What Is Occupational Therapy? NDIS OT Guide

Article Highlights

Demand for occupational therapy (OT) in Australia has never been higher, yet many people are still unsure what an OT does or how to include one in their support plan. This article unpacks the profession behind one of the NDIS's most requested supports, from the everyday skills OTs help build to the formal assessments that shape your funding.

Whether it is getting dressed in the morning, preparing a meal, catching the bus or returning to work after illness. The ordinary tasks of daily life are anything but ordinary when disability or injury gets in the way. That is where occupational therapists come in. As one of the fastest-growing allied health professions in Australia, OTs work at the intersection of practical skill-building, clever equipment, and environmental change, helping people of all ages do more of what matters to them. If you are considering occupational therapy for yourself or someone you care for, this guide explains what to expect and how to take the first step. It also looks at how children benefit from paediatric OT, why the relationship you build with your therapist can matter as much as their credentials, and the different funding doors through which occupational therapy can be accessed.

Occupational therapy is one of the most requested supports in the NDIS, and for good reason. An occupational therapist helps you build the skills, confidence and access to tools you need to live life on your terms. Here is what occupational therapists do, what to expect from an assessment, and how to find the right one for you.

The number of occupational therapists in Australia increased more than 60% over the decade from 2014 to 2023, driven largely by growing demand from NDIS participants.

What is occupational therapy?

The meaning of occupational therapy is simpler than the name suggests. In this context, occupation does not mean your job. It means all the everyday activities that occupy your time: taking care of yourself or others, working, volunteering, studying, and participating in the interests and social events that offer personal or professional fulfilment.

The core role of an occupational therapist (often called an OT) is to help you develop the skills or access the tools needed to improve your quality of life.

According to the peak professional body, Occupational Therapy Australia, OTs can also help you recover after an illness or injury, assist with home or vehicle modifications, and help you access equipment to maintain your independence. They support people who have difficulty managing fatigue and those living with arthritis, cancer, diabetes, neurological conditions and other long-term health issues.

What does an occupational therapist do?

Day to day, an occupational therapist works with you on practical goals. Depending on your needs, that can include:

Daily living skills: building confidence with tasks like dressing, cooking, shopping and managing routines
Equipment and assistive technology: recommending and training you in aids that make everyday tasks easier and safer
Home modifications: assessing your home and recommending changes such as grab rails, ramps or bathroom modifications
Community participation: building the skills and strategies to get out, connect and take part in community life
Fatigue and energy management: practical techniques to pace activity through the day
Reports and recommendations: assessments that inform your NDIS plan and the supports you are funded for

In the NDIS, occupational therapy usually sits within Capacity Building supports because the whole point is to build your independence over time, not to create reliance on services.

What to expect during an occupational therapy assessment?

Occupational therapy assessments are used by OTs to determine your ability to complete everyday tasks, including your strengths and the areas where support would be most helpful.

The NDIS planning process may vary from person to person, but it generally involves creating a plan that outlines your goals and the supports required to achieve them, including OT services. It may include some or all of the following:

Functional Capacity Assessments that evaluate your ability to perform everyday and work-related tasks
Sensory Assessments that assess how sensory processing issues affect daily activities
Home Safety Assessments that evaluate the safety and accessibility of the home environment
Cognitive Assessments that evaluate cognitive functions like memory, attention, and problem-solving skills

Occupational therapy for kids

Occupational therapy is not just for adults. For children, an OT works through play and everyday routines to build skills such as fine motor control (holding a pencil, using cutlery), sensory processing, self-care, and school readiness. Paediatric occupational therapy is a common support in NDIS plans for children, often alongside speech therapy, and usually involves parents and educators so new skills carry over into home and school life.

If you are exploring support for a child, the NDIS early childhood approach is the usual starting point, and your local team can help you understand the options.

How to choose an NDIS occupational therapist near you?

Choosing the right OT is critical to your therapy, so it is important to get it right with respect to the OT's skill set and personal demeanour.

Ideally, you will want to find someone whose NDIS registration you can verify, who has a proven track record in working with individuals with needs similar to your own, and who specialises in areas relevant to your particular requirements, as they are likely to have a better understanding of the challenges you face.

Remember to consider feedback from previous clients when selecting a suitable OT, and investigate whether they provide or recommend resources for additional support outside therapy sessions.

Rapport matters as much as qualifications.

Aside from your OT's professional prerequisites, look for someone with whom you can easily develop a rapport, as this could greatly enhance your therapy outcomes.

Remember, occupational therapy looks different for everyone. How long you will need to see your OT will depend entirely on your individual needs and the speed at which you progress.

How is occupational therapy funded?

For people living with disability, occupational therapy is commonly funded through an NDIS plan, where it sits within Capacity Building supports. For older Australians, allied health services including OT can be funded through the Support at Home program. Our guide to accessing allied health at home explains how that pathway works. Occupational therapy can also be accessed privately or, in some cases, with a Medicare rebate through a GP care plan.

Related resources

Exploring therapy and support options? These guides may help:

Allied health at home: accessing the services identified in your Support at Home assessment
NDIS provider guide: how to choose the right provider for your plan and goals

How can Just Better Care help?

Just Better Care recognises that navigating the NDIS and selecting an OT can be overwhelming. Remember, you do not have to go through it alone. We have staff available to streamline the process and find the right NDIS occupational therapist to help you progress towards your goals, whatever they might be.

Just Better Care team members live in your community, which means local offices have experienced OTs you can call on to help you live the life you deserve.