What is OT

What Does an Occupational Therapist Do?

Occupational therapists (OTs) are university-trained allied health professionals who help people participate in the activities of daily life — the occupations that give life meaning and purpose. OT focuses on building the skills and adapting the environment needed for greater independence, safety and quality of life.

Exercare's OT services are delivered by AHPRA-registered occupational therapists visiting clients at home and in the community across Melbourne's north-east, east, inner suburbs and south-east. All services are mobile — we come to you.

OT services

What Exercare OT Includes

Functional Capacity Assessments

Comprehensive assessments of daily living skills for NDIS access requests, plan reviews and change-of-circumstance applications. Learn more →

Home Modifications

Assessment and recommendations for modifications that improve safety and independence at home — grab rails, ramps, bathroom modifications and more. Learn more →

Assistive Technology

Assessment, prescription and trial of assistive technology equipment, from everyday aids through to more complex equipment. Learn more →

Daily Living Skills

Therapy targeting the skills needed for personal care, meal preparation, household tasks and community participation. Learn more →

NDIS Report Writing

Functional assessments and reports to support NDIS applications, plan reviews and support funding requests.

Sensory Processing

Sensory assessments and strategies for people with autism, sensory processing differences and related conditions. Learn more →

Adults and children

OT for Adults and Children

Adult occupational therapy

Personal care, home tasks, routines, fatigue, community access, work and home safety for adults with disability. Adult OT →

Paediatric occupational therapy

Sensory processing, regulation, fine motor skills, self-care and school readiness for children and teens. Paediatric OT →

Who we support

Who Exercare OT is For

Exercare OT supports adults, older people and children, including:

  • NDIS participants (plan-managed and self-managed) needing therapy, functional assessments, home modifications or assistive technology
  • NDIS participants preparing for a plan reassessment who need updated functional capacity evidence
  • Older people on a Support at Home plan who need home safety, falls prevention, equipment or home modification support
  • People applying for the NDIS who need a self-funded functional capacity assessment to support their application. Applying for the NDIS →
  • People with autism, acquired brain injury, stroke, neurological conditions, psychosocial disability or physical disability
Funding

How OT is Funded

Occupational therapy is funded through the NDIS or Support at Home:

  • NDIS Category 15 — Improved Daily Living Skills: OT therapy, functional capacity assessments and capacity building
  • NDIS Category 05 — Assistive Technology: AT assessments and prescription reports
  • NDIS Category 06 — Home Modifications: home modification assessments and reports
  • Support at Home: allied health is a clinical support, so there is no client contribution. OT prescriptions under the AT-HM scheme are covered too. Support at Home OT →
  • Self-funded FCAs: for people applying for the NDIS. Applying for the NDIS →
Where we service

Mobile OT Across 302 Melbourne Suburbs

Our OT is based in Templestowe Lower. Regular in-home therapy covers suburbs within about a 30-minute drive, which, thanks to the Eastern Freeway and EastLink, reaches the CBD, Clayton and Dandenong. Functional capacity assessments are available across all our service areas. No waitlist.

North-east

Templestowe Lower Templestowe Doncaster Doncaster East Bulleen Donvale Eltham Warrandyte Heidelberg Ivanhoe Greensborough Bundoora

East

Box Hill Kew Hawthorn Camberwell Blackburn Mitcham Ringwood Croydon Wantirna Ferntree Gully

Inner city and north

Melbourne CBD Richmond Fitzroy Collingwood Brunswick Northcote Preston Reservoir South Morang

South-east

Glen Waverley Mount Waverley Clayton Oakleigh Rowville Springvale Noble Park Keysborough Dandenong

View all 302 OT service areas →

OT and EP together

Exercise Physiology and OT Working Together

One of the key advantages of accessing OT through Exercare is that our exercise physiology and occupational therapy teams work side by side. For many NDIS participants, OT and EP address complementary goals — OT focuses on the skills and environment needed for daily life, while EP builds the physical capacity to perform those activities.

When both services are delivered by the same provider, communication between clinicians is seamless, goal-setting is coordinated and your plan funding is used more efficiently. A single provider also means one point of contact for you, your support coordinator and your plan manager.

Learn more about our exercise physiology services →

Start Your OT Journey

Contact Exercare to arrange your first OT visit anywhere in our Melbourne service area or ask your support coordinator to refer you.

Start OT intake Call 0413 827 232
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a referral for OT under the NDIS?
No referral is required for NDIS OT or self-funded FCAs. You need relevant funding in your NDIS plan — typically Capacity Building (Category 15) for OT therapy or specific AT or home modification funding. Your support coordinator can help confirm what's in your plan.
Can I access OT if I'm not yet on the NDIS?
Exercare provides self-funded functional capacity assessments for people applying for the NDIS. Ongoing OT is available once you have NDIS or Support at Home funding. Applying for the NDIS →
Is OT available for aged care or Support at Home clients?
Yes. Our occupational therapists see Support at Home clients for home safety, falls prevention, equipment and home modifications, including AT-HM prescriptions. Allied health is a clinical support under Support at Home, so there is no client contribution. More about Support at Home OT.
Can I see both an OT and an exercise physiologist at Exercare?
Yes — and this is one of the key benefits of choosing Exercare. Our EP and OTs coordinate directly, sharing goals and communicating about your progress, making your overall care more effective and your plan funding more efficient.