Staying active is a great way to maintain both physical and mental wellbeing, and for many, participating in regular sporting activities can be a vital part of a healthy lifestyle. The NDIS recognises that prioritising health and wellness can have a positive impact on participants and their disabilities, but will they fund your gym membership or exercise equipment?

Discover how the NDIS funds activities related to fitness and social participation, what you can expect in terms of gym membership funding, and the steps you can take to ensure your Plan aligns with your health and wellness goals.

Will the NDIS fund your gym membership?

The NDIS recognises that incorporating physical activity into daily life can provide a range of benefits, particularly when the activity is tailored to the specific needs of people with disabilities. However, the NDIS will not cover gym memberships as they are considered a day-to-day living cost and not disability-specific.

• Day-to-day living cost. Gym memberships are a common expense that individuals are expected to cover themselves, regardless of ability.
• Not Disability-Specific. The NDIS funds supports that are directly related to a participant’s disability-related needs. Since gym memberships are viewed as an expense that anyone can take on, regardless of ability, they typically don’t meet the Reasonable and Necessary criteria.

However, there may be exceptions in some cases. If you can demonstrate that a gym membership is essential for your disability-related needs or that it directly supports your stated Plan goals, such as improving mobility, strength, or mental health, you may have a chance of receiving funding.

This will require you to submit a request to the NDIS for approval by a Planner. During this process, they may ask for supporting information that states how the gym membership contributes to your specific goals.

So what funding can you receive as an NDIS participant?

Can the NDIS fund sporting activities or equipment?

As an NDIS participant, you may be eligible to receive funding for sporting activities and equipment, as long as they align with your stated goals in your Plan and meet the Reasonable and Necessary criteria.

If one of your goals is to improve your fitness by going to a gym or playing sport, the NDIS may fund a disability-related support or assistive technology to help you to do these activities, but not the gym membership itself.

You may also be eligible for additional funding related to your fitness goals, such as:

• transport to and from the gym, if your family or the community can’t provide it and you aren’t able to use public transport independently
• funding for a support worker to help you to use the related gym equipment.

How are these supports funded?

Funding for physical activities and assistive technology related to exercise can potentially be drawn from one of three budget categories.

Within Capacity Building, you may be able to claim from the Increased Health and Wellbeing or Increased Social and Community Participation categories, or from the Assistance with Social and Community Participation from your Core Budget.

1. Increased Health and Wellness. This category can cover expenses related to personal training and exercise physiology. If you need support to engage in fitness activities that are essential to your health and wellbeing, this may be an option.
2. Increased Social and Community Participation. If your fitness goals also aim to increase your independence or social engagement, this budget can fund activities like fitness classes, coaching, and group exercise sessions.
3. Assistance with Social and Community Participation. This category provides funding for supports that help you participate in community activities, including sporting events and fitness classes, often with the assistance of a support worker.

Does the NDIS fund personal trainers?

While the NDIS may not fund gym membership fees, you may be able to claim funding for personal trainers and other support workers to assist you in the gym environment in order to safely achieve your health and fitness goals. Speak with your planner about having health and wellbeing funding included in your Plan to assist with this.

Exercise equipment funding on the NDIS

In some cases, you might require specialised exercise equipment or technology as part of your physical activity. The NDIS may fund certain types of equipment through two categories:

1. Consumables. This covers the cost of low cost, basic equipment and any necessary adaptations to make it suitable for your disability. The NDIS will not typically fund standard off-the-shelf items but may cover modifications that address specific needs. You should speak with your support team and plan management provider before making any purchases to prevent being out of pocket.
2. Assistive Technology (AT). For more specialised equipment, the AT budget may be used. This could include equipment such as adapted gym machines or mobility aids. Keep in mind, funding for AT often requires recommendations from a service provider or an occupational therapist assessment, and must be included in your Plan, so it’s best to speak with your support network before purchasing new equipment.

Are you eligible for gym equipment funding in your NDIS Plan?

Before seeking funding for gym equipment or other fitness-related expenses, it’s important to check whether your NDIS Plan includes the appropriate budget categories. Speak with your NDIS planner or support coordinator if you are unsure what your Plan includes, or contact the team at Orange to discuss your Plan’s inclusions. If the relevant funding is not included, you can always request a review of your Plan for consideration of specific funding.