Occupational therapy

NDIS Capacity Building support

Occupational therapists help people do the everyday activities that matter to them, by assessing needs, building skills and recommending equipment or changes to the environment.

The short answer

Occupational therapists help people do the everyday activities that matter to them, by assessing needs, building skills, recommending equipment and suggesting changes to the environment.

About Occupational therapy

Occupational therapy is about participation: doing the things you need and want to do, such as getting dressed, cooking, working, studying, playing or caring for others. An occupational therapist looks at what gets in the way and works with you to find solutions, which might be practising a skill, using a different technique, getting equipment or changing your environment.

Occupational therapists work with people of all ages. With children they may support handwriting, play and self-care, while with adults they might help someone return to work after an injury or adapt their home after a diagnosis. Many also complete assessments for equipment and home modifications.

Occupational therapists in Australia are registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Ask about their experience with your situation and how sessions work, including whether they can visit your home, school or workplace.

Who is this service for?

People who want help with everyday activities, such as self-care, work, study or leisure, or who need advice on equipment or changes at home.

What a typical session looks like

An occupational therapy session starts with a conversation about what you want to be able to do in everyday life, such as dressing, cooking, working, studying or getting around. The therapist may observe you doing a task, test strength and coordination, and look at your home or workplace. They then suggest strategies, equipment, or changes to the environment that make things easier.

Sessions can be practical and varied. You may practise a task, try out equipment, learn new ways of doing things or work on skills such as planning and organisation. The therapist also writes reports, for example to support a request for equipment or home modifications, and often coordinates with other professionals and your family.

Who delivers this support

Occupational therapists are registered health professionals with university degrees, and they must be registered with AHPRA. Many specialise in areas such as children, mental health, hand therapy, seating and mobility, home modifications or neurological conditions. Ask about experience in the area you need, and whether the therapist can visit your home, school or workplace.

How to choose a provider

• Check that the therapist is registered and ask about their experience with your needs.
• Ask whether they can work in your home, school or workplace.
• Find out how goals are set and how often they are reviewed.
• Ask whether they write reports for equipment or modifications.
• Check how they work with your other professionals.

Questions to ask a provider

• What experience do you have with my kind of needs or with my age group?
• Can you see me at home, school or work, where the tasks actually happen?
• How will we set goals and measure progress?
• Can you write reports to support equipment or modification requests?
• How will you work with my other supports and family?
• How often will we review the plan?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting until a crisis before seeing a therapist.
• Not telling the therapist about your goals, so the sessions focus on the wrong things.
• Buying equipment or making changes without a therapist's advice.
• Not practising between sessions.
• Not checking the therapist's registration and experience.

Getting started

1. Think about the activities you find difficult.
2. Contact therapists and describe your situation.
3. Book an assessment and bring your questions.
4. Agree goals and a plan for reviewing progress.

How it fits with the rest of your plan

Occupational therapy often sits at the centre of a plan, since therapists assess needs and recommend supports such as equipment, modifications, skill-building and daily living help. They work with physiotherapists, speech pathologists, psychologists, support coordinators and support workers, and their reports are frequently used to justify other supports.

Eligibility

You can use NDIS funding for Occupational therapy if it is included in your NDIS plan. The NDIS funds supports that are reasonable and necessary: they relate to your disability, help you pursue your goals and represent value for money. Not sure whether it is in your plan? Check your plan, or ask your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.

Funding

Capacity Building supports help you build skills and independence. If Occupational therapy is in your plan, it is normally paid from a Capacity Building budget. These budgets are usually set for particular types of support, so check which one your plan uses. Many NDIS supports have price limits, so ask providers for a quote and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Whether your plan is managed by the NDIA, by a plan manager or by you, ask for a written quote and a service agreement before you start. If your plan is plan-managed or self-managed you can use providers who are not registered with the NDIS. If it is NDIA-managed you generally need a registered provider.

What it costs

Supports such as Occupational therapy that are funded by the NDIS are paid at rates that follow the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, which the NDIA reviews regularly. Many items have a maximum price, and some prices are higher in remote areas. Before you start, ask for a written quote that lists each support, the hours and the price, and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits on the NDIS website. A provider may charge less than a limit. If you pay privately, the provider sets its own fees. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use providers who are not registered, and those providers set their own prices.

Therapy services providers on the NDIS register

10,460 NDIS providers list therapy services supports on the NDIS Commission register of registered providers. A register listing shows what the register says, not who has capacity.

