SEO for Melbourne NDIS & Allied Health

The Melbourne NDIS & Allied Health Market in 2026

The NDIS has fundamentally transformed Australia's disability services sector, and Melbourne sits at the centre of that transformation. Over 145,000 active NDIS participants live in Greater Melbourne, with combined plan funding exceeding $9.8 billion annually. The scheme supports a vast ecosystem of allied health providers — physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, psychologists, exercise physiologists, and behaviour support practitioners — competing for participants in an increasingly crowded marketplace.

The search landscape for NDIS providers is unique because it serves two distinct audiences: participants (and their families) searching for services, and support coordinators and plan managers looking for providers to recommend. Both audiences use Google differently. Participants tend to search by service type and location ("NDIS physio near me," "speech therapy Melbourne"), while coordinators search by specialisation and availability ("NDIS provider autism Melbourne," "occupational therapist NDIS registered"). Your content strategy must address both audiences to maximise referral pathways.

The market is shifting rapidly. NDIS reforms announced in 2024 are tightening provider registration requirements, increasing compliance obligations, and pushing toward outcomes-based funding. Providers who demonstrate measurable outcomes — and communicate those outcomes publicly through their website — will have a significant advantage both in attracting participants and in maintaining their registration under the new framework. Additionally, the NDIA's move toward more self-managed and plan-managed participants (now over 40% of the Melbourne cohort) means more people are actively choosing their own providers rather than being allocated by coordinators. These self-directed participants research extensively online before committing.

Geographic demand varies significantly. Melbourne's western suburbs (Wyndham, Melton, Brimbank) have the fastest-growing NDIS participant populations but the lowest provider density. Providers willing to establish presence — even through mobile or telehealth services — in these underserved areas find a search-to-competition ratio that's extraordinarily favourable. Meanwhile, inner-city and eastern suburbs have more providers than demand, making differentiation through specialist content and strong reviews essential.

Real SEO Examples: Who's Doing It Right (And Wrong)

Let's look at real Melbourne NDIS providers and allied health services and analyse what makes their SEO work — or fail.

Your First 30 Days: Step-by-Step Implementation

Don't try to do everything at once. Here's the priority order that gets results fastest:

Keyword Research: What Your Customers Search

Understanding search intent is crucial. Here are the most valuable keywords for Melbourne NDIS providers and allied health services:

High-Volume Keywords

Keyword	Monthly Volume	Notes
NDIS provider melbourne	880	Primary target keyword
occupational therapy melbourne	720	OT services
speech pathologist melbourne	880	Speech therapy
physiotherapy melbourne	1,900	Physical therapy
NDIS support coordinator melbourne	390	Plan management
psychology melbourne	1,300	Mental health services

Lower Competition Opportunities

Content Strategy: What NDIS Providers Should Publish

NDIS participants and their families face an overwhelming number of provider choices with very little guidance on how to compare them. The providers who rank on Google and convert visitors into clients are the ones who make the decision easier — through clear service descriptions, transparent processes, and visible evidence of expertise. Most NDIS provider websites read like compliance documents. The ones that win read like they were written for actual humans navigating a complex system.

Schema Markup: Ready-to-Use Code

Schema markup helps Google understand your business. Copy and customise this code:

LocalBusiness Schema (Required)

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "MedicalBusiness",
  "name": "Your Business Name",
  "description": "Your description with services and location.",
  "url": "https://yourdomain.com.au",
  "telephone": "+61-3-XXXX-XXXX",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "addressLocality": "Melbourne",
    "addressRegion": "VIC",
    "postalCode": "3000",
    "addressCountry": "AU"
  },
  "hasOfferCatalog": {
    "@type": "OfferCatalog",
    "name": "Services",
    "itemListElement": [
      {"@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": {"@type": "Service", "name": "Occupational Therapy"}},
      {"@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": {"@type": "Service", "name": "Speech Pathology"}},
      {"@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": {"@type": "Service", "name": "Physiotherapy"}},
      {"@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": {"@type": "Service", "name": "Psychology"}},
      {"@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": {"@type": "Service", "name": "Support Coordination"}},
      {"@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": {"@type": "Service", "name": "Behaviour Support"}}
    ]
  },
  "aggregateRating": {"@type": "AggregateRating", "ratingValue": "4.8", "reviewCount": "127"}
}
</script>

