Group Physiotherapy Interventions
What are Group Physiotherapy Interventions?
Group Physiotherapy sessions delivered by our service, are sessions delivered by a Physiotherapist where each child is working on their own specific goals. It is delivered creatively, in a group setting, with a focus on specific skills.
The structure within the delivery of our Physiotherapy group sessions, makes these very different to mainstream, community based activities – as the children attending require disability specific therapy supports, relating to both their physical needs and other areas of development, which make participation in mainstream groups challenging. Our programs are a Physiotherapy session, delivered in an evidence based model, with the added benefits of:
- being delivered in a peer group situation
- being out of the clinic, in the community
- practicing a fun, age appropriate, skill or task
Explore Our Group Physiotherapy Intervention Programs
Group Physiotherapy programs involve activities that we can modify to cater for children of all abilities while integrating individual goals. All children who engage in our programs require an initial 1:1 Physiotherapy assessment in the clinic, to allow development of individual goals and ensure the group programs will be suitable to achieve these, for your child. Check out our programs below, which include:
Run Club including Frame Running
Led by physiotherapists, our specialised Run Club empowers children with complex physical diagnoses to experience the joy of running with the option of supportive three-wheeled frames. This motivating group program builds cardiovascular fitness, improves mobility, and fosters meaningful social connections with peers.
Swim Club Physiotherapy Group
Swim Club is a 10-week specialised small-group program led by expert physiotherapists for children with additional needs requiring extra support. We teach vital swimming skills, water safety, and stroke correction with 1:1 assistance, helping children build confidence and fitness to eventually transition into mainstream learn-to-swim programs.
Theraplay Physiotherapy Group (Early Intervention Playgroup)
Led by specialist physiotherapists, our Theraplay Group is an evidence-based, play-focused program designed for families navigating developmental or early intervention pathways. Through active caregiver participation and joyful, nurturing activities, we help children improve emotional regulation, build confidence, and strengthen vital family bonds.
Flex and Flow Physiotherapy Group
Flex and Flow is a group physiotherapy program for adolescents and teenagers building independence in exercise. In a supportive, gym-like environment, participants improve strength, balance, and confidence. This program helps young people develop essential skills for long-term health management while connecting and socialising with peers in a fun setting.
Wheelchair Warriors Physiotherapy Group
Our Wheelchair Warriors program is a specialised outdoor group therapy class designed to empower children with complex physical disabilities who use wheelchairs and rely on assistance with mobility or are just learning to maneuverer their powered wheelchairs.
Junior Move and Groove Physiotherapy Group
Junior Groove & Move is a small group-based therapy program for pre-prep to primary-aged children, utilising music and dance to build physical literacy, gross motor skills, and social confidence to develop the foundational skills needed for mainstream physical activities.
Park Run Physiotherapy Group
A physiotherapist-led outdoor program for children in pre-prep through to early high school. Through engaging group games and structured physical activities, participants build fundamental movement skills, improve physical literacy, and develop confidence to transition into mainstream community sports groups.
Group Intensive Therapy
Group Intensive Therapy offers high-frequency, evidence-based support in community settings, focusing on individual goals through fun, peer-led activities. Ideal for children motivated by social environments, this program builds essential skills like communication and regulation while providing an engaging, context-specific approach to reaching therapy milestones.
Who is Group Physiotherapy for?
Group Physiotherapy sessions are a great option for children who enjoy learning and practice of therapy activities, through play, movement, and being around other children. Many children feel more motivated and engaged when therapy is delivered in a fun, social environment. Being part of a group can make practising skills more enjoyable and meaningful, while still working towards important therapy goals. This makes the practice of structured therapy and skills we build into these groups successful, fun and translatable to other daily settings.
Children attending have their own individual therapy goals to focus on during the activities and your regular Physiotherapist can help to guide towards programs we deliver that will meet these goals. Your Physiotherapist will also complete a referral to these programs, which outline the goals, skills to work on within groups and how this will be reviewed over time.
Each child in the group has their own individual goals. Your child’s Physiotherapist will help guide you toward the most suitable group program and will provide a referral that outlines:
- Your child’s goals
- The skills they will work on in the group
- How progress will be reviewed over time
Group sessions are carefully designed to support not just physical skills, but also skills that allow us to then use physical activity, meaningfully when attempting this in real life. This is often a gap for children we support and requires structured, explicit teaching. These skills may include:
- Following routines and instructions
- Taking turns and sharing
- Communicating with others
- Building confidence and managing emotions
- Socialising with peers
While children may develop strong physical skills in one-on-one therapy, it can sometimes be challenging to use these skills in real-life situations—like at school, on the playground, or during community activities.
