How to Use NDIS Funding for Music Therapy in Lake Macquarie

If your child or family member has an NDIS plan and you're based in Lake Macquarie, Morisset, Cooranbong or anywhere in the Hunter Valley, music therapy may already be fundable under your current plan, or it can be added at your next plan review. This guide walks you through everything you need to know about accessing music therapy through the NDIS, from line items to what sessions actually look like at Watagan Health Hub.

Is music therapy NDIS funded?

Yes. Music therapy is a funded support under the NDIS under Support Category 15 (Capacity Building, Improved Daily Living). The specific line items are 15_615_0128_1_3 for participants aged 9 and over, and 15_615_0118_1_3 for participants under the age of 9. Watagan Health Hub accepts all three NDIS management types: self-managed, plan-managed and agency-managed participants.

What NDIS goals can music therapy support?

Music therapy is flexible across a wide range of NDIS goals. For children, common goals include improving communication and expressive language, increasing social participation and turn-taking, developing emotional regulation and self-calming strategies, building engagement and attention, and supporting fine and gross motor development. For adults, music therapy commonly supports goals related to mental health and emotional wellbeing, maintaining daily living skills, cognitive engagement, social connection, and physical rehabilitation. For participants with Parkinson's disease, rhythmic auditory stimulation (a specific music therapy technique) has strong evidence for improving gait and motor function.

How to add music therapy to your NDIS plan

If music therapy is not yet in your current plan, you can request it at your next plan review or reassessment. First, speak with your Support Coordinator about adding music therapy under Category 15. They can frame it in the context of your existing goals. Second, contact Watagan Health Hub to request a supporting letter from one of our Registered Music Therapists documenting the clinical rationale, recommended frequency and expected outcomes. Third, at your plan meeting, reference Support Category 15, Improved Daily Living, and present the therapist's letter as supporting evidence.

What does an NDIS music therapy session look like?

The process begins with an initial assessment (typically 60 to 90 minutes) during which your therapist gathers a clinical history, identifies current strengths and challenges, and begins building rapport through music. A written therapy plan is then developed with clear, measurable NDIS-compatible goals. Ongoing sessions are usually 45 to 60 minutes, weekly or fortnightly. Your therapist writes progress notes after each session and provides a formal review report at the frequency specified in your plan, used by your planner or LAC to justify continued funding.

NDIS music therapy in Lake Macquarie at Watagan Health Hub

Watagan Health Hub is at 646 Freemans Drive, Cooranbong, and provides mobile music therapy services across Lake Macquarie, Morisset, Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, including clinic, home, school and aged care facility visits. To get started, visit our music therapy Lake Macquarie page, or book a music therapy session online. For a broader overview of what music therapy involves, read our complete guide on what is music therapy. We also offer a full suite of allied health Cooranbong services launching mid-2026.