Do I need a referral for iCare physio?

Yes. iCare physiotherapy typically requires a referral from your GP, insurer, or case manager. Once referred, you can contact Broad-Ability Therapy directly to arrange your first appointment.

Is iCare physiotherapy different from NDIS?

Yes. iCare covers workers compensation and motor vehicle accident injuries, with a focus on return-to-work and return-to-function goals. NDIS supports people with permanent disability, with a focus on functional goals and daily living. Both receive the same quality of clinical care at Broad-Ability Therapy.

Where do you provide iCare services?

Broad-Ability Therapy provides mobile iCare physiotherapy services across Newcastle, the Hunter Valley, and the Central Coast. Therapy is delivered in your home, workplace, or community setting.

Do you come to Warners Bay?

Yes — Broad-Ability Therapy is based in Warners Bay. We also provide mobile physiotherapy services across Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Maitland, Cessnock, and the Central Coast.

What NDIS plan types do you accept?

Broad-Ability Therapy accepts all three NDIS plan management types: self-managed, plan-managed, and agency-managed.

What conditions do you treat?

Broad-Ability Therapy treats a range of conditions including neurological conditions (stroke, acquired brain injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease), musculoskeletal conditions, chronic pain, mobility and balance disorders, post-surgical rehabilitation, and developmental conditions.

How do I get started with NDIS physiotherapy?

You can get started by submitting a referral through our website or having your support coordinator contact us directly. We'll arrange an initial assessment at a time and location that works for you.

Can you write NDIS reports?

Yes. Broad-Ability Therapy provides detailed reports for NDIS plan reviews, assistive technology assessments, changes in circumstance, and manual handling recommendations.

Information & Resources — Broad-Ability Therapy

iCare Services

iCare Physiotherapy in the Hunter — What to Know

What is iCare?

Insurance and Care NSW (iCare) is the state organisation that manages workers compensation insurance, motor accident injury support, and other insurance schemes across New South Wales. If you have been injured at work or in a motor vehicle accident, iCare may fund your rehabilitation and recovery, including physiotherapy.

Broad-Ability as an Emerging iCare Provider

Broad-Ability Therapy is an emerging iCare provider. Mike Broadbent brings 13 years of clinical physiotherapy experience across private practice, sports, musculoskeletal, and disability settings. That depth of clinical experience is now available to iCare participants in the Hunter region.

We are building our iCare caseload alongside our established NDIS services. Participants benefit from the same personalised, mobile approach that drives outcomes across all of our work.

Services Available Under iCare

Workplace Injury Rehab Motor Vehicle Accident Recovery Return-to-Work Programs Functional Capacity Assessments

Our iCare services focus on restoring function, managing pain, and supporting a safe return to work or daily activities. Treatment plans are developed around your specific injury, your workplace demands, and your recovery goals.

How iCare Differs from NDIS

While both schemes fund physiotherapy, the structure and goals differ. iCare is scheme-funded through workers compensation or motor accident insurance, with a focus on return-to-function and workplace outcomes. NDIS is plan-funded through the National Disability Insurance Scheme, with a focus on longer-term functional goals and daily living supports. The reporting requirements differ, but participants receive the same standard of clinical care.

How to Access iCare Physiotherapy

To start iCare physiotherapy with Broad-Ability, you will typically need a referral from your GP, your insurer, or your case manager. Once referred, contact us directly to arrange your first appointment. We provide mobile services across the Hunter region, meeting you where you are most comfortable.

Service Area

Newcastle
Hunter Valley
Central Coast
Lake Macquarie
Maitland
Cessnock

Common Questions About iCare Physio

Do I need a referral for iCare physio?: Yes. iCare physiotherapy typically requires a referral from your GP, insurer, or case manager. Once referred, you can contact us directly to arrange your first appointment.
Is iCare physiotherapy different from NDIS?: Yes. iCare covers workers compensation and motor vehicle accident injuries, with a focus on return-to-work and return-to-function goals. NDIS supports people with permanent disability. Both receive the same quality of clinical care at Broad-Ability.
Where do you provide iCare services?: We provide mobile iCare physiotherapy across Newcastle, the Hunter Valley, and the Central Coast. Therapy is delivered at home, at your workplace, or in a community setting.

