Change 8: Changes to Art Therapy and Music Therapy Funding

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On November 26, 2024, the NDIS announced major changes to music and art therapy funding, raising concerns among participants, therapists, and service providers about access to these supports. An Operational Guideline update was scheduled for release on December 2, 2024, but as of December 3, 2024, this update had not yet been released. Following strong feedback from the disability community, the NDIA has now agreed to review its approach.

Proposed Key Changes from the Statement

Read the official NDIS statement here

1. Reclassification of Art and Music Therapy

Art and music therapy are no longer classified as therapeutic supports.
Instead, they will be funded under the “Participation in Community, Social, and Civic Activities” category.

This change aligns with the NDIA’s goal of improving NDIS resource allocation by focusing on therapies with strong evidence of effectiveness.

2. Reduced Funding Rates

The hourly rate for these services is dropping from $193.99 to $67.56 per hour.

1. One-to-one sessions.

Rate: $67.56 per hour
Requirement: Must be delivered by a registered provider.

2. Group sessions.

Rate: $193.99 per hour (cost shared among participants)
Requirement: Must be delivered to at least four participants by a registered therapy provider
Benefit: Encourages community inclusion and social participation

Why Has the NDIA Made This Decision?

The NDIA says these changes are part of a broader effort to ensure NDIS funding is allocated to evidence-based therapies that improve participants’ functional capacity. A recent review by the NDIA found that there is limited evidence that art and music therapy improve functional outcomes for most people with disabilities

For more information, please visit: (NDIS Pricing Review)

How Will This Effect Participants?

Music and art therapy will still be available, but the funding model is changing.
If you rely on these therapies, your funding may be reduced unless you qualify for an exception.
Group sessions may become more common as therapists adjust to the new pricing model.
If art or music therapy is a stated support in your plan, you may still be eligible for the higher rate.

Latest Update: Independent Review of Pricing (December 13, 2024)

The NDIA has commissioned an independent review of pricing for music and art therapy to ensure funding decisions align with available evidence. The NDIA has appointed an independent expert to review the pricing and evidence behind these changes. The review is expected to be completed before July 2025

What Will the Review Assess?

The effectiveness of music and art therapy for people with disabilities.
Qualifications and registration requirements for therapy providers.
Appropriate pricing for music and art therapy under the NDIS.

What Does This Mean for Participants?

The NDIA has delayed the release of operational guidelines for therapy supports until 2025.
No changes will take effect until the review is complete and the findings are considered.
Music and art practice associations have been invited to submit peer-reviewed evidence supporting the effectiveness of these therapies.

This review will determine whether music and art therapy should continue as a NDIS-funded support at current pricing levels or be subject to further changes.

For further information, please visit: (NDIS Official Announcement)

Results of the review

The NDIA has today released the report produced by economist Dr. Stephen Duckett, which clearly illustrates that both music and art therapy are evidence-based services that should remain available to people living with disability. Specifically, Dr. Duckett has mentioned “It is clear that art and music therapies can be effective and even life-changing for some people with disability”. It seems that this means that both music and art therapy are here to stay (thankfully!). This would be welcome news to the almost 15,000 NDIS participants that accesses music and/or art therapy through the NDIS in the 23-24 year.

However, Dr. Duckett has reported that the price for music and art therapy are both “too high” and has suggested an adjustment to the maximum hourly billing rate from $193.99 to $156.16. The Duckett report has formally made 19 recommendations, 15 of which are to the NDIA. The NDIA has accepted these recommendations and indicated that the new therapy price cap for art and music therapy will be effective from the 24th of November 2025.

If you have concerns about these changes, you can provide feedback to the NDIA or seek advice from your service provider.

For further updates, visit the NDIS website: NDIS News on Music & Art Therapy

Want to know more? Contact Us.

REFERENCES:

(a) – Important update: NDIA announces review of music and art therapy funding. | Leap in! (2025, January 10).Leap In! https://www.leapin.com.au/news/changes-to-music-art-therapy-funding/

(b) – Independent review of NDIS funded music and art supports | NDIS. (2024, December 13). Ndis.gov.au. https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/10530-independent-review-ndis-funded-music-and-art-supports

(c) – Making pricing decisions | NDIS. (2025). Ndis.gov.au. https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/pricing-arrangements/making-pricing-decisions#independent-review-of-ndis-funded-music-and-art-supports-terms-of-reference

(d) – Statement – NDIS funded music and art therapy | NDIS. (2024, November 26). Ndis.gov.au. https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/10522-statement-ndis-funded-music-and-art-therapy

Amanda Semaan – Co-Founder & Accredited Exercise Physiologist

Amanda Semaan is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and Co-Director of Active Ability, which she co-founded alongside Kara Foscholo in 2014. She earned her Master of Exercise Physiology degree at the University of Sydney and has over a decade of experience helping people with disability maximise their health outcomes.

Amanda specialises in exercise interventions for individuals with disabilities and complex mental health conditions. She has extensive experience in both hospital and community settings, where she has helped clients use exercise to manage issues such as depression, anxiety, low motivation, and fatigue. Her passion for this field is evident in her educational efforts; Amanda delivered a lecture series on exercise for mental health to exercise physiology students at the University of Sydney and co-authored a published consensus statement outlining the role of exercise physiologists in mental health treatment.

This commitment to merging academic insight with practical care underscores her authority in the area of mental health and exercise. In addition to her clinical work, Amanda is an Associate Lecturer at the University of Sydney, where she contributes to training the next generation of allied health professionals in disability and mental health practice. She is also a proactive industry leader; Amanda co-founded the Exercise Physiology NDIS Network to promote higher standards and best practices for exercise physiology services within the NDIS community.

Her contributions to the profession extend to developing resources and guidelines for others – for example, she collaborated on an educational resource to teach health science students about ethics in professional practice, published in a peer-reviewed journal in 2019. Amanda regularly presents at national conferences and writes for industry publications, sharing insights from Active Ability’s work and her research. With her approachable demeanour and deep expertise, Amanda exemplifies the values of Active Ability.

She is dedicated to evidence-based practice and continually strives to improve service quality across NDIS-registered physiotherapy, exercise physiology, dietetics, and occupational therapy. Her leadership remains firmly focused on empowering people with disability, ensuring they receive empathetic, effective support to achieve better health, greater independence, and an improved quality of life.

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