Frequently Asked Questions

Occupational therapy (OT) helps people take part in the everyday activities that matter to them. These might include getting dressed, eating, playing, learning, working or managing daily routines. An occupational therapist works with each person to build skills, independence and confidence in daily life. Depending on individual needs, therapy may focus on areas such as self-care, fine motor skills, sensory processing, emotional regulation, play or taking part at school.

Occupational therapy can support children, teenagers and adults who find some everyday activities difficult, whether because of disability, developmental differences, injury, illness or other challenges. Therapy is shaped around the person and their goals, not just a diagnosis. The age groups and areas we work with depend on our current services, so if you're not sure whether we can help, please get in touch.

Occupational therapists can help with a wide range of everyday challenges, such as:

• dressing, eating and other self-care tasks
• handwriting, cutting and other fine motor skills
• coordination, balance and motor planning
• sensory processing and emotional regulation
• daily routines, organisation and transitions
• taking part at home, at school or in the community

Please contact us to check whether your concerns fit within the services we offer.

Each session is tailored to the person's needs and goals, so no two look exactly the same. Depending on the person, a session might include assessment, practical or play-based activities, practising specific skills and trying strategies that make daily tasks easier. Your therapist may also suggest ideas to use at home or school, and will explain what they're working on and why. You're welcome to ask questions at any time.

Not always. Whether you need a referral usually depends on how your sessions will be funded and the type of service. For example, some government-funded programs require a referral from a GP, while other funding arrangements may not. Please contact us before booking and we'll let you know whether a referral or any supporting documents are needed in your situation.

Session locations depend on the services we currently offer and what will best support each person's goals. Some skills are easier to work on in particular settings, so it's worth talking this through when you first get in touch. Please contact us to find out which options are available and which might suit you or your family.

Occupational therapy may be funded through the NDIS when it relates to the participant's disability-related support needs, helps them work towards their plan goals and meets the NDIS funding rules. Not every occupational therapy service is automatically covered. Check your current plan to see what funding is available, then talk with your support coordinator, plan manager or us about how therapy could fit with your goals.

We welcome enquiries from NDIS participants and their families. Whether we can support you depends on how your plan is managed, the type of support you're looking for and our current availability. Please contact us with a few details about your plan and goals, and we'll let you know whether we can help or suggest possible next steps.

NDIS funding can be managed in three ways, and each works a little differently:

• NDIA-managed (also called agency-managed): the NDIA pays providers directly. Providers generally need to be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
• Plan-managed: a plan manager pays providers' invoices from the participant's funding.
• Self-managed: the participant or their nominee pays providers and claims from their NDIS funding, following the NDIS rules.

Please confirm with us which arrangements we can accept before booking.

The main difference is who looks after invoices and payments. With plan-managed funding, a plan manager receives your providers' invoices, pays them from your NDIS funding and keeps track of your spending. With self-managed funding, you or your nominee receive invoices, pay providers, claim the money from the NDIS and keep your own records. Self-managing gives you more hands-on control but involves more paperwork.

Occupational therapists may provide functional assessments, progress reports, recommendations or other documentation when it's appropriate and within the scope of the service. The type of report, its suitability and the cost can vary, so please discuss what you need with us before booking. A report describes a person's needs and the reasons for recommended supports; it can't guarantee extra funding or a particular outcome from an NDIS plan review.

Working with the people in your support network can be very helpful. With your consent, and in line with our privacy policies, we may be able to communicate with your support coordinator, plan manager, GP or other health professionals. Let us know who you'd like us to contact, and we'll explain what's involved and how your information will be shared.

Please let us know as early as possible if your funding is changing, running low or under review. This gives us time to talk through your circumstances, any outstanding invoices and the options that may be available. We can't guarantee that services will continue or that other funding will be available, but an early conversation makes it easier to plan next steps together.

Funding options depend on your eligibility, the service you need and our arrangements. Some people may be able to use Medicare programs that require a GP referral, private health insurance extras cover or other schemes, but rebates and coverage vary. Please contact us to confirm which options we currently accept and any out-of-pocket costs, and check your own eligibility with your GP or health fund.

To get started, send us an enquiry through our Contact page. Tell us a little about who the appointment is for and the support you're looking for. We'll be in touch to discuss next steps, availability and any information we need before the first appointment.

A few details help us understand how we can help and how to prepare:

• the person's name and age
• your main concerns and goals
• preferred days and times
• how sessions will be funded, such as NDIS, Medicare or private
• whether you have a referral or relevant reports

Please keep your first enquiry brief and leave out detailed health information. If you need to send reports or other documents, ask us about the most secure way to share them.

The first appointment is a chance to get to know each other. Your therapist will usually talk with you about your concerns, daily activities, goals and relevant history, and may begin some initial assessment. Together, you'll then discuss possible next steps. The exact process depends on the person's needs and the type of appointment.

