Occupational Therapy

To access occupational therapy services through the NDIS, you’ll first need to have funding for therapy supports in your NDIS plan. This is usually included under the Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living category. If you don't already have this in your plan, you can request it during your planning meeting or at your plan review.

To receive NDIS funding for occupational therapy, you’ll need funding under the Capacity Building category, specifically the Improved Daily Living sub-category. If you require assistive technology, home modifications, or equipment, these may be funded under the Capital Supports category.

How often you can see an occupational therapist under the NDIS really depends on your needs and what’s in your plan. Some people might see an occupational therapist regularly, like weekly or fortnightly, especially if they’re working on specific goals. Others might only need a few visits here and there for assessments or certain types of support.

Your plan can always be reviewed and adjusted if you need more or less support, so it’s a great idea to chat with your therapist about what works best for you!

Occupational therapy focuses on improving your ability to perform daily tasks, such as dressing, cooking, and using assistive devices, to enhance independence. Physiotherapy, on the other hand, focuses on movement, mobility, and physical rehabilitation to improve strength, flexibility, and function. If you need both occupational therapy and physiotherapy, you have come to the right place. We have an extensive team of NDIS occupational therapists and physios at our clinics in Melbourne and Sydney.

Our occupational therapists are passionate about helping you live more independently. In addition to therapy and skill-building support, we can prescribe a range of assistive equipment and home modifications to enhance your safety, mobility, and independence in daily life.

Assistive Technology:

• Wheelchairs and mobility scooters
• Adaptive cutlery and kitchen aids
• Communication devices and speech-generating technology

Home Modifications:

• Grab rails in the bathrooms and around the home
• Ramps for wheelchair access
• Non-slip flooring to reduce fall risks
• Widened doorways for improved accessibility

A functional capacity assessment (FCA) is a detailed evaluation that helps determine what support you need to live as independently as possible. An occupational therapist will assess your ability to complete daily tasks and recommend any services, therapies, or equipment that could make life easier.

• Getting to know you: One of our OTs will chat with you to understand you, your goals, routines, and any challenges you are facing.
• Practical assessment: You may be asked to carry out some regular tasks, like dressing, cooking, or moving around your home. The therapist will observe your movement, strength, coordination, and how you handle tasks.
• Assessment of support & equipment needs: Based on your needs, the therapist will assess whether assistive technology or home modifications might be helpful or if other types of support are needed.
• Report & recommendations: After your session, the therapist will prepare a comprehensive report with all their findings and offer clear recommendations on therapy, equipment, or other supports that could benefit you.

A functional capacity assessment typically takes between one and three hours. Depending on the complexity of your needs, you may need to attend a second visit to complete the assessment. Following the assessment, we will provide you with an in-depth report with recommendations for support, therapy, or assistive equipment if needed.

The time to write the report can take several days, depending on the amount of detail required, but you can rest assured that we will provide a thorough and thoughtful assessment to ensure that all your needs are fully addressed.

Under the NDIS, we offer occupational therapy services In both our Melbourne and Sydney clinics.