FAQ & Funding

A Paediatric Occupational Therapist is an allied healthcare professional who works closely with children experiencing difficulties in their daily life which may impact their learning and/or development. They develop programs to help children improve their skills, increase independence and promote confidence in an engaging and fun environment. They use assessments, treatment plans and evaluation in their interventions and work closely with families, teachers and other healthcare professionals involved in the child’s life.

If you or anyone involved with your child (e.g. preschool, class teacher, paediatrician) are concerned that your child is not meeting any of their developmental milestones and/or is experiencing difficulty with:

• Attending to or recalling information
• Planning, organising or sequencing
• Gross motor skills
• Processing and tolerating sensory input
• Handwriting
• Independently completing school work (reading, writing, spelling, drawing, cutting) or keeping up in class
• Fine motor skills
• Social skills
• Self-care skills
• Play skills
• Occupational Therapists also work with children who have specific diagnoses such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Development Coordination Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorders, ADHD and Global Developmental Delay.

If you have concerns with any of the above, it is recommended that you contact an Occupational Therapist to discuss your concerns in more detail. Current research suggests that early intervention plays an important role in enhancing a child’s opportunities, therefore the earlier the better. We will advise you whether your concerns are age-appropriate and if they fall within with the Occupational Therapy sphere of practice. If not, we can advise you on potential alternative services specific to your concerns.

Please use our online form on the ‘Contact Us’ tab of the website or call us to make a referral. We will then discuss your child’s specific needs and any key concerns you are having. This will help to determine the next steps and if we are the right service for you.

A GP referral is not necessary, however it is worthwhile discussing your concerns with your GP prior to the appointment to determine if your child is eligible for an EPC/CDM plan (necessary for Medicare rebates).

General Practitioners, Speech Pathologists, Paediatricians, Teachers, Early Learning Centre staff and other Allied Health Professionals also refer children to Occupational Therapists.

There is high demand for paediatric Occupational Therapy services and most clinics have waiting lists. Our wait time is always changing and it is not possible to give an exact time period. However the more available you are (e.g. multiple days and times), the more likely you will be seen sooner. If you are flexible to attend either clinic (Warriewood or Allambie) this may also reduce your wait time. You are welcome to call the clinic at any point to ask how the waitlist is progressing.

There is no exact duration for attending occupational therapy sessions. We can advise once the initial assessment has been conducted however generally we see children up until they have achieved their goals. Every child is unique and achieves their goals within different timeframes. A child’s progress is monitored and reviewed throughout therapy and regular parent and teacher discussions help to track progress. Regular attendance and home practice help with consistent progression towards achieving goals.

Families can cancel one therapy session per term and not incur a cancellation fee. Any cancellations following this will be charged at the full therapy rate.

• In the event of a cancellation due to sickness, the clinician must be notified by 7am the day of the appointment. You will be charged 50% of the session fee.
• Failure to attend: if you do not attend your appointment and do not let your therapist know, the full session rate will be charged.
• Consistent attendance: If you cancel more than 1 session in a term, any subsequent cancellations will be charged at the full session fee. Your therapist will discuss options of how to use the appointment time if you need to cancel for any reason. The time can be used by our therapists to contact teachers, other therapists, prepare resources for home or school, or meet with you to discuss ongoing goals.
• Make-up sessions: in the event of a missed or cancelled appointment, you may be offered the option of a make-up session. This must be scheduled within a week of your regular therapy time and does not replace a subsequent appointment.

Kids Plan-it strives to be a family-centred and strengths-based practice, meaning we value working closely with parents/caregivers in planning, implementing and evaluating intervention. Understanding a family’s life and priorities helps with determining goals and the most effective intervention. We believe involving parents and carers in all we do is important for effective therapy.

Our goal is for parents/caregivers to understand what is being practiced in therapy, see it being implemented with the OT and then, with time, feel confident to use these strategies within their home and community contexts. In sessions, our therapists actively involve parents in play and other activities. Come and join the fun!