NDIS occupational therapy: what an OT does and how to get one

Occupational therapy is one of the most-used supports on the NDIS — and one of the most misunderstood. The word "occupational" makes people think of jobs, but in this context an "occupation" is anything you do day-to-day: getting dressed, cooking dinner, going to school, getting in and out of the bath, riding a bus, holding a pen, playing with your kids.

OTs help people do the things they want or need to do. Here's how they fit into the NDIS world.

What an OT actually does

Occupational therapists are allied health professionals registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Their training is in functional capacity — how your body, mind and environment interact when you're trying to do something.

In the NDIS context, an OT might:

• Assess your functional capacity — what daily tasks you can do, what's hard, and what supports would help
• Provide therapy to build skills and capacity (handwriting practice, sensory regulation, self-care routines, social participation)
• Prescribe assistive technology — wheelchairs, mobility aids, communication devices, sensory equipment, kitchen aids
• Assess your home for modifications — ramps, bathroom changes, stair lifts, doorway widening
• Write reports that support your NDIS access request, plan reassessment, or AT funding application
• Help with sensory needs (especially common for autistic clients and people with sensory processing differences)
• Work with kids on developmental milestones — fine motor, sensory, regulation, school readiness

OTs work across age groups and disability types. Some specialise — paediatric OT, neuro OT, mental health OT, hand therapy, vocational rehab — and you'll usually get better results with someone who works with people similar to you.

Common reasons people see an OT under the NDIS

A few of the most common ones:

• An NDIS application or plan reassessment, where you need a Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA) report to back up your claim of support needs
• A new wheelchair, walker, or hoist — equipment over a certain threshold needs an OT report explaining why it's reasonable and necessary
• A home modification like a bathroom ramp or rail — the NDIS won't fund modifications without an OT assessment
• Sensory processing support for a child or adult, often alongside other therapies
• Independent living skills — cooking, money management, public transport, self-care routines
• Return to study or work after an injury or new diagnosis

If you're not sure whether your situation needs an OT specifically (rather than a physio, speech pathologist or psychologist), most OTs will do a free phone chat to talk through it.

How to find an OT

You don't need a GP referral for NDIS-funded OT — you can book directly with any provider in private practice.

A few practical pointers:

• Check AHPRA registration. Every OT in Australia must be AHPRA-registered. You can search the public AHPRA register to confirm.
• Match the specialty. A paediatric OT and a hand therapy OT have very different skill sets. Most websites will list areas of focus.
• Ask about NDIS experience. OTs who regularly work with NDIS clients know how to write reports the NDIA accepts and how to navigate the funding rules.
• Check waitlists upfront. Demand outstrips supply in most parts of Australia — some private OTs have 3-6 month waitlists.
• Look at telehealth options. Many OTs do video sessions for follow-up appointments and report-writing consults, which can shorten the wait significantly.

If you're a participant with funded Support Coordination, they can also help shortlist OTs in your area or specialty.

What an OT session looks like

For an initial appointment, expect:

• A conversation about why you're there, your goals, and what's hard at the moment
• Practical observation — they might watch you do a task, ask about your daily routine, or walk through your home
• Standardised assessments (depending on the focus) — paper or app-based tools that measure specific functional areas

Follow-up appointments depend entirely on what you're working on. Some examples:

• A child with handwriting difficulties might have hour-long therapy sessions, weekly or fortnightly, often involving sensory activities
• An adult after a stroke might have home-visit sessions focused on cooking, dressing and using daily appliances
• Someone preparing for a plan reassessment might have one or two longer assessment sessions, then a few hours of report-writing time billed back

An OT will typically explain the plan and the expected number of sessions up front so you can budget your funding.

How much it costs

Under the NDIS Pricing Arrangements 2025-26 (effective from 24 November 2025), occupational therapy is billed at:

• $193.99 per hour in metro areas (MMM 1-3)
• Higher rates in regional, remote and very remote areas (MMM 4-7), typically $271-$290 depending on remoteness

A key 2025-26 change: rates are now standardised nationally rather than varying state-by-state, and therapists must bill under their registered AHPRA category (occupational therapist, physiotherapist, psychologist) rather than at differentiated "complex" or "specialist" rates within the same profession.

Travel time is billable but capped — and from 1 July 2025, travel for therapy services is reimbursed at 50% of the hourly rate rather than the full rate. So an OT who drives 30 minutes to see you can bill 30 minutes of travel at half-rate, not full rate.

Cancellation rules: if you cancel within 7 clear days of the appointment, the OT can charge you for 100% of the session. Worth knowing before you book three consecutive appointments and your circumstances change.

Where OT fits in your plan

OT is almost always funded under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living. This budget category is for therapy and skill-building, which is exactly what OT is for.

Equipment recommended by an OT (wheelchairs, communication aids, home modification kits) comes from Capital Supports — a separate budget category that you usually only get if an OT or other allied health professional has written a report justifying it.

One important note: the NDIS won't generally fund OT for purely medical conditions that should be treated through the health system. If your issue is recovery from a recent surgery, post-stroke rehab in the first few months, or a workplace injury under WorkCover, the right pathway is usually Medicare or that specific scheme — not the NDIS.

If you're not sure, an eligibility check is the first step.

What's changing

The NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 (introduced to Parliament 14 May 2026) proposes a 10% reduction to Capacity Building Daily Activities budget allocations, progressively from 1 October 2026. OT funding sits under Improved Daily Living, which is part of this category — so if the Bill passes, OT budgets may be trimmed for new and reassessed plans.

For children aged 8 and under with developmental delay or autism, the new Thriving Kids program (starting 1 October 2026) will deliver foundational supports — including OT — through schools, GPs and community services rather than via the NDIS. Kids with higher support needs will continue through the NDIS.

We'll update this article when the Bill is voted on and when Thriving Kids transition details are finalised.

Helpful resources

• Occupational Therapy Australia — the peak body, with a national "Find an OT" directory
• NDIS — Reasonable and necessary supports — the test your OT report will need to address
• NDIS Pricing Arrangements — current rates and rules
• AHPRA register — confirm any OT's registration

Sources & last verified

Last verified 17 May 2026 against:

• NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2025-26
• Occupational Therapy Australia — Find an OT
• AHPRA — Public register
• Department of Health — Securing the NDIS Bill 2026 fact sheet

Next review scheduled 17 August 2026.