Appointment length depends on the type of service. For example, an initial appointment or assessment may run for a different length of time than a regular therapy session. Please contact us for current appointment durations so you can plan your day, travel and any support needs.

There's no one-size-fits-all schedule. How often appointments happen depends on the person's goals and needs, the therapist's recommendations, availability and funding. Some people attend regularly for a period, while others need less frequent check-ins. Your therapist will discuss a suitable plan with you and review it as things progress.

Yes. If you need to change or cancel an appointment, please let us know as early as possible. Early notice means the time can be offered to someone else who is waiting. Our cancellation policy explains notice periods, any cancellation fees and exceptions, so please ask us for a copy if you haven't received one.

If you're running late or can't make it, please contact us as soon as you can. Depending on our policies, a late arrival may affect the length of the session, and a missed appointment may affect fees. If you'd like to understand how this works before your first appointment, just ask.

Availability changes over time, so wait times can vary. Please contact us for current availability. If there is a wait, we can let you know the expected timeframe and whether a waiting list or cancellation list is available. In the meantime, it may help to gather any reports or plan details you'd like to share.

Parents, carers and support people can play an important role in therapy. How they're involved depends on the person's preferences, age, privacy and consent, as well as the goals of each session. Let us know who you'd like to bring, and we can talk about what will work best.

Fees depend on the type of service, the length of the appointment and how sessions are funded. Please contact us for our current fee schedule before starting services, so you know what to expect. If you're an NDIS participant, keep in mind that the NDIS sets price limits for many supports. These are maximum amounts, not a guide to any particular provider's fees.

It depends on how your plan is managed and the arrangements we can accept. In general, NDIA-managed supports are claimed by the provider through the NDIS, plan-managed invoices go to your plan manager, and self-managed invoices go to you or your nominee to pay and claim. Please confirm with us how invoicing will work for your plan before services begin.

That depends on your funding and the services you use. Before booking, ask us for the full cost of your services, including any charges that may apply, such as report writing, travel, non-face-to-face work or cancellations. Knowing the full picture up front helps you plan and avoids surprises.

Invoice timing depends on our billing process and your funding arrangement. Depending on how your sessions are funded, invoices may go to you, your plan manager or another funding body. Please confirm when invoices will be issued and the payment terms with us before your first appointment.

Where sessions are offered at home, at school or in the community, travel charges may apply, depending on our policies and the relevant funding rules. Please ask us whether these visits are currently available for your situation and what, if any, travel costs would apply.

Not always. Some documentation, such as detailed reports, letters or formal assessments, can involve extra time outside the session and may be charged separately, depending on its scope and our fee schedule. Please ask for a quote before any additional work begins, so you know the cost and can check whether your funding will cover it.

Please contact us before your appointment to confirm the payment methods we currently accept and our payment terms. If your sessions are funded through the NDIS or another scheme, we can also explain how invoices will be handled and whether anything needs to be paid on the day.

A little preparation can help you get the most out of the first appointment. You might like to bring:

• relevant reports or assessments
• referral documents, if you have them
• NDIS plan information, where relevant
• a short list of your main concerns and goals
• any questions you'd like to ask

Relevant documents, such as parts of your child's NDIS plan or reports from other professionals, can help the therapist understand your child's needs, goals and history. You don't need to share everything, just the information that relates to the service. If you're unsure what to bring, ask us before the appointment.

Progress updates can be discussed with your therapist. How and when updates are shared depends on the person's age and circumstances, their consent and privacy, and what's most useful for the family. For older children, teenagers and adults, the person's own wishes about who receives information are especially important.

Your therapist may recommend strategies or activities to practise between sessions, depending on the person's needs and goals. These are intended to fit into everyday routines rather than add pressure. Let your therapist know what's realistic for your household so suggestions can be adjusted to suit.

Progress is reviewed against the goals you set together and against changes in everyday life, such as managing a task more independently or taking part more confidently at home, school or in the community. Your therapist can adjust the approach as needs change. If you have any concerns about progress, you're welcome to raise them at any time.

That's completely okay, and it's a common question. Get in touch and tell us a little about your concerns. We can talk through whether occupational therapy may be suitable, whether an initial conversation or appointment makes sense, or whether another type of support might be a better place to start.

Of course. You're welcome to contact us with questions about our services, fees, funding arrangements and availability before deciding whether to go ahead. Asking questions is a good way to find out whether our services suit your needs, and it's important that you feel comfortable and well informed before starting therapy.

If you can't find what you're looking for here, please contact us directly. Send a message through our Contact page with your question and the best way to reach you, and we'll get back to you. If your question is about NDIS funding, it can help to have your plan details handy.