Experience, goal attainment and outcomes of physiotherapy participants funded by an individualised government package

This thesis explores experience, goal attainment and physical outcomes of individuals participating in a community Physiotherapy program funded by a new government funding package, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). It builds on the small but growing evidence base of participant, carer and service provider experience with the NDIS while also adding to evidence on goal attainment. To date, evidence has demonstrated overall satisfaction with the NDIS with concurrent reports of negative experiences at a participant, carer and service provider level. Evidence regarding goals and goal attainment within hospital-based rehabilitation demonstrates person-centered goal setting is rarely used, despite measures of goal attainment displaying positive changes not captured in concurrently measured standardised outcomes. However, no known study has investigated goal attainment and outcomes in individuals accessing a community Physiotherapy program funded by the NDIS. Therefore, a cross-sectional survey and consecutive case series were conducted, exploring outcomes in 23 adults from April 2019 to November 2019. NDIS funding enabled all participants to access more frequent or otherwise inaccessible Physiotherapy. Most participants were satisfied with the NDIS however, three main negative themes arose. They were, time lag with administration and receiving supports, inadequate funding for desired therapies and limited understanding of the NDIS and participant disability. Goals were attained; however, this was not reflected in concurrently measured outcomes. Changes in outcome measures differed between individuals. These findings suggest that individuals are benefiting from NDIS funded Physiotherapy services, however they experience issues with the NDIS. Future research is recommended to further explore the impact of the NDIS on physical outcomes of individuals accessing community-based Physiotherapy programs and investigate experience in accessing the NDIS to guide improvements of the scheme.