What is the NDIS?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an Australian-wide scheme to support people with disability. It provides funding to eligible people with disability to access the services and supports they need to live a fulfilling life. These supports can include personal care, transport, therapy and assistive technology.
What is occupational therapy?
An occupational therapist (OT) works with people to build their capacity in everyday life. They can work with you to increase your independence and improve your communication, mobility, relationships and more. Their therapy services also play a role in home modifications, like implementing ramps or handrails.
Occupational therapy is for all ages and is goal-based. This means your occupational therapist will set goals with you and you will work toward them together. Some examples of goals include:
- Improving hand-eye coordination
- Finding and keeping a job
- Practising relaxation techniques
Occupational therapists must have a degree in occupational therapy and be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (AHPRA).
Who can access NDIS occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy is an allied health service that can be funded for people who have a ‘Capacity Building’ budget and a category called ‘Improved Daily Living’ in their plan. An exception to this is Specialised Driver Training - this will need to be specifically stated in your plan.
What services are included in NDIS occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy services can help you build skills in areas such as:
- Building your capacity and increasing your independence in everyday tasks such as showering, dressing and eating
- Handling ‘life admin’ activities such as budgeting and managing household responsibilities
- Working on your relationships and social skills
- Developing strategies for over-stimulating environments or situations
- Communicating and regulating emotions
- Building skills and confidence to get out in the community more. This can look like catching public transport, going to the shops, attending concerts and more
- Working on your educational and learning goals
Occupational therapists can also provide assessments on things like:
- Your everyday abilities and limitations. This can help NDIS planners determine the level of support and funding to include in your plan. This is called a functional capacity assessment
- Your home and living arrangements. This is so they can recommend solutions to allow you to access your home more freely, such as home modifications
- Whether assistive technology would be useful for you
How much does the NDIS cover for occupational therapy?
An occupational therapist can charge up to $193.99 per hour in Australian metro areas as part of the NDIS Pricing Arrangements. These arrangements govern the maximum price a provider can charge NDIS participants for their services.
They only apply to funding that is agency-managed or plan-managed. If you self-manage your funding, these price limits don't apply to you.
Participants in regional and remote areas will have different price limits. Refer to the most recent NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits to check what price limit applies to you.
What happens in your first occupational therapy appointment?
In your first occupational therapy appointment, your therapist will ask you a lot of questions about how your disability is affecting your everyday life. There will generally be an initial assessment of your current abilities to determine how you can maximise your functioning.
They will check your physical, cognitive and emotional capabilities and explore any assistive devices, social supports and environmental setups you have or need. They’ll also talk to you about your goals and how you can work towards them.
When doesn’t the NDIS cover occupational therapy?
Not everyone with NDIS funding can access occupational therapy. Generally, you will be able to use your plan to cover allied health supports, but it’s important to check that the service you want to access relates to your NDIS plan and is considered ‘reasonable and necessary’.
What does ‘reasonable and necessary’ mean in the NDIS?
In order to be considered ‘reasonable and necessary’, a support or service must be related to your disability. If you can answer YES to each of these 6 questions, the NDIS is likely to fund your request.
- Is this a product or service you need due to a disability?
- Does it help you meet your goals?
- Is it reasonable value for money?
- Is there evidence that this product or service is effective?
- Is this something that you wouldn’t be able to receive from your family or the community?
- Is the NDIS the most suitable funding scheme to pay for this support?
How do you find the right occupational therapist?
It’s important to choose the right occupational therapist for you, as it will make treatment more successful. A lot can go into this process, as there are many options out there. We’ve put together a blog post on the top 5 things to look for when choosing the right NDIS provider.
You’ll want to consider:
- The services they offer
- Their experience and qualifications
- The cost of services
- Their availability
- Whether your values align
How HeyHubble can help
HeyHubble helps you by letting you choose the right occupational therapist for your life much easier. Tell us what you're looking for, or we can work it out together. We'll then find you some options that are all high-quality, and have capacity to start working with you. You can sign up or email our team at participants@heyhubble.com.au to get started.
We can also connect you with more than just occupational therapists. You can read about all the types of quality NDIS providers on HeyHubble and how it works here.
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