Occupational Therapy For The Things That Matter to You
NDIS Occupational Therapy | Melbourne & Port Macquarie
We're there for 1% of the time. What happens in the other 99% matters more
Your OT might spend an hour with you.
But your life happens for the other 167 hours of the week.
So we don't want therapy to only work while we're there.
We want to work with you — and where appropriate, the people around you — so that strategies, skills and environmental changes can continue to work when your OT isn't in the room.
At home.
At work.
In the community.
With your support team.
That's what capacity building means to us.
Therapy isn't about making you dependent on your therapist. Sometimes the best outcome is for us to become less necessary. That might mean:
- teaching you a skill
- helping you find a strategy that works
- changing your environment
- coaching your support team
- developing resources
- helping others understand how to support you
- building confidence to try something independently
The goal is to build capability around you — not create another thing you have to rely on.
We don't believe you need to be fixed.
There are lots of reasons something might be difficult.
It might be related to your disability or health.
But it might also be the environment you're in, the systems you're navigating, the attitudes of other people, a lack of appropriate equipment or the way support is being provided.
We look at all of those things.
Our occupational therapists work from a social model of disability, which means we don't see disability as something that simply sits within a person.
We look at the person and the world around them.
Our role is to work alongside you to identify barriers, build on strengths and find ways to make participation more possible.
On Purpose Therapy Occupational Therapy Services
Skill Development and Capacity Building
Following our assessment process, we will develop a therapy plan (co-designed by you) for the resources and steps needed to achieve your full potential. Some of the recommendations will be most appropriately provided by us as your Occupational Therapist given our unique skillset. When this has been identified, we will inform you of the recommended frequency and modality of therapy sessions in line with good practice. We love working collaboratively with other professionals including Support Workers, Speech Pathologists, Physiotherapists, Positive Behaviour Support Clinicians and your other stakeholders which provides the best outcomes. We utilise a capacity building approach throughout our entire therapy process.
Functional Capacity Assessments
This assessment aims at understanding your capacity (what you can do and what type of assistance is required) across all domains (self-care, self-management, learning, communication, social functioning and mobility). We work collaboratively with you to determine the most effective strategies and / or resources needed to achieve your full potential. We carefully select the resource in line with evidence based practice and aligned with the NDIS' reasonable and necessary criteria. Resources may involve therapy, assistive technology, modifications, mainstream supports, or support workers.
Home and Living Assessments
In addition to what is already covered in a functional capacity assessment, these assessment aim to explore your housing preferences and history, determine any specialised features required to live safely, and confirm your level of care needs. We explore all support models (drop in supports, Individualised Living Options, Supported Independent Living) and housing options (mainstream vs Specialised Disability Accommodation) when completing these assessments in line with the NDIS' reasonable and necessary criteria.
Assistive Technology
We can assist in exploring equipment that can enhance your independence and safety in daily tasks. The type of technology we suggest and trial will be largely determined by current challenges you experience at home and / or in the community, your history of equipment use, and anticipated future needs. We will work collaboratively with local equipment suppliers to find the most appropriate solution.
Medicolegal Assessments
Are you appealing an NDIS decision via the administrative review tribunal (ART)? We have experience completing assessments and preparing evidence. We can work alongside your advocate or legal representative. You must specifically inform us if you require this service to ensure any reports provided match the requirements for ART.
NDIS Access Assessments
We can provide brief functional capacity assessments tailored to the NDIS access criteria for those requiring additional evidence to support their application.
Employment Therapy
We can assist in exploring your capacity for work and develop the skills required.