiotherapist privately. However, a referral or care plan is required if you want to access Medicare-subsidised sessions, and it can be helpful for coordinating care with your GP or paediatrician. Some NDIS pathways may also involve reports from other professionals.
As a general guide, private sessions often range from around $190 to $230+ per hour, though fees vary and assessments may be charged separately. The NDIS sets price caps that registered providers must follow. Physiotherapy usually falls under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living. Always confirm fees in writing first.
Ask the clinic directly and check whether they can invoice your plan the way you need. If your child's plan is NDIA-managed you must use a registered provider; self-managed and plan-managed families can generally use registered or non-registered providers. A plan manager can also confirm this for you.
Paediatric physiotherapy supports children from birth through the teenage years. Early intervention is often encouraged for younger children, but there's no age at which it's 'too late' to benefit. If you have concerns about your child's movement, speak with your GP, paediatrician or child health nurse.
All practising physiotherapists in Australia must be registered with AHPRA (the Physiotherapy Board of Australia). Beyond that, ask whether the therapist has specific paediatric experience or postgraduate training, since physiotherapy covers many areas and children have distinct needs.