NDIS OT providers deliver occupational therapy that helps participants take part in everyday activities more independently. An occupational therapist assesses your abilities and environment, then recommends practical strategies, skill building, assistive technology or home modifications. Occupational therapy is generally funded under Capacity Building — Therapeutic Supports in your NDIS plan.
Key Takeaways
- An occupational therapist helps you take part in the daily activities that matter to you, from personal care to work, study and community life.
- Occupational therapy usually sits under Capacity Building — Therapeutic Supports, so it is funded to build skills and functional capacity rather than simply deliver a service.
- Support commonly covers daily living skills, assistive technology, home modifications, sensory strategies, motor skills and cognitive rehabilitation.
- Choosing a provider is easier once you understand your own plan goals and how occupational therapy connects with other allied health supports.
- National Care Providers offers occupational therapy alongside physiotherapy, speech therapy and other allied health services for NDIS participants.
What an NDIS OT Provider Actually Does
Occupational therapy is built around enablement. Rather than working on a diagnosis in isolation, an occupational therapist looks at the activities you want or need to do, the abilities you bring to them, and the environment you do them in — then works out where the barriers sit and how to reduce them.
That might mean teaching a new technique, breaking a task down differently, recommending a piece of equipment, or changing something about the space itself. An NDIS OT provider works collaboratively with participants and, where relevant, with families, carers and other professionals involved in a person’s support.
Services an Occupational Therapist Can Provide
Occupational therapy is highly individualised, so no two plans look the same. Common areas of support include:
- Daily living skills: personal care such as showering and dressing, meal preparation, household management and other routine tasks.
- Assistive technology: recommending and helping to source equipment such as wheelchairs, communication devices or specialised kitchen aids.
- Home modifications: assessing a home for accessibility and recommending changes such as ramps, grab rails or bathroom modifications.
- Sensory processing: developing strategies where sensory input affects behaviour, learning or participation.
- Fine and gross motor skills: activities to build coordination, strength and dexterity for tasks such as writing, feeding or play.
- Cognitive rehabilitation: working on memory, attention, problem-solving and organisational skills.
- Community participation: supporting engagement in social activities, employment, education and hobbies outside the home.
How Occupational Therapy Is Funded in Your NDIS Plan
The NDIS funds supports that are considered reasonable and necessary for a participant to pursue their goals. Occupational therapy typically falls under the Capacity Building support category, within Therapeutic Supports.
In practice, that means occupational therapy is funded where it builds independence and functional capacity — helping you learn a new skill, manage daily tasks more effectively, or adapt your environment so it works better for you. Because plans differ, it is worth discussing your goals directly with your NDIS planner or support coordinator so the funding in your plan reflects the occupational therapy you actually need. If a plan review is coming up, our guide to a successful NDIS plan review covers how to prepare for that conversation.
Why Capacity Building Matters
Capacity building is a cornerstone of the scheme, and occupational therapy is a clear example of it. The aim is not simply to do something for a participant, but to equip them with the skills and strategies to do it themselves wherever possible.
When you engage an NDIS OT provider, they will usually begin with an assessment to understand your current abilities, the challenges you are facing and what you want to work towards. From there they develop a personalised therapy plan with measurable goals that align with your NDIS objectives. Regular reviews keep the therapy responsive as your needs change.
Finding the right NDIS OT provider can unlock new levels of independence and participation for individuals and their families. It is about empowering people to live the life they choose.
How Occupational Therapy Works Alongside Other Allied Health Supports
Occupational therapy rarely sits on its own. Many participants have goals that touch several disciplines at once — mobility, communication, behaviour or foot health — and a multidisciplinary approach means those supports can be coordinated rather than duplicated.
Where movement and mobility are part of the picture, physiotherapy often works in parallel with occupational therapy; our overview of which type of physiotherapy suits your NDIS needs explains how those services differ. Where communication is a goal, speech therapy may be recommended alongside occupational therapy input on daily routines. National Care Providers delivers occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychology, speech therapy, behavioural therapy and podiatry, which allows these supports to be planned together.
Choosing an NDIS OT Provider
Before you start contacting providers, it helps to be clear on three things: the goals written into your plan, how your funding is managed, and what practical constraints matter to you, such as whether you need therapy at home, in the community or at a clinic.
From there, useful questions to ask a prospective provider include how they assess and set goals, how progress is measured and reported, how they work with other members of your support team, and what their availability looks like. If you are weighing up options more broadly, our article on what makes a good NDIS therapist sets out the signs worth looking for — and the ones worth questioning — and choosing the right NDIS provider covers the wider decision.
What to Expect From the First Appointment
An initial occupational therapy appointment is generally an assessment rather than a treatment session. The occupational therapist will talk through your goals, ask about the activities you find difficult, and may observe how you manage particular tasks or look at the environment you do them in.
What follows is a therapy plan with goals you have agreed on, and an outline of how the sessions will run. If assistive technology or home modifications are being considered, the occupational therapist will usually need to complete an assessment and provide a report before that support can be funded.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an NDIS occupational therapist do?
An NDIS occupational therapist helps participants take part in the everyday activities that matter to them. They assess a person’s abilities and environment, then work on skill development, task adaptation, assistive technology or home modifications to reduce barriers to participation.
Is occupational therapy covered by the NDIS?
Occupational therapy is generally funded under the Capacity Building support category, within Therapeutic Supports, where it is considered reasonable and necessary for your goals. Because plans differ, check your own plan or speak with your planner or support coordinator.
Do I need a support coordinator to access occupational therapy?
Not necessarily. A support coordinator can help you understand your plan and connect with providers, but participants and their families can also contact an occupational therapy provider directly, depending on how their plan is managed.
What is the difference between occupational therapy and physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy generally focuses on movement, strength and mobility. Occupational therapy focuses on participation in everyday activities — the two often work together, with each addressing a different part of the same goal.
How do I switch to a different occupational therapy provider?
Participants can choose to change providers. The process usually involves reviewing your current service agreement, giving the required notice, and arranging for relevant reports or assessments to be shared with your new provider.
Taking the Next Step
Occupational therapy is one of the most practical supports available through the NDIS, because it starts with what you actually want to do and works backwards from there. Understanding how it is funded, what it covers and how to assess a provider puts you in a stronger position when you make that choice.
National Care Providers delivers occupational therapy and a range of allied health services for NDIS participants. Get in touch to talk through your plan goals and how occupational therapy could support them.
This article is general information only and is not individual clinical or funding advice. Speak with a qualified professional about your own circumstances.
