All you need to know
Therapy Grants

Helping children access therapy and support services to reach their full potential.

Variety Squiggle Shape - blue star
The Therapy Grant provides financial assistance towards the cost of therapy for children who have a diagnosis or condition and are not eligible for NDIS funding.

Funding is available up to $2,000 over a 12-month period.

You may be eligible if:

• Your child is aged 0–18 years
• Lives in NSW or ACT
• Is medically diagnosed with a condition that requires therapy
• Is not eligible for NDIS funding
• Household income is below $80,000 gross per year
• Has not applied for a Therapy Grant within the last 12 months

What Variety Can Support

Physiotherapy
Supporting movement, strength and physical development.

Occupational Therapy
Helping children develop skills for everyday activities and independence.

Speech Therapy
Supporting communication, language and social interaction.

Hydrotherapy
Water-based therapy to improve movement and physical wellbeing.

Psychology
Supporting emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Exercise Physiology
Improving physical function, fitness and mobility.

Mental Health Social Worker
Providing support for emotional, behavioural and social challenges.

Documents Required To Apply

These documents are usually easy to gather and many families already have them ready.

A medical letter

A letter from your GP, Paediatrician or Specialist that:

• Is dated within the last 3 months
• Confirms your child's diagnosis or condition
• Recommends the requested therapy

Proof of household income

For each employed parent or carer applicants:
• Your most recent payslips; AND/OR
• Centrelink Income Statement (if applicable)

For each unemployed parent or carer applicants:
• Three months of recent bank statements
• Centrelink Income Statement (if applicable)

NDIS Communication

If you have applied for NDIS support, please provide your most recent communication or outcome letter.

Additional Reports

Recent reports from therapists, schools or allied health professionals can help us better understand your child's needs.

How the Application Process Works

Our team carefully and confidentially reviews every application. You will be notified of the outcome within 6–12 weeks. If approved, the grant must be used within 12 months of the approval date.

Application

Fill in the form, include documents, letters and quotes.

Assessment

Our team reviews your application to make sure it meets the guidelines and may request additional Information if required. If eligible, it will be reviewed by our Kids Support Committee then if recommended the application will go to the Variety Board for final approval.

Outcome

Every submitted application will receive written confirmation of the outcome of their application via email.

Successful applicants will be asked to complete a short survey to help Variety measure their impact. This will be emailed to the applicants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants must:

  • reside in NSW or ACT
  • be aged between 0 and 18
  • be medically diagnosed with a condition that requires therapy
  • be ineligible for an NDIS plan.

The applicant’s family household gross income needs to below $80,000 per annum. This income includes child support payments, rental income, investment income or any other income that is received by any parent/carer who is financially responsible for the beneficiary.

Applications for our Therapy Grant can be submitted all year round.

The following attachments must be included as part of the application:

  1. A GP or Paediatrician signed letter on their official letterhead, outlining the child’s diagnosis/condition and the referral to the therapy (i.e. OT, Physio etc.). This document must be dated within 3 months at the time of submission
  1. Household Income – For each parent/carer who is financially responsible for the child, we require a Centrelink Income Statement and/or your most recent payslip showing annual income.

The type of therapy requested must be directly related to the child’s diagnosis and supported by a GP or Paediatrician. Eligible therapy requests include:

  • Physiotherapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Speech Therapy
  • Hydrotherapy
  • Psychology
  • Exercise Physiology

Please note the requested therapy will form the basis of the grant and if successful, cannot be amended after the approval date.

The Therapy Grant provides up to $2,000 over a 12-month period.

Applications can take up to 8 weeks to receive an outcome.

Once submitted, your application will be pre-assessed by the Kids Support Team to make sure it meets criteria and if it is eligible, you may be contacted to discuss your application. If your application is shortlisted, it will then go to the Grants Committee for a final decision.
 

If your grant application is approved, you will receive an outcome letter with full instructions for invoice payments. All payments are uploaded into our payment portal.

Invoices
Provide your chosen supplier with a copy of your outcome letter.

Invoices should include:

  • Addressed to: Variety – the Children’s Charity NSW/ACT
  • Provider’s ABN
  • GST (if not applicable it needs to show this)
  • Provider’s bank details
  • Providers name, address, phone number and email
  • References the child’s name or VAR

Reimbursement
We will require an itemised tax receipt for reimbursements.

Receipts should show:

  • Business name and ABN
  • Date after the grant was approved
  • List items purchased
  • GST (if not applicable it needs to show this)
  • Payment method or showing balance of 0.00

The payment of invoices and reimbursements can take up to 3 weeks.

Outcome letters are emailed to applicants approximately 6 – 8 weeks after their initial submission.

 

 

 

We’re Here to Help

Our team can guide you through the process.

If you are unsure about your eligibility or need help completing the application, please contact us.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Add impact to your inbox
Variety - the Children's Charity logo
Follow Us

NSW Charity Number 13396 
© 2026 Variety NSW/ACT. All rights reserved. 

Registered Charity Logo
Variety - the Childrens Charity logo
So that we can personalise your experience, please visit / select your state.