Frequently Asked Questions

You might choose to access our services by privately funding them. This could be while you're waiting for NDIS funding to be approved, or while you're still working out whether your child is eligible for NDIS or other funding. 

We are more than happy to chat to you about your funding options so that you can make an informed decision when you're choosing a therapist. 

We are able to provide services funded through the NDIS where the NDIS participant's funding is either "self-managed" or "plan-managed". 

Sometimes children might be eligible for a Medicare rebate for up to 5x sessions annually of Allied Health input under the "Chronic Disease Management Plan". If you think your child might be eligible for this, speak to your GP or call us to talk through it further.

We know from research that the most effective therapy is based on clear goal setting and ensuring goals are reviewed frequently and kept up-to-date. 

OTs use a number of methods to set goals with families. If your child has an NDIS plan, we can look at the goals you have set with your planner and break them down into smaller, achievable goals.

The frequency of OT input varies greatly for different children with different needs. We know from research that the most effective strategies are those that are integrated into the everyday routine for the child, so they are repetitive (but fun!). OTs have unique skills in using strategies during a therapy session, and then supporting parents and other caregivers (like childcare) to implement them in routines so the child can practice frequently and improve their skills.

An OT therapy session looks very different for different children, according to their goals and needs. OT sessions at Melbourne Paediatric OT can be in the clinic, in the child's home, or in the child's childcare centre or kinder.

Some therapy sessions may look more like a "consult" with lots of talking with parents/caregivers to determine the issues and provide advice. Other sessions can be more hands on with using specific strategies in play or function, to be able to provide advice on strategies to implement at home. E.g. a play session to look at a child's fine motor skills and trial some strategies, followed by advice on what to practice at home. 

As parents, you often want to make sure that you're getting the right support or advice for your child. This could mean that you're seeking a "second opinion" on your child's developmental needs or therapy approaches. 

Our OTs have specific skills and extensive experience in working with children who have physical and medical complexities. We have capacity to offer a consultation or "second opinion" on your child's needs, and can support you to find the right OT for your child, or support your ongoing OT to implement evidence-based strategies (with their consent).

For example, if your child has a hemiplegia, we can support you to identify the most appropriate evidence-based strategy to use so your child improves their hand function, and we can support your ongoing OT in implementing these strategies. 

Our OTs have specific skills and extensive experience in trialling and prescribing equipment for children who have physical and medical complexities. 

Even if you're not one of our ongoing clients, we are available on a short-term, goal specific basis to help identify the right equipment to meet your child's needs and support their goals and function.