Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) exercise physiologists have been approved by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission to apply under the Therapeutic Supports registration group.

The inclusion is intended to create more opportunities for NDIS participants to exercise choice and control over the services they receive and ensures greater parity for exercise physiologists alongside other allied health professionals, increasing their scope of service delivery within the scheme.

The advice follows a Price Review in late June, with the ‘Exercise Physiology and Personal Well Being Activities’ registration group expanded to allow supports to be provided in both the ‘Improved Health and Wellbeing’ and ‘Improved Daily Living’ category of participant plans.

ESSA Policy & Practice Innovation manager, Katie Lyndon said policy makers have listened to ESSA in order to provide better support for both NDIS participants and the exercise physiology workforce. “There are multiple physical, mental and social benefits attributed to exercise interventions and this policy change will ultimately help improve the quality of life of Australians living with a disability,” she said.

Exercise physiologists working in the NDIS space have been advised that the amendments required to include exercise physiology in the Therapeutic Supports registration group have been made to the NDIS Practice Standards Verification Module – Required documentation. The updated document is now available on the NDIS Commission’s website. However, there may be some delays with the application process whilst the NDIS Commission and NDIA system enhancements are finalised.

ESSA will now focus its disability advocacy efforts on responding to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, now submissions are being accepted. The organisation will draw on its current disability policy platform, Active Nation to advocate for increased opportunities for people living with disability to access the same physical, mental and social benefits associated with participating in sport and physical activity, as those without a disability.

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