Providers listing therapy services

• 00 Towards your Horizon - SA; includes Glenelg South, SA
• 1 Abbira Care Services - VIC; includes Fraser Rise, VIC
• 1 All Care - SA; includes Findon, SA
• 1 Care Connect - NSW; includes Manly, NSW; Rooty Hill, NSW; Rosehill, NSW
• 1 Disability Support Services - SA; includes Prospect, SA
• 1 Roof Therapy and Assessment - NSW; includes Caringbah, NSW
• 1 Stop Paediatric Services - SA; includes Mount Gambier, SA
• 1-Care - NSW; includes Lalor Park, NSW
• 10 Plus Care - VIC; includes Camberwell, VIC
• 101 Physio - VIC; includes Melton West, VIC
• 121 Therapy Australia - NSW; includes North Haven, NSW
• 122 Health - VIC; includes Warrnambool, VIC

See all 10,460 therapy services providers

Listings by state and territory

• New South Wales (3,918)
• Victoria (2,645)
• Queensland (2,122)
• South Australia (967)
• Western Australia (833)
• Tasmania (251)
• Australian Capital Territory (234)
• Northern Territory (155)

Suburbs with the most listings

• Brisbane, QLD (576)
• Melbourne, VIC (354)
• Sydney, NSW (338)
• Central Coast, NSW (262)
• Parramatta, NSW (198)
• Perth, WA (188)
• Adelaide, SA (186)
• Blacktown, NSW (180)
• Liverpool, NSW (168)
• Campbelltown, NSW (160)
• Ipswich, QLD (154)
• Canberra, ACT (153)

Listings covering the most areas

• Permalink Support Services - 503 areas
• Physihome - 316 areas
• Bayside Mobile Physio - 185 areas
• Aligned Assist - 184 areas
• Allied Horizon Disability Services - 154 areas
• Butter Fish Services - 143 areas
• Blooming Life Support Services - 140 areas
• Number 1 Care Provider - 134 areas

Checking credentials

• Check registration Search the NDIS Commission's register of registered providers to see whether a provider is registered and for which types of support. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use unregistered providers.
• Ask about worker screening Ask whether workers hold a current NDIS Worker Screening Check where their role requires one, and how the provider checks its workers' identity and qualifications.
• Get it in writing Ask for a written quote and a service agreement that describes the support, the prices, how to change or end it and how to make a complaint.

Regulation and safeguards

NDIS providers and their workers must follow the NDIS Code of Conduct, and registered providers are regulated by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Regulates NDIS providers and handles complaints about the quality and safety of NDIS supports. Phone: 1800 035 544.
• National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Runs the NDIS. Contact them about your plan, your funding and eligibility. Phone: 1800 800 110.

Related services

• Physiotherapy
• Plan management
• Podiatry
• Psychology

Frequently asked questions

What does an occupational therapist do?

An occupational therapist helps people do the everyday things that matter to them, by assessing needs, building skills, recommending equipment and suggesting changes to the environment.

When would I see an occupational therapist?

Common reasons include difficulty with daily tasks, needing equipment or home changes, developmental concerns in children and returning to work or study after injury or illness.

How do I choose one?

Look for someone registered with AHPRA who has experience with your situation, and ask how sessions work and how progress is measured.

Do I need a referral to see an occupational therapist?

Not always. A referral from your doctor can help, and the practice will tell you what they need.

Can an occupational therapist see my child at school?

Many can visit schools or childcare, depending on the arrangement. Ask providers.

What is the difference between occupational therapy and physiotherapy?

Occupational therapy focuses on everyday activities, while physiotherapy focuses on movement and physical function. They often work together.

What will an occupational therapist actually do with me?

They help people do the everyday activities that matter to them, by working on skills, changing how tasks are done, recommending equipment and adapting environments.

Can I book an occupational therapist directly without a referral?

Often you do not, but requirements depend on how the service is funded. The therapist or their clinic can tell you what they need.

Can occupational therapists help children?

Yes. Paediatric occupational therapists help with skills such as handwriting, self-care, play, sensory processing and taking part at school.

Can I use my NDIS plan to pay for Occupational therapy?

If Occupational therapy is in your NDIS plan and is reasonable and necessary for you, then yes. Check with your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.

How do I find a Occupational therapy provider near me?

Browse providers on SolDirectory, or send a free enquiry with your location and what you need and suitable providers will review it. Then ask each one about availability, a quote and a service agreement before you decide. Details come from providers and registers, so confirm them directly.

Sources and further reading

• NDIS: how the NDIS works, plans and price limits
• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission: find a registered provider, make a complaint
• AHPRA: check a health practitioner's registration

Browse the NDIS and aged care provider directory