Therapy assistants and group programs can be a practical, affordable way to help your child build skills alongside qualified allied health support. This guide explains how these services work, what they typically cost, how NDIS funding fits in, and how to choose a Geelong provider that suits your family. The page also features local providers such as Allay Occupational Therapy, Language For Life and Better Rehab – Geelong.
Team of occupational therapists in Geelong and Melbourne's west/north, serving clients from birth through adolescence to adults and older adults. Offers early intervention, feeding therapy, cerebral palsy supports, group therapy, driving assessments, and mental health supports. Registered NDIS provider; also supports TAC clients. Clinic, home, workplace and school visits available.
Neurodiversity-affirming speech pathology and occupational therapy for children in Melbourne. Chelsea Heights clinic sees ages 0–12; Glenroy clinic ages 0–16. Offers group programs, autism assessments, and mobile services in homes, schools, and community settings. Waitlist available via intake form.
Provides speech pathology, occupational therapy, psychology, physiotherapy, dietetics, play therapy, autism assessments and groups for children aged 0-18 in Surf Coast, Geelong and Bellarine. Offers one-off assessments and free Wiggle and Grow drop-in program for children 0-3 while awaiting services.
Multidisciplinary paediatric practice in Geelong CBD offering Speech Pathology, OT, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Dietetics, Positive Behaviour Support, Support Coordination, Plan Management and Allied Health Assistance. Physiotherapy treats from 1-day-old babies to adolescents. NDIS-related services mentioned; no explicit NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlist details stated.
Registered NDIS provider in Geelong (Newtown) offering occupational therapy, speech pathology, physiotherapy, and allied health assistant support. Services provided in-clinic, at home, in community, and via telehealth across the Barwon region. Open to NDIS and private-paying clients, no NDIS plan required.
Geelong-based occupational therapy provider offering strength-based OT and therapy assistant support for neurodiverse children to help achieve NDIS goals. Services delivered through assessments, planning, and regular sessions. No practitioner names, ages, telehealth, or waitlist details stated explicitly.
Geelong-based mental health occupational therapy and psychology service, neuro-affirming, offering OT, clinical psychology, counselling, and therapeutic groups for mental health, trauma, and disability support.
Geelong-region provider offering Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Social Work/Key Worker and group therapy programs for young children as part of early childhood intervention supports; also runs a playgroup. No practitioner names, NDIS registration status, telehealth, or waitlist details stated.
Allied health assistants (AHAs) work under the supervision and direction of a qualified therapist — usually an occupational therapist, speech pathologist or physiotherapist. The therapist assesses your child and sets goals, then designs a program the assistant delivers across regular sessions. This model can stretch your funding further, because assistant time is usually charged at a lower rate than a fully qualified therapist.
Group programs bring a small number of children together to work on shared goals. Common examples include social skills groups, play-based groups, fine-motor or handwriting groups, and speech and language groups. Groups are led or supervised by an allied health professional and give children a chance to practise skills with peers in a supported setting — something that's hard to replicate in one-on-one sessions.
Every child develops at their own pace, and only a qualified professional can assess your child's needs. That said, families often seek support when they notice:
If you have concerns, a good first step is a chat with your GP, maternal and child health nurse, or your child's teacher.
Group programs and assistant-supported sessions are offered across a wide age range, from toddlers through to teenagers. Programs are usually grouped by age and developmental stage, so a preschool social group looks quite different from a high-school-aged one. When you enquire, ask which age bands a provider runs and whether there's a group that matches your child's stage.
Most families start with an assessment or intake appointment with the supervising therapist rather than the assistant. Expect the therapist to:
Bring any previous reports, your NDIS plan (if you have one) and a short list of your priorities. First appointments often run 45–90 minutes.
As a general guide in Australia, allied health assistant sessions commonly range from about $55–$100 per hour, while sessions with a qualified therapist sit higher, often around $180–$220 per hour. Group programs are frequently charged per session or per term and can work out cheaper per child. The NDIS publishes price caps that registered providers must not exceed, and these caps change over time — so always confirm current pricing directly with the provider. Costs vary with session length, group size and the professional involved.
Under the NDIS, therapy usually sits within Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living. Allied health assistant time, group programs and the supervising therapist's assessment and planning can all typically be funded from this budget. If you're self-managed or plan-managed, you generally have more flexibility over which providers you use; agency-managed plans require NDIS-registered providers. Check how your plan is managed before booking.
Use these checks to compare providers:
Taking a little time to ask these questions upfront helps you find a provider who's a genuine fit for your child and your family's goals.
Or read the full therapy assistants & groups guide, or browse all Geelong providers.
A therapist (such as an OT or speech pathologist) is a qualified professional who assesses your child and sets the plan. A therapy assistant delivers parts of that plan under the therapist's supervision, usually at a lower hourly rate, which can make funding go further.
Groups and individual sessions do different jobs. Groups are great for practising social and functional skills with peers, while one-on-one sessions allow more tailored work. Many children benefit from a mix. The supervising therapist can advise what suits your child's goals.
Yes, allied health assistant sessions and group programs can typically be funded under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living. Whether you can use a particular provider depends on how your plan is managed, so check whether the provider is NDIS-registered if your plan is agency-managed.
As a general guide, assistant sessions often range from about $55–$100 per hour and qualified therapist sessions higher, around $180–$220 per hour, with groups usually charged per session or term. NDIS price caps apply to registered services and change over time, so confirm current pricing with the provider.
Waitlists vary a lot between providers and can differ for assessments versus ongoing sessions or group placement. Always ask each provider directly about their current wait times, and consider asking to be placed on a cancellation list to get in sooner.