NDIS Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists can help children, teenagers and adults build the skills, confidence and independence needed for everyday life. Support may include daily routines, self-care, sensory processing, emotional regulation, school or work participation, assistive technology, home modifications and community participation.

Occupational therapy helps children build the skills they need for everyday life. This may include play, emotional regulation, communication, social skills, daily routines, fine motor skills, sensory preferences, dressing, eating and participating at home, childcare or school.

At Everyday Independence, support for younger children may be delivered by an early childhood key worker who has knowledge and training in child development. They work closely with occupational therapists and other practitioners to help your child build skills in everyday environments.

We provide occupational therapy in the places where you live, learn, work and socialise. Delivering therapy in everyday environments means strategies can be practised where they’ll be used most often, making them more meaningful and easier to apply.

Your first appointment is about getting to know you and what matters most in your everyday life. We take a whole-of-life approach, getting to know your strengths, goals, routines and any challenges with everyday activities, sensory processing, self-care, learning, work or independence, while looking at how you participate at home, school, work and in the community.

If we need more information, we may recommend focused assessments to better understand your needs and identify the right supports. Together, we’ll then develop a personalised therapy plan that outlines the right mix of practitioners and supports to help you achieve your goals.

Your first appointment may be with an occupational therapist, early childhood key worker or youth lead practitioner, depending on your age and goals.

By understanding your whole life, not just one challenge, we can develop practical strategies that create meaningful, lasting change.

At Everyday Independence, occupational therapy is delivered where life happens. Rather than focusing only on clinic-based sessions, our occupational therapists support children, teenagers and adults at home, childcare, kindergarten, school, work and in the community.

We focus on helping people build skills and confidence through everyday activities and routines that are meaningful to them. This means therapy is practical, personalised and connected to real-life goals.

Our occupational therapists also work as part of a broader therapy team. Depending on your age and needs, you may be supported directly by an occupational therapist. key worker or youth lead practitioner, who brings together the right therapists around your goals. This means you benefit from the expertise of a whole team while having one main person who knows you well.

By working alongside individuals, families, carers, educators and employers, we help create more opportunities for learning, participation and independence in everyday life.

Depending on your age and goals, your occupational therapy may be delivered by an occupational therapist, early childhood key worker or youth lead practitioner. Your main practitioner is chosen because of their expertise in supporting people at different ages and stages of life. They deliver much of your support while working closely with occupational therapists, speech pathologists, physiotherapists, behaviour support practitioners, employment coaches and other practitioners. This means you have one main practitioner, supported by the right team, to help you achieve your goals.

Yes. If occupational therapy is part of your goals, you’ll receive occupational therapy as part of your support. Depending on your age and goals, your main practitioner may be an occupational therapist, early childhood key worker or youth lead practitioner. They work together with occupational therapists and the broader therapy team to ensure you receive the right expertise at the right time.

For children aged 0–8 years, support will be delivered through an early childhood key worker. Your child will still have access to an occupational therapists when occupational therapy is part of their goals, but they may not see them at every appointment.

This approach is recommended because one practitioner can deliver most therapy while bringing in  occupational therapists, speech pathologists physiotherapists and other practitioners when their expertise is needed. Families benefit from one coordinated plan rather than attending multiple separate appointments.

The key worker model is the NDIA’s preferred approach for supporting children and families under nine years of age.

For young people aged 9–26, your main practitioner may be a youth lead practitioner. They have experience supporting teenagers and young adults through important life stages, including building independence, preparing for employment or further education, and navigating the transition to adulthood. They deliver much of your support while bringing in occupational therapists and other practitioners whenever additional expertise is needed.

Paediatric occupational therapy can help children develop the fine motor skills they need for everyday activities such as drawing, handwriting, using scissors, getting dressed, eating independently and playing with toys.

Occupational therapists work alongside children to build hand strength, coordination and confidence through everyday activities and routines. Just as importantly, they work alongside parents and carers, providing practical ideas and strategies that can be used throughout the day to help children practise and build their skills.

At Everyday Independence, support is delivered where life happens. This means children can practise skills at home, childcare, kindergarten, school and in the community, where they use them every day. Parents and carers learn simple ways to support their child’s development between sessions, helping create more opportunities for learning, practice and success in everyday life.

Choosing the right occupational therapist is about finding someone who understands your child, your family’s goals and the challenges you’re facing. The best occupational therapist for your child will take the time to get to know their strengths, interests and everyday routines, then tailor support to what’s important to them.

When choosing a paediatric occupational therapist, consider:

• Their experience supporting children with similar needs and goals
• Whether therapy is delivered in everyday environments such as home, childcare, kindergarten, school or the community
• How they involve parents and carers in the therapy process
• Whether they work as part of a broader therapy team if additional support is needed
• How they set goals and measure progress
• A registered NDIS provider

At Everyday Independence, our occupational therapists work alongside children and families in the places where life happens. We focus on building practical skills, confidence and independence through everyday activities and routines, helping children participate more fully at home, school and in the community.