Ongoing Occupational Therapy
How could OT support you to work towards an everyday goal over time?
Our Occupational Therapists help people of all ages - kids, teens, adults and older adults - do everyday things more easily: play, learn, make friends, look after themselves, move around, calm down and enjoy family life.
Not sure whether ongoing OT fits? Tell us what is happening and we will guide you.
What do you want to understand next?
When is more than one appointment (AKA Ongoing OT Sessions) beneficial?
Some activities need time to practise, try different approaches or change the support around the person. Every person is unique, so we build the therapy plan around their strengths and what matters most to them and their family.
For example:
A child may need help joining in with play or getting ready for school.
A teenager may want to manage their morning routine or prepare for work.
An adult may need support with cooking, shopping or managing daily tasks.
An older person may want to make showering or preparing meals easier or less tiring.
Good therapy starts with understanding the person, not fitting them into a standard approach.
We take time to understand the person’s everyday life, what they want to change and what is getting in the way. We then work with them and the people they choose to involve to find practical approaches that fit their goals and routines.
See how this service applies to different stages of life.
How ongoing OT begins
Ongoing OT usually begins after an initial OT assessment. The OT uses that assessment, or an existing clinical plan or referral, to decide with you whether ongoing sessions may help and what the plan should include.
Starting as a new client
After the referral and onboarding steps are complete, the usual first clinical appointment is an OT Initial Assessment by phone. It normally takes 30 to 60 minutes.
This is usually followed by a face-to-face assessment in a setting relevant to the goal. The appointment commonly includes about 50 minutes with the person and 20 minutes for preparation and notes, making 70 minutes of OT time in total.
If ongoing sessions are agreed, they commonly begin fortnightly. This is not a fixed rule. The timing depends on the person’s needs, preferences, goals and budget, and can be reviewed as the work progresses.
Transferring from another provider
If there is already an OT plan, the OT reviews it first. With the person’s consent, we can also arrange a clinical handover with the previous provider.
The OT then decides what can continue, which information is still useful and whether anything else needs to be assessed.
How the sessions work
- 1
Choose what matters
The person and OT agree on an everyday activity, routine or role they want or need to make more manageable.
- 2
Understand what is happening
They look at when the activity becomes difficult, what changes it, what already helps and what has been tried.
- 3
Try a practical change
This may involve practising a skill, changing a routine, trying a tool or adjusting how someone provides support.
- 4
Review what happened
The person tries the approach in everyday life. They and the OT then review what helped, what was difficult and what needs to change.
This process can repeat, but it should not run automatically. Each appointment should help answer a clear question.
The person’s preferences guide the work. Family members, carers and other support people can be involved when the person wants them involved and consent has been given.
What happens in and between appointments?
Each appointment has a clear purpose linked to an everyday goal.
A session might involve practising an activity, trying a different approach, adjusting the environment or helping family members and support workers understand what helps.
For example, if dressing is difficult, the OT might explore clothing choices, practise one part of the routine and show a carer how to provide the right level of help.
Ongoing OT focuses on a clinical goal. It does not replace the day-to-day care or general support a person may need.
Between appointments
The person and the people they choose to involve can try the agreed approaches in everyday life.
They might notice:
- whether the approach was realistic to remember and use
- what happened where the activity normally takes place
- what changed on a lower-energy or more demanding day
- whether one change helped but created another difficulty
- whether the goal still matters in the same way
There is no need to get everything right. If an approach is tiring, difficult or does not fit into everyday life, that information helps the OT adjust the plan.
How do we decide what happens next?
We regularly discuss whether the sessions are helping and whether the person’s needs or priorities have changed.
The next step may be to:
01
Continue
Continue with the current plan because it still has a clear purpose.
02
Change
Change the approach, setting, people involved or frequency of appointments.
03
Move
Move agreed practice to an Allied Health Assistant when the OT can safely delegate and supervise it.
04
Pause
Pause while the person practises, waits for another change or focuses on something else.
05
Finish or change service
Finish because the goal has been addressed or recommend another service that now fits better.
Some people need support for longer than others. Ongoing does not mean permanent. The decision depends on whether OT still has a useful role in helping with the agreed goal.
Could another service fit better?
Ongoing OT suits goals that need practice and review over time. Another service may fit better when the main question is different.
01
OT Assessment
Understand what is making a particular everyday activity difficult and what support may help.
02
Functional Capacity Assessment
Assess everyday functioning and support needs for a defined NDIS question and report.
03
Allied Health Assistant Support
Practise a specific activity from an OT plan, with the OT delegating and supervising the work.
04
Mentoring Support
Receive practical support to take part in everyday activities and work towards goals. Mentoring does not replace OT assessment or therapy.
05
Equipment Prescription
Assess whether a particular item suits the person, activity and environment.
06
Home Modifications
Assess whether changes to the physical setup of the home may make an everyday activity safer or more manageable.
You do not need to choose the service before contacting us. Tell us what is happening and we will explain which service may fit.
How much does ongoing OT cost?
Our current therapy rate is
$193.99
per hour
What’s included?
Your charged OT time can include preparation and planning, the session itself, and notes completed afterwards. A typical face-to-face appointment may include about 50 minutes with the person and 20 minutes for preparation and notes.
Provider travel may be charged separately when required. We confirm the expected appointment time, travel and any additional work before services begin.
Funding and service arrangements
NDIS, private payment, Medicare and Support at Home use different arrangements. Before an appointment is agreed, our team confirms the applicable rate, billable time and documents needed.
Funding and clinical need are separate decisions. The OT may recommend support, but the funder decides what it will pay for.
How to get started
You can submit a referral for yourself, your child or someone you support.
Describe:
the activity, routine or role that is difficult
what happens and where it becomes more difficult
what has already been tried
what support is currently used
what the person would like to change
You can also share an existing OT plan or report when it relates to the current goal.
We check service fit and current availability. We then contact you or the nominated person to confirm the relevant information, funding and documents.
For a new client, this usually means an OT Initial Assessment by phone, followed by a face-to-face assessment.
