Frequently Asked Questions

Contact us by phone, email or via the contact page on this website and one of our team will contact you to arrange an appointment. We have a waiting list, which we close from time to time to ensure we are providing quality services to our current clients and looking after the wellbeing of our team.

It depends on the purpose of your appointment.

• Initial appointments usually take between 1-1.5 hrs so we can get to know your needs and how to best support you.
• Functional Capacity Assessment sessions take between 1.5-2.5 hours, and generally occur over 2 sessions.
• Ongoing therapy (or capacity building) appointments last between 45-60 minutes. 
• We provide a mobile service, so appointments are community-based and generally occur in your home or place of residence.
• A travel fee will be charged for community-based appointments.
• Alternatively, we can provide a Telehealth service depending on your goals and needs.

Activities of daily living or ADLs is a term used by healthcare professionals to refer to the basic self-care tasks an individual can do on a day-to-day basis. 

Personal ADLs or PADLs are self-care activities routinely performed which include, but are not limited to:

• Functional mobility, which includes the ability to walk and transfer in and out of a chair or bed.
• Personal hygiene, oral care and grooming, including skin and hair care
• Showering and/or bathing
• Toileting, which includes getting on/off toilet and cleaning oneself
• Dressing, which includes selecting appropriate clothing and putting it on
• Eating

Instrumental activities of daily living or IADLs are generally more complex than basic ADLs. IADLs are made up of activities which include, but are not limited to:

• Housekeeping, laundry and other home care chores
• Money management
• Meal preparation
• Moving/changing residences
• Shopping for groceries and other necessities
• Medication management
• Using the telephone or computer

Being aware of the range of alternatives is only one part of the therapist’s task. We provide independent advice supported by clinical reasoning, when recommending assistive technology to minimise barriers, promote independence and improve quality of life.

Assistive technologies or AT are physical supports that help individuals:

• Do something more easily or safely
• Do something a person otherwise cannot do because of their disability.

Examples of AT may include:

• an app to help you communicate with  another person if the person lives with a speech impairment
• non-slip mats, that reduce the risk of slipping or falling
• special forks, that assist with eating 
• more complex AT items, such as wheelchairs and adjustable beds.

The cost of AT varies and it is funded through the NDIS at the following rates: (current June 2021):

• Low cost assistive technology: under $1,500 per item
• High cost assistive technology: over $1,500 per item.

Our OT’s, along with Occupational Therapy Australia acknowledges there are inherent risks associated with the use e of AT. The right choice of technology can prove invaluable in promoting function and independence. However, the long-term use of inappropriate devices can impair these and, instead, prolong or deepen dependence on family, friends, or formal care. The consequences of poor choices can therefore be costly and detrimental to the person’s health. We have an Assistive Technology policy and C.A.R.E. Model that guides our assessment, and where appropriate, recommendation and implementation of AT solutions.

If you have been accepted into the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and/or have recently been provided with a new NDIS plan, it may include funding for an “Occupational Therapy Functional Assessment”. 

So, what does this involve?

Essentially, an OT functional assessment assesses how you are managing day to day and it identifies some of the barriers or challenges you may be experiencing which are making it difficult for you to achieve your goals and hopes for the future. 

At the initial appointment, your OT is required to provide you with an NDIS service agreement, a document which outlines the following:

• Summary of services to be provided by OT for participant
• Schedule of supports for the OT service, including pricing/cost of service which will come from funding provided in your plan
• Responsibilities of OT service
• Responsibilities of NDIS participant receiving OT services
• Details regarding changing and/or ending the service agreement
• Details regarding providing feedback, making complaints and addressing disputes

Sessions may be completed in your home or community environment depending on the challenges/needs identified.

Step 1 – Initial Meeting
This will usually involve meeting with your OT to discuss your situation.

Step 2 – Practical Assessment
If particular areas are identified as challenging for you, your OT may request to observe you completing certain task/s to gather further insight into the challenges you face and to assist in making recommendations regarding support, capacity building or possibly assistive equipment (Assistive Technology/AT). 

Step 3 – Report & Recommendations
Following the assessment, your OT will formulate a report which will include a summary of your current function and recommendations to optimise your independence and achieve your goals. 

If you have any further questions regarding OT Functional Assessments for NDIS, please contact us.

Do it with Purpose Occupational Therapy, as with all occupational therapy practices, is guided by rules and legislation which govern Allied Health care. These include:

• Allied health legislation
• Privacy and consent rules
• Provider codes and guidelines
• Operational frameworks for funding body
• Consumer law
• Taxation and GST legislation

We aim to minimise risks to our clients and our clinicians are guided by our Risk Management System. Service delivery risks are documented on the participant’s Support Plan together with management strategies. Participants and their appointed decision makers have the opportunity to discuss the risks associated with achieving their goals and determine if they want to proceed with the planned supports or explore alternative interventions. The risk of supports not achieving the expected outcome for the participant is monitored by ongoing review of participant’s progress through their Support Plan. Risks associate with Assistive Technologies are specifically considered.

Management of privacy is supported by our Privacy & Information Management Policy & Consent to Disclose Information form.

We have developed a Community Safety Checklist. We stay current with the COVID-19/SARS2019 information and public health directions. We use QLD Govt COVID checklists and workers advice.

We have appropriate insurances in place.