Our group programs are designed to help bridge this gap. They provide a supportive environment where children can practise their skills in more realistic, social settings—helping them build confidence and participate more fully in everyday activities.
Are Group Physiotherapy Interventions Evidence Based?
Yes—when designed well, group physiotherapy programs can be a valuable and effective way to support your child.
Our group programs are built around current, evidence-based approaches that focus on helping children practise meaningful skills in fun, engaging ways. We aim to support children to develop their abilities through activities that feel relevant to everyday life—helping translate therapy into real-world outcomes.
A large, high-quality review by Iona Novak and colleagues (2020) looked at many studies on physiotherapy for children with Cerebral Palsy. This review found strong evidence for approaches that focus on helping children actively practise skills in meaningful, everyday ways.
These include:
- Strength training
- Task-specific training (practising real-life skills)
- Goal-directed therapy (working towards goals that matter to your child and family)
- Physical activity and sport-based programs
These approaches are shown to support improvements in movement, independence, and participation in daily activities.
Our group programs are designed using these evidence based principles. They are:
- Task-focused and goal-directed
- Structured and guided by Physiotherapists
- Developmentally appropriate, using play-based and engaging activities
- Social and motivating, giving children opportunities to learn alongside peers
Group settings can also provide additional benefits, such as building confidence, encouraging participation, and making therapy enjoyable. Every child is different, so your Physiotherapist will always consider whether a group program is the right fit for your child’s needs and goals.
Group Physiotherapy: Evidence Summary for Families and Funding Bodies
Our Commitment to Evidence-Based Care
Our physiotherapy services are guided by current research, clinical expertise, and the goals that matter most to each child and family.
This approach aligns with the NDIS, which focuses on building functional skills, independence, and participation in everyday life.
We are committed to using interventions that are supported by high-quality evidence and designed to improve real-world outcomes for children.
Australian Research Supporting Participation-Focused Therapy
A significant body of Australian research, led by Dr Sarah Reedman and colleagues at the Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, supports participation-focused physiotherapy approaches.
Dr Reedman’s research includes the ParticiPAte CP program, a physiotherapy and behaviour-change intervention designed to increase physical activity and participation in children with cerebral palsy. Her research shows that therapy designed around meaningful physical activity goals can:
- Improve children’s ability to achieve physical activity goals
- Increase engagement in leisure-time physical activity
- Support habitual physical activity (daily movement levels)
- Improve meaningful participation in everyday life
This research highlights that therapy is most effective when it supports real-world participation, not just isolated physical skills.
Reedman et al. (2019) found that a participation-focused therapy program significantly improved children’s performance in physical activity goals and supported increased activity levels in daily life.
Evidence Supporting Group Physiotherapy and Sport-Based Programs
Group physiotherapy programs are supported by research showing benefits in movement, participation, and engagement when therapy is delivered in motivating, real-world contexts.
A key example is the Australian-developed Sports Stars program:
Sports Stars Program
Georgina Clutterbuck and colleagues evaluated a physiotherapist-led, peer-group sports intervention for children with cerebral palsy.
Research findings showed that children who participated in the program:
- Improved sport-related movement skills (e.g. running, jumping, throwing)
- Increased participation in physical activity and sport
- Developed greater confidence and engagement
The program also highlighted the value of peer interaction, enjoyment, and real-world practice in supporting participation outcomes.
How This Supports Our Group Physiotherapy Models
Research from both international and Australian studies supports the key ingredients used in our group programs:
- Task-specific practice (practising real-life skills)
- Goal-directed therapy (working towards meaningful outcomes)
- Physical activity and sport participation
- Motivation and behaviour-change strategies
Group physiotherapy is one way to deliver these principles in a setting that is:
- Social and engaging
- High in repetition and practice opportunities
- Motivating through peer interaction
- Closely linked to real-world participation
Tailored to Each Child
Every child’s therapy program is individualised.
Your Physiotherapist will:
- Work with you to set meaningful, NDIS-aligned goals
- Recommend appropriate group or individual therapy
- Monitor progress over time
- Adjust therapy based on your child’s needs and development
We ensure all therapy is clinically appropriate, goal-focused, and evidence-based.
What Does Research Tell Us?
