NDIS occupational therapy helps people do the everyday activities that matter to them — dressing, cooking, working, getting around, taking part. An occupational therapist assesses what someone can do independently and what gets in the way, then recommends skills, strategies, equipment or home modifications to close the gap.
Practical, goal-focused therapy
Occupational therapy at Care Alliance focuses on building the practical skills and confidence that underpin independent daily living. Our OTs work with participants of all ages and abilities, in the home and out in the community.
- Functional capacity assessments to inform NDIS plans and reviews
- Daily living skill development — self-care, cooking, routines, community access
- Assistive technology and equipment prescription
- Home modification recommendations
- Sensory and regulation strategies
- Fine and gross motor skill development
Part of a multidisciplinary team
Because our OTs work alongside in-house psychologists, behaviour support practitioners, physiotherapists, dietitians and nurses, therapy is coordinated rather than siloed — one team, one shared understanding of each participant's goals.
Occupational therapy is available across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Cessnock, Port Stephens and the Central Coast.
What a functional capacity assessment actually involves
A functional capacity assessment is the piece of OT work that most often decides what an NDIS plan will fund, so it is worth understanding what it is. It is not a test you pass or fail. The occupational therapist observes what you can do on your own, what you can do with help, and what you cannot currently do at all — usually across everyday tasks like personal care, preparing food, managing a household, getting around and taking part in work, study or community life.
What makes the difference is the report rather than the visit. A planner or delegate reading it needs to understand not just that support is needed, but why, how much, and what happens without it. Vague reports get vague plans. That is the reason we would rather take the time to see someone across more than one setting, and why we will tell you if we think a single appointment will not produce evidence strong enough to be useful to you.
When telehealth works for OT, and when it does not
Occupational therapy is one of the two services we deliver by telehealth, alongside psychology. It works well for review appointments, coaching a family or support worker through a strategy, problem-solving something that has come up, and follow-up between in-person visits.
It works far less well for the things that need someone physically present — assessing how a person actually moves through their own kitchen, measuring for equipment, or looking at a bathroom before recommending modifications. We will say plainly which parts of your OT can sensibly happen over video and which need a visit, rather than quietly delivering everything remotely because it is easier to roster.
Common questions
Can your OTs complete functional capacity assessments?
Yes — our occupational therapists complete functional capacity assessments and reports that can support NDIS planning, plan reviews and housing applications.
Do I need a referral to see an NDIS occupational therapist?
No GP referral is needed for NDIS-funded occupational therapy. You can enquire directly and our intake team will talk through availability and what you are hoping to get out of it.
How is occupational therapy funded in an NDIS plan?
OT is generally funded from the Capacity Building budget, in the therapy category often called Improved Daily Living. Equipment and home modifications an OT recommends are usually funded from Capital once the evidence is accepted - which is part of why the assessment matters.
Can an OT help with equipment and home modifications?
Yes. Our OTs prescribe assistive technology and recommend home modifications, and write the supporting evidence the NDIS needs to fund them. That evidence is the thing that decides whether a request is approved, so it is worth having it done properly.
Where do occupational therapy sessions happen?
Wherever the goal lives. Home visits for home-based goals, community sessions for things like travel training or shopping, our Charlestown clinic where that works best, and telehealth where it is appropriate. OT is available across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Cessnock, Port Stephens and the Central Coast.