12-Month Content Calendar

Consistent content signals to Google that your business is active. Here's what to post each month:

Monthly Content Rhythm

Competitor Analysis Framework

Understanding what competitors do well (and poorly) helps you find opportunities.

NDIS Registration & Compliance as SEO Assets

NDIS provider registration is a rigorous process — and that rigour is your competitive advantage online. Registered providers have passed quality audits, met practice standards, and demonstrated governance capabilities. Unregistered providers (who can still serve self-managed and plan-managed participants) haven't. Communicating your registration status effectively is both a compliance requirement and a powerful SEO differentiator.

Display your NDIS registration number on every page of your website. Link to your listing on the NDIS Provider Register — this outbound link to an authoritative .gov.au domain strengthens your page's trust signals. Create a dedicated "Our Registration & Compliance" page that details which registration groups you're approved for, your last audit outcome, your AHPRA registrations, and any specialist accreditations (e.g., PBSP authorisation for behaviour support practitioners).

For allied health practitioners specifically, AHPRA's advertising guidelines require that your website doesn't make claims you can't substantiate. This aligns well with good SEO practice — Google penalises exaggerated claims, especially in health content. Instead of "we guarantee results," publish specific, evidence-based outcome data: "On average, our participants improve their mobility scores by 35% within 16 sessions." Precise claims backed by data rank better and convert better than vague promises.

Local SEO Playbook: Reaching Participants In Your Area

NDIS participants typically choose providers within a 15–20 kilometre radius for in-person services, though telehealth has expanded catchments significantly for some therapy types. The Google Map Pack is your most visible digital asset — particularly important because many participants or their carers search on mobile devices and engage with the first providers they see on the map.

Your Google Business Profile categories need careful selection. Primary category should be your main discipline — "Physical Therapist," "Occupational Therapist," "Speech Pathologist," or "Psychologist." Add every relevant secondary category: Google allows up to 10, and categories like "Disability Services," "Rehabilitation Center," and "Mental Health Service" each open additional search queries. In the business description, specifically mention "NDIS registered provider" — this phrase appears in thousands of monthly searches.

The Cost of NOT Doing SEO

Every day you're not visible in Google, competitors win jobs that could be yours. Let's do the maths:

Technical SEO Checklist

Technical issues can tank rankings no matter how good your content is:

Google Business Profile Checklist

Your GBP is often the first thing customers see. Make it count:

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I access NDIS-funded therapy?

You need an NDIS plan with therapy funding. Contact providers directly - most will check your plan and explain what's covered. You can choose any registered or non-registered provider.

What's the difference between registered and non-registered providers?

Registered providers can work with agency-managed participants. Non-registered can only work with self/plan-managed. Registration means quality audits but doesn't guarantee better service.

How much do NDIS therapy sessions cost?

NDIS sets price limits: OT/physio/speech ~$193/hour, psychology ~$214/hour. Providers can charge up to these limits. Some charge less. Travel and reports may be extra.

Can I choose my own therapist?

Yes. You have choice and control over your providers. You can change providers anytime if you're not happy. Try a few to find the right fit.

How do I know if therapy is working?

Good therapists set clear goals and track progress. You should see measurable improvements over time. Regular reviews (usually 3-6 monthly) assess whether to continue or change approach.

How long does SEO take for NDIS providers?

Expect enquiry increases in 4-6 months, significant growth in 8-12 months. NDIS is growing - getting visible now builds long-term referrals.