Occupational therapy in Adelaide
Occupational therapy that fits everyday life
Neurodiversity-affirming support for children, teens, adults and older people across Adelaide. We work with you in the places everyday life happens, including home, school, our clinics and the community.
- Clinics in Prospect, Mawson Lakes and Morphettville
- Support across childhood, adolescence and adulthood
- Practical strategies for everyday participation
Our approach
Support that starts with what matters to you
Occupational therapy is not about fitting you into a standard programme. It starts with understanding your strengths, routines, goals and the environments around you.
At Meaningful Activities, we work alongside you and the people who support you to make everyday activities more manageable, meaningful and sustainable. That may involve building skills, adapting a task or environment, developing practical strategies, or finding a different way to participate.
to you
Choose support by life stage
Occupational therapy for your stage of life
The activities, pressures and goals that matter change through childhood, adolescence, adulthood and later life. Start with the page that feels most relevant to you.
Children
Practical, neurodiversity-affirming occupational therapy that works with a child's strengths, routines, family and everyday environments.
Explore occupational therapy for childrenOccupational therapy forTeens
Support shaped around adolescence, growing independence, school demands, identity, routines and the transition towards adult life.
Explore occupational therapy for teensOccupational therapy forAdults
Collaborative support for everyday living, routines, sensory needs, work, relationships, community participation and greater independence.
Explore occupational therapy for adultsOccupational therapy forOlder People
Support shaped around later life, including everyday routines, equipment, home access and the activities you want to keep doing.
Explore occupational therapy for older peopleServices
How we can support you
Understand what is happening and choose a useful next step
Everyday therapy, assessment and practical support
OT Assessment
Start here when an activity, routine or role is difficult, but the right kind of support is not yet clear. An OT Assessment can clarify what is happening and provide written recommendations when agreed, or form the starting point for ongoing OT.
Ongoing Occupational Therapy
Work on everyday challenges such as getting ready, joining school or community activities, or managing routines. This may fit when a goal needs time to understand, practise and review as life changes.
Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA)
An FCA looks at what a person can do, where they need help and how disability affects daily life. The OT brings this information into a report that the NDIA may consider for an access or planning decision. The report does not determine the outcome, but it can make everyday support needs clearer and easier for the NDIA to consider alongside other evidence.
Allied Health Assistant Support
Once the OT has assessed the goal and made a suitable plan, an Allied Health Assistant can help practise the agreed activities under OT supervision. When this model is suitable, it can create more opportunities to practise and help therapy funding be used efficiently without replacing the OT's clinical role.
Mentoring Support
Across childhood, adolescence, adulthood and later life, Mentoring Support provides goal-directed practice in the places where everyday life happens. The mentor provides goal-directed practical support with OT guidance. This may fit when the person needs practical support to apply a strategy, build an everyday routine or take part in a chosen activity, rather than clinical assessment or delegated AHA therapy.
Specialised and setting-based support
Equipment Prescription
An OT can help find and trial equipment that may make daily activities safer or easier, such as showering, sitting or moving around. This may be the most direct route when one particular item could remove a practical barrier.
Home Modifications
An OT looks at where the home makes daily life hard or unsafe, then may recommend changes such as grab rails, ramps or bathroom changes. This may fit when the physical space itself is getting in the way of an important activity.
Support at Home
Occupational therapy arranged through your registered Support at Home provider, including assessment, equipment, home access and everyday routines. We agree the work and funding arrangements with your provider.
Preschool Boost Educator Coaching
Our OTs coach educators to make everyday preschool routines easier to join. Strategies are practised during play, transitions, mealtimes and self-care so support becomes part of the routines children already share.
Thriving Kids
Thriving Kids will start from October 2026, with supports growing over time. Meaningful Activities does not currently have a confirmed provider or referral role.
Ask us for updatesTwo referral routes
Looking for support or referring someone?
Referral journey
What happens after you refer?
The game piece is on step 1: Submit your referral.
Why Meaningful Activities
What our approach means for you
01. Neurodiversity-affirming
We do not ask people to hide who they are or act more ‘typical’. We learn how they communicate, process the world and take part in daily life, then plan support around their goals.
02. Connected to everyday life
We work on activities that need to happen outside therapy, like getting ready, learning, cooking, working or going into the community. Strategies are tested where they need to work.
03. Collaborative
With your consent, we can work with family, educators, Support Coordinators and other professionals, so everyone understands the same goal and their part in it.
04. Team-based
The OT assesses, makes clinical decisions and reviews progress. When suitable, an AHA can help practise the delegated OT plan while the OT remains responsible. Mentors are supported by our OTs and can provide goal-directed practical support outside delegated clinical work.
Locations
Occupational therapy across Adelaide
Meet with us in one of our clinic locations or discuss whether support in a home, school or community setting is appropriate for your needs.
Prospect Clinic
Little City Coworking
1/132 Prospect Road
Prospect SA 5082
Mawson Lakes Clinic
Adelaide Disability Medical Services
Shop 1, 6-12 Capital Street
Mawson Lakes SA 5095
Morphettville Clinic
80 Hendrie Street
Morphettville SA 5043
Team
A team that learns by doing
We do not learn only from books and training rooms. During a recent nature-based team development day, we slowed down, noticed how our senses responded to the environment, planted trees, prepared food and reflected together. Experiences like this help us stay curious, connected and grounded in the real environments where people live, learn and participate.
Blog and Resources
Practical information you can come back to
Funding and payment
Understanding your funding options
The service you need and the way it is funded are two different things. The options below may apply depending on the person's eligibility, referral, support plan and the service requested.
NDIS
Occupational therapy supports may be funded where they are included in the participant's plan and fit the relevant funding rules.
Medicare
Some eligible people may access occupational therapy through an applicable GP or specialist referral pathway.
Private payment
Clients can pay privately when they are not using a funding programme or choose not to use one.
Support at Home
Eligible older people may access occupational therapy and, where approved, assistive technology or home modification support through their aged care support plan.
Flying Start Preschool Boost
Partner early childhood services can use Preschool Boost funding to purchase approved programmes and allied health support. Meaningful Activities is listed for Occupational Therapy Educator Coaching.
Thriving KidsComing soon
The South Australian access and provider pathway is still being finalised. Meaningful Activities is not presenting itself as an approved Thriving Kids provider at this stage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Clear answers to the questions people often ask before they get started.
How long does it take to start therapy services?+
Most families can start within 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the service and the therapist's availability. This is not a defined timeline for all families. It's an average start time.
Do you support adults as well as children?+
Meaningful Activities supports children, teens, adults and older people. The right service and therapist depend on the person’s goals, support needs, location and current team capacity.
Where can sessions take place?+
Depending on the service and what is clinically appropriate, support may take place in one of our Adelaide clinics, at home, at school or in the community.
Can I speak with someone before I submit a referral?+
Yes. Call 0480 801 287 if you have a quick question or are unsure which path to choose. The number stays visible throughout the website.
Can a professional refer someone?+
Yes. Support Coordinators, Plan Managers and other professionals can use the professional path on our Get Started page to refer someone on their behalf.
How do I know which service is right?+
For new clients, an OT assessment is usually the starting point. You and the OT discuss your activities, routines, goals and challenges. This helps the OT recommend the approach and service that fit your situation, then discuss the support involved, costs and frequency with you.
If you are moving from another provider, we can review your existing plan and, with your consent, arrange a clinical handover with your previous OT and relevant support people. Our OT then confirms what can continue and whether any further assessment is needed.
You do not need to choose a service on your own. If you are unsure where to begin, contact us through the Get Started page.
