Occupational therapy is a client-centred health profession concerned with promoting health and well being through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Occupational therapists achieve this outcome by working with people and communities to enhance their ability to engage in the occupations they want to, need to, or are expected to do, or by modifying the occupation or the environment to better support their occupational engagement.
What does an OT do? Occupational therapists work with individuals of any age to promote and enable effective participation in the occupations of everyday life. Occupational therapists work with people who experience difficulties in these areas for any reason, and are present in both physical disability and mental health services.
The occupations of everyday life include:
Activities of daily living: Self-care activities such as showering, dressing, grooming and eating
Household and community functioning: Home maintenance, driving, budgeting, shopping and community mobility
Education: Activities which allow a person to participate effectively in a learning environment
Leisure and play
Social participation: Interacting positively with others in the community
Work (paid and unpaid): Participating in employment and volunteer activities
Occupational therapists are also able to assess and recommend assistive technology and/or environmental modifications that will assist individuals to engage in the occupations of everyday life.
What services do our occupational therapist provide under the NDIS? Our Occupational therapist is skilled in a number of areas, including mental health, rehabilitation, and driving assessments. He can help you to identify interests and goals, manage daily routines at home and in the community, modify daily tasks to make them easier to perform, and recommend activities that you can participate effectively in.
Occupational therapists work with people across the lifespan focusing on 16 and over. He provides a range of supports and services to NDIS participants, including:
Functional capacity assessments
Independent living skills assessments
Assistive technology (aids and equipment) assessment and training
Home modification assessments
Vehicle modification Prescription
OT Driving assessments
Assessment of personal support needs (personal care)
Housing assessments for participants requiring Specialist Disability Accommodation
Functional capacity assessments for participants requiring Supported Independent Living
