What Making Strides does

Making Strides is an Australian private rehabilitation provider headquartered in Burleigh Heads, Queensland, specialising exclusively in spinal cord injury (SCI) and broader neurological rehabilitation. Established as Making Strides Pty Ltd and operating across two clinical facilities in Burleigh Heads (South) and Ormeau (North, opened circa 2025), the company delivers a multi-modal rehabilitation platform anchored on Activity-Based Therapy (ABT), Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) bike therapy, Body Weight Support (BWS) gait training, neurological physiotherapy, exercise physiology, hydrotherapy, massage, wheelchair-skills training, and specialised respiratory and seating services.

The company's capability rests on specialised rehabilitation equipment (over-ground gait tracks, multiple BWS systems, FES devices, accessible hydrotherapy pool access at Miami Pool/Pizzey Park) and a decade of clinical focus on SCI, plus an official research partnership with Griffith University's Spinal Injury Project (SIP) that provides early access to emerging therapies and evidences clinical credibility. Differentiation is driven by exclusive specialisation rather than breadth of general physiotherapy, reinforced by a community-led 'Purple Family' brand that functions as both a referral channel and a loyalty mechanism.

Monetisation operates through three streams: (1) NDIS-funded services delivered to registered participants via self-managed, plan-managed, and NDIS-managed arrangements on a recurring basis; (2) fee-for-service private, insurance-, and Medicare-funded arrangements; and (3) group sessions at $55/session with discounted 10-packs. Distribution is direct via phone, email, online booking, and a content-led SEO and social-media presence targeting Australian and New Zealand geographies, including a free downloadable 'STRIDES Guide to SCI Rehab' as a lead-generation asset. The company holds no external funding, operates as a private proprietary company, and serves both local Gold Coast clients and interstate 'intensive rehab' travellers via an Amplify travel-services partnership.

Name

Making Strides

Legal name

Making Strides Pty Ltd

Website

https://makingstrides.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Making Strides is a Queensland-based private rehabilitation provider delivering specialised, evidence-based neurological and spinal cord injury rehabilitation (Activity-Based Therapy, FES, BWS, hydrotherapy) across two clinics, serving NDIS participants and private-pay patients locally and interstate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Neurological Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Centers (HLAFAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Neurologic Rehabilitation (Stroke, TBI, Parkinson’s, MS) (HSADAIAC), Orthopedic & Sports Rehabilitation Centers (HLAFAFAI)

Keywords

• Neurological rehabilitation
• Spinal cord injury therapy
• Exercise physiology services
• Hydrotherapy rehabilitation
• Allied health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Burleigh Heads

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. NDIS Funded Services: Registered NDIS provider delivering exercise physiology, physiotherapy, and support services funded through the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Services include core and capacity-building supports.
2. Private Pay Services: Fee-for-service rehabilitation programs for clients not using NDIS funding, including self-funded, insurance-funded, and Medicare-funded arrangements.
3. Group Sessions: Weekly group exercise sessions at $55 per session or discounted 10-session packs. Includes community-based training programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Making Strides provides specialised rehabilitation services for individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) and other neurological conditions, including 1:1 physiotherapy, exercise physiology, hydrotherapy, and allied health assistant support. It complements clinical therapy with technology-enabled modalities such as Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) and Body Weight Support (BWS) training, plus group programs and gym-membership access.

Product overview

Making Strides is a specialized neurological rehabilitation provider offering a unified, multi-modal rehabilitation platform centered on spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation. The core offering consists of SCI Rehabilitation Programs as the primary service, supplemented by specialized therapy programs including the ABT (Activity-Based Therapy) Program, Two-Week Intensive SCI Rehab Program, and Making Strides Independence Program. The platform delivers these through diverse service delivery formats including individual Exercise Physiology and Physiotherapy Sessions, Group Sessions, Hydrotherapy (Aquatic Physiotherapy), FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation) Bike Therapy, BWS (Body Weight Support) Therapy, and Massage Therapy. Additional specialized offerings include the Wheelchair Skills Training Program, Spasticity/Muscle Tone Reduction Program, Nerve Pain Program, Respiratory Physiotherapy, Custom Rehabilitation Equipment, Cushion Prescription Service, and Interstate Patient Rehabilitation Program. The organization also partners with Griffith University's Spinal Injury Project (SIP) for research-driven rehabilitation. All services support NDIS funding and include supplementary resources like the free STRIDES Guide to SCI Rehab. The platform operates across two physical facilities (Burleigh Heads and Ormeau) with integrated hydrotherapy pool access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Purple Family: The company's community name for clients and staff of Making Strides rehabilitation services.

