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Paediatric Occupational Therapy
Supporting your childs growth, their way.
Occupational Therapists look at the “occupations” of childhood, the everyday activities a child does. When something in that day is hard going, whether it’s doing up buttons, sitting comfortably at the mat, coping with a noisy classroom, or forming letters with a pencil, your Occupational Therapist works out why and helps your child find a way through it. Occupational Therapy Australia, the profession’s peak body, sets the standards our team works to.
Parents and families
For referrers and Support Coordinators
Every child is different, and so is every plan. We start by getting to know your child, what they’re good at, what they enjoy, and where the day gets tricky. We build support around who your child is, at a pace that suits them, so they can take part in the life they want with more confidence and less frustration.
How families fund paediatric Occupational Therapy
There are a few ways families pay for paediatric Occupational Therapy, and we’ll help you work out which one fits.
- NDIS, the early childhood approach. For children younger than 9 with a developmental concern or disability, the NDIS early childhood approach funds support focused on taking part in everyday activities at home, in early learning, and in the community. A diagnosis isn’t always required to get started.
- NDIS, for older children. School-age children with an NDIS plan can access Occupational Therapy under Capacity Building, in Improved Daily Living. We handle the service agreements and the reports.
- Medicare. If your child has a chronic or complex condition, your GP can write a Chronic Condition Management Plan, which gives up to 5 Medicare-subsidised allied health sessions a calendar year, shared across all allied health. Your GP will let you know if your child is eligible.
- Private health insurance. With extras cover you can claim on the spot through our HICAPS terminal.
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What we help with
01
Fine motor skills and handwriting
Doing up buttons, using scissors, holding a pencil so writing doesn’t tire the hand. These small movements take a lot of coordination, and for some children they’re genuinely hard work. Your Occupational Therapist looks at how your child uses their hands, then builds playful activities that grow the strength and control underneath the skill. For handwriting, that might mean a pencil grip that suits them, letter formation that sticks, or ways to take the pressure off so a child can get their ideas down without the writing getting in the way.
02
Sensory differences
Some children feel the world more intensely, where a noisy classroom, a scratchy school jumper, or a busy shopping centre can be a lot to take in. Others go looking for more movement and input than a day usually offers. This is how their nervous system takes in the world. Your Occupational Therapist helps you understand your child’s sensory differences and works with you on practical ways to make the day more comfortable, so your child can settle, focus, and take part on their own terms.
03
Getting dressed, eating, and daily routines
The ordinary parts of a day, getting dressed for school, managing a knife and fork, the bathroom routine, packing a bag, can be a daily battle for some children, and a stressful one for the whole family. Your Occupational Therapist breaks these routines into steps your child can manage and finds the tweaks that help, the right equipment, a visual routine, a different technique. The aim is for your child to do more of their day themselves, in a way that feels good for them.
04
Play and making friends
Play is how children learn, and how they connect with other kids. Some children find it hard to join in, share, take turns, or read what’s happening in a game. Your Occupational Therapist uses play itself as the way in, building the skills and confidence to take part, at your child’s pace. For neurodivergent children, that means connecting in ways that work for them, on their own terms.
05
Starting school
Starting school is a big step. Sitting at a desk, following a group instruction, managing a busy room, getting through the day with energy left over. Your Occupational Therapist works with you, and often with the early learning service or school, to build the everyday skills that make the classroom easier to manage, and to set up the environment so it suits how your child learns. The work often starts well before the first day, practising the routines and the transitions that school will ask for.
06
Attention and regulation
Some children find it hard to settle, switch between tasks, or come back down after they have been upset or excited. Your Occupational Therapist helps you understand what’s going on underneath, and builds practical strategies that fit your child and your family, ways to get ready for a task and wind down afterwards, and changes to the day that take some of the pressure off. The work is always about helping your child feel more in control, in a way that respects who they are.
What working with us looks like
Every child is different, so we start by getting to know yours. Most families move through four stages with us.
Stage 1, getting to know your child. The first session is mostly play and conversation. Your Occupational Therapist watches how your child moves, plays, and manages tasks, and asks you about your child’s day, what’s going well, and what’s hard. There are no surprises, and nothing your child can get wrong.
Stage 2, the assessment and plan. Your Occupational Therapist works out what’s getting in the way and what will help, and sets goals with you around the things that matter to your family. For NDIS or school, that includes the reports and goals required.
Stage 3, the sessions. Therapy looks a lot like play, because play is how children learn. Sessions build the skills and confidence behind the goals, and your Occupational Therapist coaches you on what to carry into home and school, so the progress isn’t stuck in the therapy room.
Stage 4, reviewing and adjusting. We check in on the goals, notice what your child has built, and adjust the plan as they grow. Paediatric Occupational Therapy is one part of what our Occupational Therapy team works on, and one of the ways we support children’s health across our clinics.
Paediatric Occupational Therapy through the NDIS
If your child has an NDIS plan, it may fund Occupational Therapy under Capacity Building, in Improved Daily Living. For children younger than 9, the NDIS early childhood approach focuses on early support and taking part in everyday activities, and a diagnosis isn’t always required to get started. Your Occupational Therapist writes goals around the things that matter to your family, getting dressed for school more easily, joining in at the playground, getting through the morning routine, and tracks progress against them.
We handle the service agreements, the reports, and the back-and-forth with your plan manager or the NDIA. Self-managed, plan-managed, or NDIA-managed, we sort the admin. Find your nearest team on our locations page.
12 clinics across NSW & Tasmania
Email us
hello@opt.net.au
Speak to us
1800 678 647
Get in Touch.
Where to Access This Support
[EDIT: locations intro for this page – the template line named the condition and its home/school/telehealth availability, which varies by service.]
Common questions about paediatric Occupational Therapy
What does a paediatric Occupational Therapist do?
Why would a child see an Occupational Therapist?
How do I know if my child would benefit from an Occupational Therapy assessment?
How do we access and pay for paediatric Occupational Therapy?
Do I have to have a referral or a diagnosis to see a paediatric Occupational Therapist?
What happens at my child's first Occupational Therapy session?
Reviewed by Sarah-Louise higgins
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