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NDIS Podiatry Providers

NDIS podiatry providers offer foot, ankle and lower limb care that may be funded through your National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plan when it meets the funding criteria and relates to your disability. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) calls this podiatry and foot care supports and treats it as a disability-related health support. It can cover podiatry assessment, a podiatry care plan, routine foot care and orthoses, where the need relates to your disability.

This page explains what NDIS podiatry covers, how it is funded and how to find a provider. It also covers what the health system funds instead.

Ready to explore options? Tell us what matters to you, and we can find podiatry providers with current availability.

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What Is NDIS Podiatry?

Podiatry is the assessment and treatment of the feet, ankles and lower limbs. A podiatrist can assess how you walk, care for your skin and nails, and recommend equipment that helps you move.

The NDIA funds podiatry as a disability-related health support. That means funding is available where the need comes from your disability and affects your day-to-day activities.

Podiatry sits alongside other allied health services in the NDIS. It can help you manage disability-related foot care needs, as well as improve or maintain your mobility and everyday skills.

Podiatrists must hold current registration with the Podiatry Board of Australia through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

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Who Can Get NDIS Podiatry Support?

Funding depends on your individual circumstances, not your diagnosis. The NDIA looks at whether the support relates to your disability and helps you do everyday things.

You may choose podiatry if you want support to:

  • Move comfortably and safely on your feet
  • Keep taking part in school, work or community activities
  • Manage foot care your disability makes difficult to do on your own
  • Get orthoses or medical grade footwear assessed and recommended
  • Protect skin and nail health where sensation in your feet is reduced
  • Build a foot care routine that you or a support worker can follow

You will need evidence from a podiatrist or another qualified professional. The NDIA uses that evidence to decide whether the support meets the NDIS funding criteria.

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What Does NDIS Podiatry Look Like?

NDIS podiatry is practical and focused on helping you look after your feet and keep doing everyday activities. Depending on your disability-related needs and plan, support may include:

  • An initial consultation and assessment by a podiatrist
  • Development of a podiatry care plan
  • Foot care such as toenail cutting or callus removal
  • Regular reassessment while your care plan is running
  • A detailed assessment at the end of your care plan
  • Orthoses, custom orthoses and medical grade footwear
  • Maintenance and repair of podiatry-related assistive technology

Your podiatry care plan explains how to look after your feet between appointments, including what you or someone supporting you can do. Some providers offer clinic appointments and others visit you at home, so ask what is available when you compare options.

How Is NDIS Podiatry Funded?

Where the funding sits depends on the support you need. Podiatry-related supports may come from three parts of your plan.

Your plan management type affects who you can book. If your funding is NDIA-managed, you need a registered NDIS provider. If your plan is self-managed or plan-managed, you can usually choose a registered or unregistered provider.

The NDIA sets maximum prices for podiatry services when your funding is NDIA-managed or plan-managed. If you self-manage, you can negotiate prices directly with your provider. Current price limits are published in the NDIS Pricing Schedule .

What NDIS Podiatry Doesn't Cover

The NDIS works alongside the health system rather than replacing it. Some foot care sits with Medicare or your state health service instead.

  • Foot care that relates to a health condition rather than your disability
  • Specialised footwear to treat an injury, such as a broken toe
  • Everyday shoes, which the NDIA treats as a standard living cost
  • A particular brand, model or design you prefer for reasons unrelated to your disability
  • Toenail cutting and callus removal by a support worker, which a podiatrist does instead

Talk to your doctor first if you are unsure which system applies. You can keep using Medicare-funded services while you are an NDIS participant. If you are eligible, your doctor can refer you for podiatry through a GP chronic condition management plan.

How Does NDIS Podiatry Work for Children?

Around half of NDIS participants are children, and the same funding test applies. The support must relate to the child's disability and help with everyday activities.

Growth changes the picture for orthoses and footwear. The NDIA weighs value for money, including how often items need replacing and whether a comparable option achieves the same result at lower cost.

Useful evidence usually includes a podiatry report, results from any trial of orthoses, and a recommendation on footwear options. For children under 9, podiatry may be part of the NDIS early childhood approach.

How Care Decisions Helps You Find NDIS Podiatry Providers

Care Decisions is a free, independent service that helps you find NDIS podiatry providers with current availability.

We are not a support coordinator, and we are not the NDIA. We do not make funding decisions, and we do not run a directory you have to search yourself.

We listen to your goals, location, plan management type and what you are looking for. Then we send you matched provider options you can consider in your own time.

Providers pay us when we refer. You pay nothing, and there is no obligation to choose anyone on your list.

How It Works

Care Decisions is free for participants, families and carers. Providers pay us at the point of referral. Here is what happens.

Step 1

Step 1

Tell Us What You Need

Share your goals, support needs, location and preferences with a trained NDIS matching specialist. This usually takes about 20 minutes by phone.

Step 2

Step 2

Get Your Podiatry Options Report

We send you an Options Report listing podiatry providers who are available and matched to your location, plan management type and support needs.

Step 3

Step 3

Choose In Your Own Time

Providers on your list will be in touch. Compare their pricing and service options, then decide what suits you. The choice stays with you.

Common Questions About NDIS Podiatry

Do I need an NDIS registered podiatrist?

There are two separate registrations, and it helps to know which one people mean. Podiatrists must be registered with the Podiatry Board of Australia through AHPRA. Separately, providers can register with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. If your funding is NDIA-managed, you need a registered NDIS provider. If your plan is self-managed or plan-managed, you can usually choose either.

It can. The NDIA funds podiatry and foot care supports where they relate to your disability and help you with day-to-day activities. Foot care that relates to a health condition is funded through the health system instead.

Yes, for some tasks. A support worker may help you use foot supports or complete foot exercises. Toenail cutting and callus removal are not support worker tasks. The NDIA may fund a podiatrist for those instead.

It may, as assistive technology. You will need evidence that the item relates to your disability, is likely to be effective and represents value for money. Everyday shoes are treated as a standard living cost.

Yes. You can keep accessing Medicare-funded health services as an NDIS participant. If you are eligible, your doctor can refer you for podiatry through a GP chronic condition management plan. Just make sure the same appointment is not claimed through both Medicare and the NDIS.

You can ask your support coordinator, local area coordinator or doctor. Care Decisions can also find podiatry providers in your area who have current availability and suit your plan management type.