Waiting for an OT?
With an increase in demand for Occupational Therapy, you may find yourself waiting months for your assessment and therapy. You may be spending more time on a waitlist than you’d like. Or you may not be able to access services at all in your area.
This can be discouraging when you are striving to use your NDIS funding to achieve your goals.
Why Are NDIS Occupational Therapy Waitlists So Long?
There is a high demand for Occupational Therapists across Australia, and finding the right OT can become even more difficult when you need someone with specific disability experience, paediatric experience or skills in a particular type of assessment.
For example, you may not just be looking for an Occupational Therapist. You may need an OT who can complete a Functional Capacity Assessment, assess Assistive Technology, provide ongoing therapy, complete a home modification assessment or work with your child.
Availability can also depend on where you live. If you are in a regional or remote area, you may have fewer Occupational Therapists available locally. Even in metropolitan areas, some therapists may have capacity for assessments but not ongoing therapy, or vice versa.
Occupational Therapists have also been identified as an occupation experiencing workforce shortages in Australia.
This is why it can be helpful to look beyond one provider or one way of receiving therapy.
What if you were told you could work towards your NDIS goals while waiting for your OT to come on board?
To start this process, you must take a closer look at the goals in your NDIS plan and consider what other NDIS services and supports can be explored for you to achieve your goals.
It is important to keep in mind that one service, i.e. Physiotherapy, cannot replace another service, such as Occupational Therapy. However, an alternative service can address aspects of your goals to help you work towards building your capacity.
This can be viewed as supplementing your Occupational Therapy services while waiting for your superstar OT - win, win!
See below for examples of how different therapists and services can address various skills to contribute toward your goal attainment:
Key Worker Model
A key worker can be an allied health professional (therapist) who has specialist skills in working with children in an early intervention capacity. The idea is that you have one key worker for your child who delivers therapy across a range of disciplines under the guidance of a treating therapist. The key worker will also coordinate communication and information sharing between the therapists working with the child and the family.
Learn more about the Role of an NDIS Key Worker
Is telehealth an option for an Occupational Therapy assessment?
Telehealth involves online consultation, assessment and intervention with healthcare practitioners from the convenience of your home.
A telehealth assessment can be completed in place of a face-to-face assessment in most cases. The assessment will involve detailed discussions with you and if needed, a family member and carer. It will also involve observations of you in your home environment and performing activities of daily living via video. This is where a laptop or portable device with a camera and microphone is necessary.
Some standardised assessments completed by therapists are designed to be administered via telehealth.
What To Do While on NDIS Occupational Therapy Waitlist
Being on a waitlist does not mean you have to stop working towards your goals completely.
There are a few things you, your family or your Support Coordinator can look into while you are waiting.
Ask exactly what you are waiting for
Ask the provider whether you are waiting for an initial assessment, ongoing therapy or a particular Occupational Therapist.
Look at the goal, not only the therapy
For example, your goal may be to become more independent at home, improve mobility, communicate more easily, participate in the community or build daily living skills.
An OT may be one important part of achieving that goal, but there may be other supports already in your plan that can help you work on parts of the same goal while you wait.
This does not mean replacing your OT. It means making sure you are getting as much benefit as possible from the supports available to you.
If you are unsure whether another support can be used, speak with your Plan Manager, Support Coordinator, therapist or NDIS contact before arranging the service.
Get your information ready for your OT
Waiting time can also be used to prepare for your first OT appointment.
Start keeping information about the areas you want help with.
This could include:
- daily activities you are finding difficult
- changes in your mobility or independence
- tasks you need assistance with at home
- sensory challenges
- difficulties at school, work or in the community
- equipment you currently use
- equipment that is no longer working for you
- previous therapy reports and assessments
- examples of what is working well and what is not
If you are a parent, you might also ask your child’s school, childcare centre or other therapists for relevant reports or observations.
Having this information ready can help your OT understand your needs when your therapy starts.
What Parents Can Do While Waiting for Paediatric Occupational Therapists
If your child is waiting for a paediatric OT, it can be frustrating when you can already see areas where they need support.
But there is information you can start gathering now that can be very useful when your child sees their therapist.
Watch what happens during everyday activities.
For example:
- Is getting dressed difficult?
- Are mealtimes challenging?
- Are there particular noises, textures or environments your child finds difficult?
- Do they struggle with handwriting, scissors or other fine motor activities?
- Is it difficult for them to move from one activity to another?
- Are there particular times of the day when things become harder?
- What activities do they enjoy and engage with easily?
You do not need to diagnose the problem yourself. Simply keeping examples of what you are seeing gives the therapist a much clearer picture of your child’s everyday life.
You can also speak with your child’s teachers, childcare educators and other therapists. They may notice different challenges or strengths in other environments.
While you wait, you can continue helping your child practise everyday skills in small, manageable steps. This could include dressing, packing their school bag, following a simple routine, helping prepare food or participating in household activities appropriate for them.
If your child already has other therapists, you can also ask whether there are parts of your child’s goals they can continue working towards within their own professional scope.
A Key Worker may also be worth exploring for younger children receiving early childhood supports.
Learn More
To understand more about the different therapists working in the NDIS, review this resource: Decoding Allied Health - Finding the Therapist Right For Me
For a deeper understanding on the relationship between OT and Physio, review this resource: What is the Difference Between Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy in the NDIS?
How do I find a therapist to achieve my NDIS goals?
The MyCareSpace Connections Team connected to a therapist in your area or online are in touch with therapy providers across Australia. Connect with our team to find the right therapist for you today.
Find a Therapist connected to a therapist in your area or online
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my NDIS funding for another therapy while waiting for an OT?
Potentially, but another therapist should not simply be used as a replacement for Occupational Therapy.
Start by looking at your NDIS goals and what you are trying to achieve. Another allied health professional may be able to work on a different aspect of the same goal, provided the support is appropriate for your disability needs and can be funded under your plan.
What happens if my OT funding expires before I start therapy?
First, check when your current NDIS plan ends and how much funding you have available.
If your plan has funding periods, unused funding from one funding period can move into the next funding period within the same plan. However, unused funding from an old plan does not transfer into a new NDIS plan.
If you are getting close to the end of your plan and you are still waiting for therapy consider telehealth. This could be suitable options for you.
Can I see an Occupational Therapist through telehealth while I wait?
Yes, many Occupational Therapy services can be provided using telehealth.
This can be particularly useful if there are no OTs with capacity in your local area.
Can a Physiotherapist, Speech Pathologist or other therapist replace my OT?
No. Each allied health profession has its own area of expertise.
Can I be on more than one Occupational Therapy waitlist?
You can contact multiple providers when looking for an Occupational Therapist.
Should I buy Assistive Technology while I am waiting for my OT?
Be careful about purchasing equipment that normally requires assessment or prescription from an Occupational Therapist.
The right Assistive Technology depends on your individual needs, abilities and environment. Equipment that works well for one person may not be appropriate or safe for another.
What can I do if my child has been waiting months for a paediatric OT?
Telehealth is an excellent option if your child has been waiting a long time for a paediatric OT.