Our Story

From Tamworth to Warners Bay

Regional Roots

Mike grew up in Tamworth, NSW. Country town, country values — a straightforward approach to life and to people. That upbringing shaped the way he practises physiotherapy: no fuss, no jargon, just genuine care and honest communication.

Training and Early Career

Mike studied at the University of Sydney, completing a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science followed by a Masters in Physiotherapy. His early career was in elite sport, working as a sports physiotherapist with rugby clubs in Sydney. High-pressure environments where you learn to read bodies quickly and make decisions that matter.

Into Disability and Community Care

Over 13 years, Mike built his experience across private practice, sports physiotherapy, musculoskeletal rehabilitation, and disability services. The shift into disability and community care was not just a career move — it was personal.

Mike's brother suffered a traumatic brain injury. That experience changed everything. It gave Mike an understanding of disability that does not come from textbooks — the long recovery, the daily challenges, the importance of someone who genuinely gets it. It shapes how he approaches every participant.

Warners Bay, 2025

Broad-Ability Therapy opened in 2025, based in Warners Bay on the shore of Lake Macquarie. A family-run practice in the community Mike lives in. The mobile service model means therapy is delivered across the entire Hunter region — in homes, schools, workplaces, and community spaces.

The Name

"Broad ability" — every body has capacity. The name reframes disability as potential, not limitation. It reflects the philosophy behind the practice: finding and building on what each person can do.

What Comes Next

The focus is growth: serving more participants, building connections with allied health professionals across the region, and developing specialised programs for neurological conditions. The goal has not changed — supporting people to achieve their full potential, one participant at a time.

NDIS Physiotherapy

NDIS Physiotherapy in Warners Bay & Lake Macquarie

Based in Warners Bay

Broad-Ability Therapy is based in Warners Bay, on the shore of Lake Macquarie — one of the Hunter's most liveable lakeside communities. Our mobile service means we come to you: in your home, at school, or in a community space. Therapy delivered in your real environment, not a clinic.

What NDIS Physiotherapy Looks Like Here

We are an NDIS Registered Provider (registered until December 2027) under the Therapeutic Supports registration group. All plan types are accepted: self-managed, plan-managed, and agency-managed.

Every participant receives a tailored approach. We assess your current capacity, set meaningful goals with you, and design a program that fits your life. Progress is tracked and reported so your plan reviews reflect real outcomes.

Services Available Locally

Mobile Physiotherapy Functional Assessment Exercise Prescription NDIS Reports Hydrotherapy Assistive Technology

Neurological Specialisation

Mike has a particular focus on neurological conditions: stroke, acquired brain injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. His personal connection to brain injury — through his brother's experience — underpins the way he works with participants facing neurological challenges. It is an area where patience, understanding, and clinical skill converge.

Conditions We Support

Neurological conditions (stroke, ABI, cerebral palsy, MS, Parkinson's)
Musculoskeletal conditions
Chronic pain
Mobility and balance disorders
Post-surgical rehabilitation
Developmental conditions

Service Area

We provide mobile NDIS physiotherapy across:

Lake Macquarie

Warners Bay
Belmont
Charlestown
Toronto
Morisset
Swansea
Cardiff
Speers Point

Wider Region

Newcastle
Maitland
Cessnock
Central Coast

How NDIS Funding Works for Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy typically sits under the "Improved Daily Living" or "Therapeutic Supports" categories in your NDIS plan. Your plan needs to include funding for these categories to access our services.

We work within your funding allocation and track usage transparently. Before each plan review, we provide detailed reports documenting your progress and supporting your case to maintain or increase funding where appropriate.

Common Questions About NDIS Physiotherapy

Do you come to Warners Bay?: Yes — we are based in Warners Bay. We also travel across Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Maitland, Cessnock, and the Central Coast.
What NDIS plan types do you accept?: All three: self-managed, plan-managed, and agency-managed.
What conditions do you treat?: Neurological conditions (stroke, ABI, cerebral palsy, MS, Parkinson's), musculoskeletal conditions, chronic pain, mobility and balance disorders, post-surgical rehabilitation, and developmental conditions.
How do I get started?: Submit a referral through our website or have your support coordinator contact us directly. We will arrange an initial assessment at a time and location that suits you.
Can you write NDIS reports?: Yes. We provide detailed reports for plan reviews, assistive technology assessments, changes in circumstance, and manual handling recommendations.