PaedIatrIc OT FAQs

Occupation refers to the everyday activities and roles that individuals engage in, which give their lives meaning and purpose. These activities can include self-care tasks (like eating and dressing), work, school, leisure, and social participation. Occupation encompasses both essential daily routines and voluntary, enjoyable pursuits, contributing to a person’s overall well-being and sense of identity.

Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession that helps individuals across the lifespan develop, improve, or regain the skills needed for daily activities. It focuses on enhancing a person’s ability to engage in and perform meaningful tasks. Occupational therapy looks at a person through a holistic lens, considering internal and external factors which may be impacting a persons participation and performance in daily activities.

Through personalised interventions, paediatric occupational therapists support children in developing motor skills, sensory processing, social interactions, routines and independence, enabling them to engage in life’s meaningful activities and roles.

Paediatric occupational therapists often use play as a key part of their therapy because it is a natural and effective way for children to learn, develop, and practice important skills (their primary occupation is play, after all!). Through play, children can work on many skills including motor skills, sensory processing, social interactions, problem-solving, and emotional regulation in a fun and engaging way. While it may look like 'just playing' and fun, it’s actually a carefully designed, purposeful and therapeutic method to help children achieve their goals and support their development in a meaningful way.

We are AuDHD led and have lived experience. We view neurotypes simply as differences between people’s brains, and we focus on supporting neurodivergent individuals to achieve self-understanding, acceptance, and well-being. Our services align with the social model of disability, prioritising the needs of neurodivergent people over societal expectations. We work to accommodate diverse communication styles and needs, offering a shame-free, demand-free service with flexible support. We are committed to ongoing learning and professional development, and listening to the voices of the neurodivergent community. We respect clients needs, ensuring everyone receives the support they deserve without judgement or pressure.

We generally work with children aged 3-16yo. We understand there is still a great need for community services outside of this age range - if your child is outside of this age range and you would still like to access our services, please contact us and we can discuss your individual needs.

Thrive OT’s special interests are:

• Executive Function

• Fine and Gross Motor

• Self Care

• Social

• Mental Health

• Educational Participation

• Sensory Processing

• Emotional Regulation

Thrive OT does not offer the following services:

• Home modifications including complex equipment prescription e.g., wheelchairs

• Behaviour Support Plans

• Therapy Assistants

No, your child does not need a formal diagnosis to access our services.

While we work with many children who have specific diagnoses (like Autism, ADHD, or Developmental Delay), we also support children without diagnoses who simply need help meeting developmental milestones, managing emotions or navigating sensory challenges.

If you notice your child struggling with daily tasks like getting dressed, playing with others, focusing at school, or managing big emotions, OT can help. In OT, we look at the occupations of childhood (e.g., play, self-care, and learning) and identify where extra support may be needed.

A referral is not required to access our services. However, if using Medicare funding through a GP Chronic Conditions Management Plan (GPCCMP) or a Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorder Plan (CNDD), a GP or Paediatrician referral is necessary.

We welcome referrals and updates from your child’s treating doctors and healthcare professionals to ensure coordinated health care. If needed, we may request consent to contact your child’s paediatrician, GP, or specialists for additional information.

We are based in Metro Brisbane and we primarily service inner city Brisbane suburbs. We however understand that access to skilled paediatric occupational therapy services like ours can be limited. If you are located anywhere between Brisbane (QLD), the Sunshine Coast (QLD), Gold Coast (QLD), and Northern Rivers (NSW), we are happy to discuss service options with you. Provider travel will be quoted prior in all circumstances.

If you live outside of these areas and would still like to access our services, we offer Telehealth services.

We can additionally provide in-clinic sessions by request at either North Lakes or Grange.

• An initial parent/caregiver interview will be conducted for a comprehensive assessment of your child’s history, daily routines, main challenges or concerns, your child’s strengths and interests, your goals (as a family unit and for the child individually). We use strengths-based, family-centred and client-centred approaches, to ensure our assessments and interventions align with your family values and needs, as well as aligning with your child’s health and medical history, your child’s roles, routines, meaningful occupations and daily activities.
  

• A discussion of assessment, intervention and appointment options tailored to your child’s and family’s goals and needs. Simple concerns may be addressed within the session.

• Once goals have been discussed and set, an initial rapport building session(s) with your child is required before the commencement of intervention sessions.

Our individual sessions are generally 60 minute appointments (face-to-face contact). Please note travel time and report writing time is charged on top of this per each client appointment.

Session frequency will be tailored to your family’s and your child’s needs and goals. We generally offer ongoing weekly or fortnightly sessions, however this is subject to therapist availability, individual client needs, client availability and funding.

Client outcomes are a collaborative effort between your child, family, your child’s educators and treating health professionals.

Changes can start to show within a few sessions, but meaningful progress usually takes time and varies for each child. Outcomes depend on your child’s goals and how consistently strategies are practised at home, school and in the community between sessions.

Thrive Paediatric OT will do its upmost to ensure recommendations can be seamlessly integrated into your daily life tasks.

Very! We view you as the expert on your child and we strongly believe in the strength of collaboration. Research suggests that parents who actively participate in OT can enhance a child’s engagement, motivation, and therapy outcomes (Sayers et al., 2021).

At Thrive we often provide simple, meaningful and seamless tasks or strategies to practice at home so that the progress we make in OT sessions continues in your everyday life.

Every child’s journey is individualised. Some families come to us for a short burst of therapy to navigate or master a specific skill, while others benefit from ongoing support. We’ll always work with you and your family’s needs and tailor your child’s therapy plan to your goals.

Our fees fall within the parameters of the NDIA hourly rate of $193.99 per hour, ensuring that there is no out-of-pocket expense for our NDIS clients. We have chosen to keep our private fees in line with the NDIA guidelines, however this is subject to change.

Please note travel is also charged as per the NDIA guidelines.

Please note everyone's concerns and goals vary, and so the complexity of care, frequency and interventions may differ.

Yes, we provide occupational therapy for NDIS self-managed and plan-managed participants.

Yes, we accept all private health insurance funds for occupational therapy services. If your policy includes occupational therapy coverage, you can claim back some or all of your costs, depending on your health fund and level of cover. Please note, a gap fee may apply.

Your child may be eligible for one of the following Medicare partially funded plans. A GP or Paediatrician referral is required, and Medicare will provide a rebate for eligible clients - please note, a gap fee will apply. Your doctor will need to send us the referral/plan before your child’s session you wish to claim.

• GP Chronic Conditions Management Plan (GPCCMP) - your child may be eligible to receive up to 5 partially funded occupational therapy sessions per year.

• Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorder Plan (CNDD) - your child may be eligible to receive up to 20 partially funded occupational therapy sessions in a lifetime.

• At this time we cannot accept Mental Health Care Plans