Referral Options & FAQs

What is an occupational therapist?

Occupational therapists are qualified health professionals who work with all people to do the things they need and want to in all aspects of life, such as taking care of oneself and others, working, volunteering, and participating in hobbies, interests and social events. 

Occupational therapists call these activities “occupations”, which can be grouped into three broad categories:

Leisure

We engage in leisure occupations for relaxation, play and enjoyment.

These often vary person to person, but can include reading, knitting and playing sport.

Self-care

Self-care occupations enable people to remain active and independent in their everyday lives

Common examples of self-care include showering, applying make-up and cooking.

Productivity

Through productivity occupations, people often derive meaning through their contributions to society.

These change throughout the lifespan, and consist of schoolwork, parenting,       volunteering and employment

Occupational therapists are experts in the relationships between what people do, their health and well-being, and the physical environment and they work with people to help make every day living easier. Occupational therapists assist people to manage ongoing symptoms and prevent complications by:

· Building their knowledge and skills;

· Finding new ways of doing activities;

· Changing the environment to suit their needs; and 

· Prescribing safe and suitable equipment and assistive technology

To learn more about occupational therapy, please visit: http://aboutoccupationaltherapy.com.au/

Anybody who is experiencing disruption to their ability to engage in regular tasks due to illness, injury or a health condition may benefit from seeing an occupational therapist. OTs are able to build on your strengths and provide you with support to identify goals and barriers, and work with you to find individual solutions to support a positive outcome. 

At Allied Therapy Network we work with people of all ages who have physical, sensory or cognitive difficulties. We commonly see people after an acute event (eg a stroke) as well as provide support to people managing degenerative or chronic conditions (such as MS, MND, Parkinson’s etc). We also see children who may be experiencing a delay in meeting their milestones or who have received a diagnosis of autism, intellectual impairment or other condition that may require support to help them engage in everyday tasks.

All of our therapists at Allied Therapy Network hold a Bachelor or Masters degree in occupational therapy. We are also members of our professional associations – Occupational Therapy Australia and all maintain current registration with AHPRA. Our therapists are highly qualified and have a wealth of knowledge and experience to support you in achieving your goals and we try to match our therapist skills and experience to optimise your outcomes. Please call our rooms to request a specific therapist or to discuss your needs.

No. You do not need a referral to see an OT unless you wish to access funding through Medicare, DVA or have a Workcover claim. It is helpful for your therapist to have access to any relevant GP or specialist reports so we understand your conditions and can also provide feedback to other healthcare providers (if appropriate).

Please feel free to call us to discuss how you can access our service.

At Allied Therapy Network we offer appointments between 8am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

Our initial appointments generally take between 90 minutes to 2 hours for adults and this allows us to have a comprehensive understanding of your condition and to start to make plans to support your goals.

Our adolescent appointments tend to be shorter to ensure the children can maintain focus and attention, and leave having had a positive and enjoyable experience.