Products and services

• 1:1 Exercise Physiology One-on-one exercise physiology service delivering individualised physical conditioning and recovery programs for clients with spinal cord injuries and neurological conditions.
• 1:1 Physiotherapy One-on-one physiotherapy service providing hands-on rehabilitation therapy for individuals with spinal cord injuries and neurological conditions.
• 1:1 Hydrotherapy One-on-one hydrotherapy service delivering water-based rehabilitation therapy for clients with spinal cord injuries and neurological conditions.
• Allied Health Assistant Support Allied health assistant service providing supervised support to complement physiotherapy and exercise physiology programs for SCI and neurological clients.
• Hydrotherapy Gym Access Access to a hydrotherapy gym facility for clients with spinal cord injuries and neurological conditions to support water-based rehabilitation.
• Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Functional Electrical Stimulation therapy using electrical currents to activate muscles and support movement and recovery in clients with spinal cord injuries and neurological conditions.
• Body Weight Support (BWS) Training Body Weight Support training using supported systems to enable safe gait and movement practice for clients with spinal cord injuries and neurological conditions.
• Group Therapy Programs Group-based therapy programs providing supervised rehabilitation exercise and peer support for individuals with spinal cord injuries and neurological conditions.
• Outreach Services Community-based outreach therapy delivering Making Strides' rehabilitation services to clients outside its primary clinic location, supporting accessibility for SCI and neurological patients.
• Gym Access and Membership Membership access to Making Strides' rehabilitation gym, enabling ongoing self-directed exercise for clients with spinal cord injuries and neurological conditions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Evidence-based rehabilitation programs with regular assessment and adjustment to address emerging needs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Griffith University - Spinal Injury ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial rehabilitation partner for the Spinal Injury Project at Griffith University. This research partnership ensures the latest evidence and innovations in SCI rehabilitation inform their clinical practice. Making Strides participates in groundbreaking trials and integrates cutting-edge research into their therapy programs.
• Amplify (Accessible Travel Services)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAccessible travel partner for interstate clients visiting the Gold Coast facilities. Amplify organises comprehensive packages including flights, transfers, accommodation, care support, equipment and more. Their services help determine if travel and support costs are covered by insurance funding.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Therapy Focus: Western Australia-based NDIS-registered therapy provider offering physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech pathology to people with disabilities. Comparable NDIS-funded therapy model with a focus on functional independence.
• Royal Rehab: Royal Rehab is a major Australian provider of specialist spinal cord injury and neurological rehabilitation services, with inpatient and outpatient programs. It is the most directly comparable Australian peer in terms of SCI specialization, NDIS alignment, and clinical scope.
• Neurokinex: UK-based specialist spinal cord injury rehabilitation provider using Activity-Based Therapy, FES, BWS, and hydrotherapy. Highly comparable in clinical methodology and exclusive SCI focus, and serves as a useful international benchmark for Making Strides' niche service model.
• Re+active Physiotherapy & Performance: US-based neurological and orthopedic rehabilitation clinic with strong emphasis on neuroplasticity, FES, and post-injury return to function. Closely aligned clinical philosophy and technology stack to Making Strides' Activity-Based Therapy approach.
• Ability Action Australia: National NDIS-registered allied health provider offering physiotherapy, exercise physiology, and therapy supports to NDIS participants across Australia. Direct competitor in NDIS-funded neuro and disability rehabilitation with overlapping therapy modalities.

Emerging players

• Spinal Cord Injuries Australia (SCIA): Australia's peak body for SCI support, providing advocacy, peer support, and some therapy services to people with spinal cord injury. Comparable target population and partial overlap in service offerings (e.g., exercise and wellness programs).
• Praxis Spinal Cord Institute: Canadian research and clinical network focused on SCI translation, with rehabilitation programs for people with spinal cord injury. Comparable in combining research leadership with consumer-facing rehabilitation, though more research-oriented than direct service delivery.

Others

• Ekso Bionics: Developer of robotic exoskeletons used in SCI and neurological rehabilitation. Not a direct clinical peer, but an enabling technology vendor whose exoskeletons are used in advanced SCI rehab programs like Making Strides'.
• icare NSW: NSW government agency funding lifetime care, treatment, and rehabilitation for people with severe injuries including SCI. Functions as both a payer and care coordinator, and is a key funding body that influences which providers SCI clients in NSW use.

Regional players

• Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre: South Australia-based public rehabilitation centre providing inpatient and outpatient neurological and SCI rehabilitation. Comparable clinical scope but operates as a public hospital service in a different state from Making Strides.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookweb.facebook.com/makingstridesau
• Instagraminstagram.com/makingstridesau

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Making Strides