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Frequently Asked Questions

We often get asked a lot of great questions about Occupational Therapy, the services that we offer, payment options
and the benefits for your child. Our FAQs aim to answer a lot of your important questions below.

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational Therapy assists children in participation in their daily occupations. Common occupations for children include playing, learning, socialising, eating and sleeping. An OT will assist in identifying difficulties in foundation skills that are impacting a child’s ability to engage in their daily occupations. They will then develop a plan to work with a child and their support network (including carers and educators) to strengthen their skills, or make modifications for the child to achieve success.

Your child may benefit from Occupational Therapy if you have concerns about their learning and development, specifically difficulties in the following areas;

  • Fine Motor Skills (strength, coordination, visual motor integration) 
  • Gross Motor Skills; including coordination, strength, balance, spatial awareness, planning and sequencing). 
  • Sensory Processing 
  • Self-Regulation 
  • Focus and Attention 
  • Handwriting 
  • Visual perceptual skills 
  • Self-Care (dressing, grooming, feeding, toileting). 
  • Social Skills 


A General Practitioner, Paediatrician, Educator or other Allied Health Professional may also refer your child to OT.

An OT session will vary for all children, based on their unique needs, age, and the goals of therapy. Generally, an OT session for children will include play based activities that are fun, physical, cognitively stimulating and sometimes messy! A session may include;

  • Warm-up activities to engage your child and ease them into therapy.
  • Sensory activities (e.g., swinging, jumping on a trampoline, or using sensory bins) to help children with sensory processing issues.
  • Skill-building activities like playing games, working on fine motor tasks (e.g., handwriting, cutting with scissors), or practicing self-care tasks (e.g., buttoning, zipping).
  • Social interaction activities to build social skills (e.g., turn-taking, recognizing emotions, cooperative play).
  • Home practice recommendations: The therapist may suggest ways to reinforce skills at home.


Children will likely be having so much fun that they may not often realise they are working on important skills. 

After starting OT, you may see:

  • Improvement in specific skills: Your child might start showing more control over fine motor tasks (e.g., handwriting, buttoning) or improved coordination and balance.
  • Better coping strategies: If your child struggles with emotions or sensory processing, they might learn techniques to self-regulate and manage emotions. 
  • Progress in self-care: Your child may become more independent in tasks like dressing, feeding, and toileting.
  • Enhanced social skills: If your child struggles with social interaction, they may learn to make friends, follow social rules, and communicate more effectively.
  • Increased confidence: As your child improves their skills and becomes more independent, they may feel better about themselves and more capable in various situations.


You should expect to see gradual improvements over time, and the therapist will regularly assess progress and adjust the treatment plan as needed.

No, Paediatric OT is not only for children with disabilities or developmental delays. OT can be beneficial for any child who is struggling with functional skills, even if they don’t have a formal diagnosis. Some common reasons a child might benefit from OT include:

  • Difficulty with fine motor skills (e.g., holding a pencil, tying shoes).
  • Struggles with self-regulation (e.g., trouble staying calm or managing emotions).
  • Sensory sensitivities (e.g., being overly sensitive to loud noises, textures, or bright lights).
  • Difficulty with social interactions or making friends.
  • Issues with organisation or time management (e.g., disorganisation at school or home).


Even children without formal diagnoses can benefit from OT if they are struggling with any of these skills.

Yes, with your consent. We strongly encourage open communication between all key supports around a child including carers, educators and any other health professionals.

The length of time a child should see a pediatric occupational therapist (OT) can vary greatly depending on several factors, including the child’s individual needs, the severity of any challenges they may be facing, and the goals of therapy. There is no set or universal timeline for OT treatment, as each child’s situation is unique.

No, you do not need a referral.

You can claim 5 sessions through Medicare with a form from your GP and up to 10 sessions with a specific diagnosis. Sessions may also be claimed through Private Health Funds depending on your level of cover.

Yes. We currently accept Self-Managed and Plan Managed NDIS funds.

Complete our online form and we will get in touch with you to discuss making an appointment.

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