Why is an initial occupational therapy assessment required?

Our occupational therapist will complete an initial assessment with you, to understand your life story, what is important to you and what you would like assistance with. By completing an in-depth assessment including goal setting process with you, we are able to provide the most efficient and beneficial service to you.

An occupational initial assessment may be beneficial if you are not sure what services you need. By completing an assessment we can determine your strengths and barriers in achieving your goals and also make suggestions if you are unsure on what goals to set, we can assist you with that process too.

Following your assessment, our occupational therapist will discuss with you what supports and services can be applied to enhance your daily life and reach your goals. We may recommend a range of options including capacity building therapy, assistive technology, home modifications, assistance with personal care and / or domestic tasks.

If you do not have adequate NDS funding in your current plan for achieving your goals, you may require a functional capacity assessment report to provide justification for increasing your NDIS plan funding for achieving your goals. We will discuss this with you when you make a referral and/or following your assessment depending on your needs.

What does an initial assessment involve?

During the assessment our occupational therapist will ask questions about your background life story, about your disability and symptoms, how you manage in day-to-day life, They will also observe your ability to complete daily activities and complete standardised assessments determining how your disability affects your day-to-day life.

Following your assessment, our occupational therapist will discuss with you what supports and services can be applied to enhance your daily life and reach your goals. We may recommend a range of options including capacity building therapy, assistive technology, home modifications, assistance with personal care and / or domestic tasks.

Where do you conduct initial occupational therapy assessments?

Our occupational therapist will come to you and provide an occupational therapy assessment in your home, work or community environment. We are flexible to work around your needs and we’re here to answer all your questions, giving you advice on all the support available to you including NDIS supports and other government and private services.

What OT services do you recommend following the initial assessment?

Amy the OT can help you with:

• Functional Capacity Assessments

• Assistive Technology assessments

• Daily Living Skills intervention

• Manual handling assessment

• Training to assist you with participating in Work, Community Travel, Social & Leisure activities

What else can we assist with during the initial assessment?

Our occupational therapist will help you understand your NDIS funding and provide the necessary reports for you to access the services you require. If you’re unsure about whether or not you have available funding, we can guide you through the process.

Our neuro occupational therapist empowers your independence with a tailored program and a collaborative approach.

What does community OT neuro rehab involve?

Every neuro rehab program is highly tailored to your individual needs, goals and preferences and can include learning different ways to perform everyday tasks, exercises to improve upper limb coordination, strength and fine motor skills, and activities to strengthen cognitive function. We can also recommend assistive technology and home modifications to enhance your independence and quality of life and provide training on how to use them safely and independently.

• Routine development

• Capacity building / independent living skills training

• Cognitive rehabilitation

• Assistive Technology prescription

• Manual Handling / Transfer assessment and training

• Home based upper limb therapy

Who do we see for neuro rehab?

Our neuro occupational therapist specialises in supporting participants with a wide range of neurological conditions and injuries, including:

• Cerebral palsy

• Parkinson’s disease

• Acquired brain injuries due to Stroke, Infection or oxygen deprivation

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)

• Alzheimer’s disease

• Multiple sclerosis (MS)

How much does an OT neuro rehab program cost?

Costs can vary depending on the needs and complexity of the client. Our team can discuss your requirements and provide a quotation based on your needs and circumstances either upon referral and/or following an initial assessment. The cost of our occupational therapy service per hour is in line with the most recent NDIS price guide. Please get in touch to discuss this further.

Nature is more than just 'outside'. Connecting with nature begins with ourselves - because we are part of nature, not apart from it.

Nature based occupational therapy is evidence based. It provides the therapeutic benefits of nature contact, nature connection and nature-based occupation to enable people to participate in everyday activities.

Nature based occupational therapy can take place indoors, using technology and in outdoor environments. It includes working with the environment, people and occupation to support meaningful occupational engagement.

How do we interact with nature?

• Indirect: Not being physically present in nature. Viewing nature through a window, on TV, in pictures or with guided meditation practices.

• Incidental: Experiencing nature as a byproduct of another activity e.g., driving to work, talking to friends in a park, walking to work.

• Intentional: Experiencing nature directly or being in nature through direct intent. The activity/occupation can't exist without the nature e.g., gardening, bushwalking, fishing.

What sort of activities does Nature based OT involve?

Nature based OT incorporates the therapeutic effects of nature indoors, in our imagination, through mindfulness practice, as metaphor/meaning, in design of spaces and places as well as the myriad of ways of being and doing outdoors. Examples of activities used in nature based OT include:

• Gardening

• Outdoor play therapy groups

• Nature-based mindfulness

• Nature space design

• Outdoor recreation and leisure exploration

• Bush walking programs

What are the benefits of Nature Based Occupational Therapy?

Nature connection and nature contact are key determinants of health and wellbeing. The scope of occupational therapy practice has so much possibility for creating joyful ways of intentionally including nature in our therapy programs to create environments that are beneficial to our clients. We can use nature therapy as a tool within your OT program as a way to enhance your mood, health, well-being, meaning and motivation; through activities such as nature mindfulness and meditation, nature journaling, . Or we can use nature based occupational therapy such as bush walking, gardening, or nature play as the occupational activity to achieve your goals. Nature based OT can improve your:

• Health

• Social well-being

• Spiritual well-being

• Physical function

• Emotional regulation

• Sensory integration

• Cognitive function

What nature based OT programs do you offer?

Amy the OT currently offers nature based therapy within individual OT sessions depending on your goals and interests.

If you are interested in incorporating nature based therapy within your OT sessions, please get in touch to discuss how we can best support you.

COMING SOON

Group based nature OT programs for children and adults:

• Nature Play Groups for children using the ConTiGo approach. Groups of 2-3 children.

• Nature OT group for adults with neurological conditions.

Please get in touch if you would like to find out more information or if you are are interested in joining the waitlist for attending either of these group programs.