The Case Worker’s Guide to Choosing Mobile Allied Health Providers

7 August 2025
|In Allied Health
|By TRSadmin

In Home Physiotherapy

Case workers and support coordinators play one of the most important roles in the NDIS ecosystem: connecting participants with providers who will genuinely improve their quality of life. The stakes are high — choosing the right allied health partner can mean the difference between a participant thriving in their daily life or struggling to reach their goals.

Mobile allied health has grown rapidly in recent years, offering services like physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics, and podiatry directly in the participant’s home or community setting. But with so many providers now offering mobile services, how can case workers ensure they’re making the best choice?

This guide unpacks exactly what to look for, red flags to avoid, and why working with a truly multidisciplinary mobile provider can simplify your role and maximise participant outcomes.

Why Choice of Provider Matters in the NDIS

Every participant has unique goals, funding constraints, and environmental factors. The provider you connect them with doesn’t just deliver therapy sessions — they become a partner in the participant’s journey toward independence.

The wrong choice can result in:

  • Wasted funding due to poor outcomes

  • Increased stress for families and carers

  • Case workers left chasing reports or trying to resolve scheduling breakdowns

The right choice means:

  • Therapy embedded in daily life

  • Clear, timely communication with you as the case worker

  • Tangible progress toward NDIS goals

Why Mobile Allied Health?

Traditional clinic-based therapy works for some participants, but it also introduces challenges:

  • Travel costs and fatigue

  • Limited ability to practise skills in natural environments

  • Missed appointments due to accessibility barriers

Mobile therapy eliminates these roadblocks. Therapists assess participants where they live, learn, and socialise. That means recommendations are grounded in reality — whether it’s an OT adjusting a bathroom layout, or a dietitian reviewing what’s actually in the fridge.

Hallmarks of a Reliable Mobile Provider

Not all mobile allied health providers are created equal. As a case worker, here’s what to prioritise:

  • NDIS Registration & Compliance: Confirm the provider is an approved NDIS-registered organisation with compliance processes in place.

  • Multidisciplinary Teams: Look for providers who can deliver physio, OT, dietetics, and podiatry under one roof. This ensures consistency across reports and participant progress.

  • Participant-Centred Approach: Does the provider tailor therapy to participant goals rather than a one-size-fits-all program?

  • Communication & Reporting: Expect clear, timely updates — both formal (progress reports) and informal (quick updates to keep you in the loop).

  • Reliability: Providers should demonstrate dependable scheduling and continuity of care.

Red Flags to Avoid

  • Providers who cannot explain how their services map to specific NDIS line items

  • Delayed or incomplete progress reports

  • High staff turnover leading to frequent therapist changes

  • Limited services, forcing families to juggle multiple providers

Practical Checklist for Case Workers

When assessing providers, ask:

  • Are they NDIS registered?

  • Do they have multiple allied health disciplines in-house?

  • Can they demonstrate outcomes with examples?

  • How do they communicate progress to case workers?

  • Do they provide therapy in the participant’s natural environment?

Case workers deserve trusted partners, not headaches. Choosing a provider like Team Rehab Solutions means you can feel confident participants are receiving gold-standard therapy at home, while you stay supported with consistent communication and reporting.

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