Occupational therapy (OT) helps children build the everyday skills they need to play, learn and grow — from holding a pencil to managing sensory experiences and getting dressed independently. This guide explains what paediatric OT involves, how NDIS funding works, and how to choose the right Canberra provider for your family. It also features a range of local services to help you start your search.
Ability to Achieve offers allied health services including occupational therapy, speech therapy, behaviour support and early intervention for children, alongside disability, aged care and youth programs. Serves Sydney, Canberra and Central Coast, supporting NDIS participants; no telehealth, waitlist, or specific practitioner details mentioned.
Canberra Hand Therapy provides Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy focused on hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder rehabilitation, including post-operative care. Offers online consultations (telehealth). No specific paediatric age range, NDIS registration, or waitlist details mentioned.
ORS is a family-owned, NDIS-registered provider offering Positive Behaviour Support, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Dietetics and Key Worker Early Childhood Supports for children, adults and families. Telehealth available nationally; no wait lists for Behaviour Support; also funded via Medicare and government programs.
Canberra-based paediatric physiotherapy provider (Hawker, plus Deakin) offering physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, intensives, and multidisciplinary SPARK programs combining physio, OT, and speech therapy. Registered with Medicare, AHPRA, APA; sees self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants. Sees newborns through adolescents.
Tamba Healthcare offers NDIS services including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics, and speech therapy, alongside community access, nursing, personal care, and supported independent living. No specific ages, telehealth, or waitlist details mentioned.
Canberra Children's Physiotherapy offers paediatric physiotherapy and occupational therapy from clinics in Phillip and Waramanga, ACT, with mobile appointments at home or school. An OT waitlist form is available, and enquiries can be submitted online for appointment requests.
Early Start Australia Queanbeyan offers occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and speech pathology for children and young adults aged 0-16 with developmental delays and physical disabilities. Services delivered in-clinic, via telehealth, and mobile visits to childcare, pre-school, and school settings since 2010.
Australia-wide provider offering psychology, counselling, behaviour support and speech therapy for children, adolescents, adults and seniors. AHPRA-registered psychologists, telehealth Australia-wide, in-clinic services including Canberra, and at-home options for eligible NDIS plan-managed and self-managed participants.
Occupational therapy for children focuses on the "occupations" of childhood — the meaningful, everyday activities that make up a child's day. That includes fine motor skills (like handwriting, using scissors and doing up buttons), sensory processing (how a child responds to sound, touch, movement and other input), and daily-living skills (dressing, toileting, feeding and sleep routines).
A paediatric OT looks at how a child's body, brain and environment work together, then designs practical strategies and activities to help them participate more confidently at home, in the classroom and in the community. Sessions are usually play-based, because play is how young children learn best.
Every child develops at their own pace, but some signs that an OT assessment could help include:
If you're unsure, it's worth chatting with your GP, paediatrician, maternal and child health nurse, or your child's teacher. You don't always need a referral to see an OT privately, but a referral can help clarify goals.
Occupational therapy supports children from infancy right through to the teenage years. Early intervention (before school age) can be particularly valuable, but OT is helpful at any stage — including for older children navigating school demands, independence and self-regulation.
An initial appointment usually involves the therapist gathering background information, chatting with you about your concerns and goals, and observing your child through play and structured activities. For some children, a formal standardised assessment is used to measure skills against typical development. The OT will then discuss findings and recommend a plan, which may include a block of sessions, home strategies and reviews.
First appointments often run longer than follow-ups, and it's a good idea to bring any reports from other professionals (paediatrician, speech pathologist, school).
As a general guide, private OT sessions in Australia typically range from around $190 to $230 per hour. The NDIS sets maximum price limits for therapy under its published price guide, and these caps are reviewed each year — so always confirm current pricing directly with the provider.
If your child has an NDIS plan, OT is generally funded under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living. This budget can cover assessments, therapy sessions, report writing and, in some cases, therapy assistant support. Some families also access support through Medicare's Chronic Disease Management plan (up to five allied health sessions with a GP referral, though gaps usually apply) or private health extras cover.
Always ask providers whether they charge at or below the NDIS price cap, and whether travel, report writing or non-face-to-face time is billed separately.
Canberra and the surrounding region have a good range of paediatric OT services, from Griffith and Deakin through to Fyshwick, Bruce, Cook and nearby Queanbeyan. When comparing options, consider:
This page features a range of local providers — including Ability To Achieve (Griffith), Early Bird Therapy (Fyshwick), Little Hands OT (Holt), House on the Hill Paediatric Therapy Services (Crace), Ability Action Australia (Bruce) and others across the region — to help you compare.
Taking the time to ask these questions helps you find a provider who's the right fit — someone your child feels comfortable with and who works in partnership with your family.
Or read the full occupational therapy guide, or browse all Canberra providers.
Not usually for private OT — you can often book directly. However, a referral from your GP or paediatrician can help clarify goals, and a referral is required if you want to access OT through Medicare's Chronic Disease Management plan.
If your child has an NDIS plan, OT is generally funded under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living. This can cover assessments, sessions and reports. Check your plan's budget and how it's managed, and confirm pricing against the current NDIS price caps with the provider.
As a general guide, private OT in Australia typically ranges from around $190 to $230 per hour, and the NDIS sets maximum price limits that are reviewed annually. Always confirm current fees with the provider, including any charges for reports or travel.
Waitlists for paediatric OT in the ACT can vary from a few weeks to several months depending on the provider and time of year. It's best to ask each provider directly about their current wait for both initial and ongoing appointments.
Occupational therapists in Australia must be registered with AHPRA (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency). You can verify a practitioner's registration online. It's also worth asking about their specific experience working with children.