A large and highly regarded body of research led by Iona Novak and colleagues (2020) shows that children with Cerebral Palsy benefit most from therapy that is:
- Goal-directed and meaningful
- Focused on real-life activities
- Based on active practice and repetition
- Designed to support participation in daily life
These principles underpin modern, evidence-based paediatric physiotherapy practice.
Research Supporting Physical Activity and Participation
Dr Reedman’s broader research program also highlights that children with cerebral palsy benefit from interventions that:
- Reduce sedentary behaviour
- Increase opportunities for physical activity
- Focus on meaningful participation in sport, play, and recreation
For example, the Active Start Active Future study explores ways to help young children with cerebral palsy become more active through structured, behaviour-change informed physiotherapy interventions.
Her work consistently shows that physical activity is not just about fitness, but about supporting participation in everyday life.
Evidence for Goal-Directed and Skill-Based Therapy
CO-OP Approach
The Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) approach has strong evidence for improving functional outcomes in children.
Michelle Jackman and colleagues (2018) demonstrated that CO-OP helps children:
- Achieve meaningful, self-selected goals
- Develop problem-solving strategies
- Improve independence in everyday tasks
This approach is widely used in paediatric rehabilitation and aligns strongly with goal-directed therapy principles used in both individual and group sessions.
Participation Matters: The Bigger Picture
We also use the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health to guide our approach.
This framework highlights that health is not just about physical ability, but also:
- What a child can do (activity)
- How they participate in daily life (participation)
- How they engage at home, school, and in the community
This aligns closely with NDIS goals around functional capacity building and community participation.
Key References
- Novak, I., et al. (2020). Evidence-based physiotherapy for children with cerebral palsy.
- Reedman, S. E., et al. (2019). Efficacy of participation-focused therapy in children with cerebral palsy. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
- Reedman, S. E., et al. (2025). Active Start Active Future: behaviour-change intervention to promote physical activity. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics.
- Reedman, S. E., et al. (2017). ParticiPAte CP trial protocol. BMJ Open.
- Clutterbuck, G. L., Auld, M. L., & Johnston, L. M. (2022). Sports Stars group sports intervention trial.
- Jackman, M., et al. (2018). CO-OP approach in paediatric rehabilitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Assistive Technology used in Group Physiotherapy?
A: Yes, using equipment or AT is highly encouraged as it increases independence, fun, and the opportunity for practice with purpose, leading to higher outcomes.
Evidence tells us that using AT to ‘learn to move’ not only contributes to motor outcomes but also promotes earlier engagement in play and cognition – all children learn by moving in their environment – so it doesn’t really matter how we move, but the earlier and more often the better! AT helps achieve this.
There is no evidence to suggest that using AT makes our children reliant or not develop other motor skills – so practice with and without AT is the key!
Q: Should my child join a Group Physiotherapy program or a group physical activity program, available in the community?
A: Where possible, we encourage children to take part in community-based programs such as local sports, recreation, or physical activity groups. These settings provide great opportunities for inclusion, friendship, and using skills in everyday environments. If your child is ready for this, we can help support the transition. This may include working with you and your child to:
- Identify suitable community programs
- Support initial participation (including attending alongside your child if helpful)
- Problem-solve any barriers to inclusion
Being successful in a community program is a wonderful outcome and reflects strong progress in therapy goals.
Our Group Physiotherapy programs are designed for children who may need:
- More structured support to build foundational skills with a therapy approach
- A smaller, more supported environment to practise movement and participation skills
- Gradual preparation before joining or alongside community programs
These sessions help children build confidence, skills, and readiness to take part in community-based activities over time.
Working together towards inclusion
We are committed to supporting inclusion wherever possible and actively look for ways to connect therapy goals with real-world opportunities. We also welcome collaboration with community organisations to help create more accessible and inclusive options for children. Your child’s Physiotherapist can help you decide what is the most appropriate next step based on your child’s current skills and goals. If you are interested in exploring community programs, please speak with your Physiotherapist—we’re here to support that journey.
How to join a Physiotherapy Group Program
- Call us on 0422 229 971 or fill in the enquiry form below.
- Our team will arrange an initial clinic meeting to ensure the program is right for your child.
- We’ll book your first session and welcome your child to the group
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Suite 1/66 Jessica Boulevard
MINYAMA QLD 4575
(In shared rooms with Orthotic Solutions)
Open Hours
Monday 9am – 5pm
Tuesday 9am – 5pm
Wednesday 8am – 5pm
Thursday 8am – 5pm
Friday 8am – 12noon