Questions?

Occupational Therapy (or ‘OT’) helps people to go about their day-to-day activities more easily. For children and teens struggling with any part of their development, this can range from their handwriting, to making new friends, to concentration, or the longer term challenges that go with a diagnosis or disability.

Whatever it is, Occupational Therapy aims to develop your child’s skills to help them live more enjoyably and independently.

If you or anyone supporting your child’s health or education (e.g. teacher, speech pathologist, doctor, paediatrician) is concerned about your child’s development or they are struggling with their daily activities, Occupational Therapy sessions may be able to help them.

‘Daily activities’ can range from focusing and learning at school, tying their shoelaces, making new friends, participating in sports, toileting, doing their homework, eating dinner — any part of their daily life.

After your child’s first OT consultation, their Occupational Therapist will develop goals with you and your child that will guide their sessions. Your child’s OT sessions are tailored to these goals by using a variety of activities to build their skills in the area they are working on.

This can often involve fun activities like jumping, obstacle courses or playing games. But every activity — including the fun ones — are all helping your child develop their skills.

Your child’s Occupational Therapist may also recommend they join one of our group programmes to help reach their goals.

Our long-term aim is for your child to not need our services, so we only ever recommend your child comes for the sessions they need.

How long we recommend your child comes for will vary on their goals and how quickly they are progressing.

However, the choice is always yours — you are not locked in to bringing your child for a set time as we believe you know what’s best for your family.

BEFORE

After we’ve organised your child’s initial appointment time, we’ll email you a confirmation letter and directions to our clinic. We will also advise you of the necessary documents to complete prior to the appointment. This will enable us to learn more about your child so the appointment runs efficiently.

If you have any other documents that may assist us in getting to know your child, please send them in as well.

ON THE DAY

When you arrive at your chosen clinic, your child’s Occupational Therapist will come and meet you both in the waiting room. From there, they’ll welcome you into the clinic room. Your child’s OT will then engage your child in fun activities, run a few different tests selected from a range of standardised and non-standardised assessments around your child’s needs. Parental input is required at this stage to clarify any concerns the Occupational Therapist may have.

For your child, this will probably just feel like doing some activities that are similar to those at school (e.g. drawing, hopping, catching a ball, writing etc.). During the Initial appointment it is preferred that you can stay with your child without any other siblings present.

AFTER

At the end of your child’s Initial appointment, there will be standardised assessments to collate and a summary of strengths, challenges and individualised goals to compile. Usually a phone or Telehealth feedback is provided the following week. This will be the opportunity to share initial observations and discuss your child’s development and steps to move forward.

NDIS participants require a written summary and individual intervention plan which will occur instead of verbal feedback.

An initial consultation will be approximately 90 minutes. Our following Occupational Therapy sessions are usually 45 mins to 1 hour.

Telehealth sessions may be shorter but more frequent.

Occupational Therapy is a treatment that supports your child and family when they experience difficulties in the following areas.

• Self Care
• Fine Motor and Handwriting
• Gross Motor
• Sensory Processing
• Behaviour and Family Support
• Social, Friendships and Play
• Specific Learning Difficulties
• Regulation and Managing Emotion

Initial consultation: The cost of an initial consultation varies depending on your child’s needs. During our intake phone call we will discuss the different treatment options for your child and associated costs with you.

One-on-one sessions: Session fees vary depending on the length of your child’s session.

Please call us on 0428 344 884 or email us at info@otwhitsunday.com.au to find out our current rates.

No, you don’t need a referral for Occupational Therapy. Please call us on to organise your initial appointment (alternatively, you can email us to organise a convenient call time).

You can share your concerns about your child’s development and we’ll explain the next steps and book a session time for you. Please call us on 0428 344 884.

Yes — there are two main plans that you can potentially access under Medicare. Eligibility for these plans is determined by your doctor. A visit to your doctor is required for the plan to be written.

• Enhanced Primary Care Plan

This entitles clients to up to five partially subsidised treatment sessions per calendar year, which can be claimed through Medicare.

• Better Access to Mental Health Plan

If your child has an assessed mental health concern that significantly interferes with their cognitive, emotional and social functioning you can request a Mental Health Care Plan and referral from your child’s GP, paediatrician or psychiatrist. The Mental Health Care Plan provides ten partially-subsidised OT sessions (per calendar year). If your child has a Mental Health Care Plan, please let us know when making their initial booking.

Please note, there are additional Medicare plans available for children with autism spectrum disorders and physical disabilities. A gap payment is required with all Medicare plans.

Whether your child’s sessions with us are covered by private health insurance will depend on your provider and your level of cover. All health funds are different, however, many of them do offer cover for Occupational Therapy. We recommend you check with your private health fund about what rebates you’re entitled to.

We are registered providers with NDIS including Early Childhood Intervention Support.