Occupational Therapy provides support to people who, due to an injury, medical condition or a disability, find it hard to do everyday things – i.e. the things that ‘occupy’ our time. It is provided by a trained allied health professional called an occupational therapist (often shortened to an OT) who works with the person to help them maintain or improve their independence.
Here’s a quick guide on what occupational therapy is, what benefits it offers, and how an OT functional assessment works.
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapy enables people to participate in everyday activities that are meaningful to them. This covers a wide range of things, from taking a shower and preparing meals to catching public transport, enjoying leisure activities or finding paid work.
The ultimate goal is to help people live as independently as possible, so they can maximise their personal productivity, wellbeing and quality of life.
Who can benefit from Occupational Therapy?
People of all ages can benefit from seeing an occupational therapist, but it is especially helpful if you are living with a condition, disability or injury that impacts your ability to do everyday tasks and the activities you enjoy. This can include:
You don’t need a referral to make an appointment with an occupational therapist, although your doctor, case manager or support coordinator may recommend that you see an OT, if they feel you can benefit from one.
You can receive occupational therapy services through your home care package or NDIS funding. For more information on how to use your funding for occupational therapy with Home Caring, please get in touch. We’re happy to help!
What qualifications does an Occupational Therapist in Australia have?
Since 2012, all occupational therapists providing services in Australia are required to be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (AHRPA). It is important to see a registered OT, as they will have a degree in occupational therapy and be governed by the agency’s quality standards.
All occupational therapists provided by Home Caring are fully accredited and trained. You can check if an OT is registered or make a complaint on the AHRPA website.
What does an Occupational Therapist do?
Occupational therapists provide support in many different ways, for a wide range of people. Here are some of the types of support you can expect from an OT.
For seniors:
For people living with a disability:
Mental Health:
Children:
Rehabilitation:
What is a functional assessment?
A significant part of occupational therapy is working out what a someone’s strengths and weaknesses are, so that an OT – and the person’s wider care team – can offer meaningful support for daily living.
This is where an OT functional assessment comes in. If you have a diagnosed medical condition or a disability that impacts your ability to do certain tasks, you may be referred to an occupational therapist for a functional assessment. This is a one-on-one consultation that usually takes place in your own home. An occupational therapist will ask you questions and evaluate your ability to function in different aspects of life, such as performing personal care tasks, getting out and about in your local area or managing your medication.
An OT functional assessment usually looks at:
Once an OT has conducted a functional assessment with you, they will write a comprehensive report on your level of functioning and highlight areas where you could benefit from support. This report can be used to help you set personal goals, as well as inform any environmental modifications that need to be made to support daily living.
If you need help organising an OT functional assessment, Home Caring can be of assistance. Please get in touch to find out how we can support your needs.
Occupational Therapy and the NDIS
Occupational therapy can help people with a disability live as independently as possible – whether that means supporting you with daily tasks or helping you engage with the community.
If you are an NDIS participant, you can use your funding to receive occupational therapy with Home Caring. For more details, please don’t hesitate to get in touch for a FREE consultation.
If you are not yet an NDIS participant, you may need to undergo an OT assessment as part of your application. This is to show how your condition or disability affects daily living and your participation in the community.
Once you have undergone an OT assessment, the therapist writes a comprehensive report that identifies any support you may need. This report can influence whether you are approved for NDIS funding, as well as inform any decisions made around the allocation of your funds into different categories.
Occupational Therapy and home care packages
Occupational therapy is highly beneficial as we age, whether we have a chronic condition that limits what we can do, or need assistance with living safely and independently in our own home.
Depending on the level you receive, you can receive occupational therapy services using your government Home Care Package, as well as home modifications, assistive technology and equipment that helps you live more independently at home.
For more information on how to access occupational therapy services using your home care package, please get in touch with us at Home Caring for your free consultation.
At Home Caring, we are here to listen to your needs and explain the options available to support you. Simply share your details, and our team will guide you every step of the way.
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The Albanese Labor Government has introduced a landmark Aged Care Bill, marking a once-in-a-generation reform to prioritise the rights, safety and dignity of older Australians.
From 1 July 2025, the new Aged Care Act will bring significant changes, including:
-Tougher regulatory standards to ensure higher
accountability
-Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards for improved
care delivery
-A dedicated Statement of Rights for older Australians
-A $4.3 billion Support at Home program to help seniors live independently at home for longer
These reforms align with the Royal Commission’s recommendations, focusing on better complaint handling, greater participant choice, improved funding and enhanced fairness and quality across the sector.
If you’d like to learn more about how these changes impact you or your loved ones, Home Caring can guide you through the details. Please call us on 1300 875 377 for personalised support and assistance.
Read more 📱- health.gov.au/aged-care-act
#AgedCareReforms #SupportingOlderAustralians #australianhealthandagedcare #AHAC
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Even as we head into the final month of the year our incredible Home Caring teams show no signs of slowing down! Fueled by their passion for helping others they’ve been working tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of our clients. Last weekend our Home Caring Vermont HomeCaring Narre Warren Home Caring Footscray HomeCaring Mornington Peninsula Home Caring St Albans Eltham and Bellarine teams all came together to showcase their dedication and expertise at the Melbourne Disability Expo.
The expo was an amazing opportunity for our teams to connect with the local community, meet new faces and raise awareness about the vital work we do. From sharing insights into our services to forming meaningful connections all of our Melbourne teams went above and beyond to make the event a resounding success. It’s clear that when you’re passionate about your work, it never feels like a job – and this passion was on full display throughout the weekend. A big thank you to everyone involved for representing Home Caring with such heart and dedication! 🩵
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Happy Friday HC fam!
It’s been a busy and productive week here at Home Caring with only forty days till the end of the year we are full steam ahead! One highlight was the team-building and networking session with our amazing Home Caring Bankstown team. The workshop was a huge success bringing everyone together to learn, grow and strengthen our skills.
These sessions are such a valuable part of what we do as they foster connection, build efficiency and empower us to deliver the best care to our clients. As we all know being a support worker can sometimes feel isolating but moments like these remind us of the incredible community we’re all a part of.
Let’s all carry that energy into the weekend—it’s going to be a hot one, so stay cool and take care! 🩵
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Happy Sunday HC fam! Recently our Home Caring Vermont team had the privilege of attending the 20th anniversary celebration of Hope City Mission, a vital organisation making a profound difference in our community. As proud sponsors we deeply admire their unwavering dedication to providing food relief, support and hope to those in need. Hope City Mission’s initiatives extend far and wide from their compassionate crisis support programs to sustainable efforts like planting seedlings, whose produce directly benefits people facing hardship. It’s a joy to stand beside them in their mission to uplift lives and foster resilience.
Our sponsorship reflects Home Caring’s core value of giving without expecting anything in return. We’re thrilled to have contributed to initiatives like installing a sprinkler system to nurture their community garden, where fresh produce is grown for those living in crisis. Supporting Hope City Mission means investing in kindness, growth and care and we couldn’t be prouder to play a part in their incredible journey. Here’s to creating positive change together! 🩵
#happysunday #welovewecare
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