Therapy assistant sessions and group programs can be a practical, lower-cost way to help your child build skills and put therapy goals into practice. This guide explains how these supports work, what they cost, how NDIS funding fits in, and how to choose a Sunshine Coast provider — including several featured on this page.
Sunshine Coast-based neurological rehab provider serving ages 2–102 with disabilities, brain injury, stroke, MS and mental health conditions. Offers physiotherapy, occupational therapy, exercise physiology and allied health assistance via home visits and a Buderim clinic, working with NDIS participants and support coordinators.
Multidisciplinary allied health provider with Sunshine Coast clinic offering OT, physiotherapy, speech pathology, positive behaviour support, dietetics and allied health assistants for all ages under NDIS plans. No telehealth or waitlist details specified; intake via referral form, contact made when availability arises.
Lodestar Therapy is an allied health provider offering Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Physiotherapy, Social Work, Allied Health Assistant services, and NDIS Consultation for people of all ages and abilities. No specific practitioner names, telehealth details, waitlist information, or explicit NDIS registration status are stated.
Registered NDIS provider in Maroochydore offering speech pathology, occupational therapy and paediatric physiotherapy, plus support work and life skills programs. Serves children (from 6 months) through teens and adults with disabilities. Sessions available at the centre, in-home, community, school or via Telehealth.
Sunshine Coast provider (Maroochydore/Caloundra) offering speech pathology, occupational therapy, clinical psychology, dietetics and allied health assistant support for children, teens, adults and families. Telehealth available; NDIS, self-funded and Medicare clients welcome; free 15-minute discovery call, no referral needed.
Maroochydore-based paediatric provider (with Perth mobile OT and regional QLD outreach) supporting infancy to adolescence via occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychology, autism assessment, and group therapy. Supports NDIS self-managed and plan-managed participants; no referral required; no explicit telehealth or waitlist mention.
Registered NDIS provider offering speech pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychology, positive behaviour support, and group sessions for children and teens across Sunshine Coast centres including Kawana; also SDSS-funded school services; no waitlist mentioned for OT at Nambour.
Mobile allied health provider serving Fraser Coast (Hervey Bay, Maryborough) for NDIS participants, Support at Home aged care clients, and private patients. Services include occupational therapy, physiotherapy, exercise physiology, and allied health assistants, with staff noting interest in paediatrics; no telehealth or waitlist details given.
Allied health assistants (AHAs) are trained support workers who deliver parts of a therapy program under the direction and supervision of a qualified therapist — such as a speech pathologist, occupational therapist or physiotherapist. The therapist sets the goals and plan, then the assistant helps your child practise and repeat activities more often, usually at a lower hourly rate.
Group programs bring a small number of children together to work on shared goals — for example, social skills, play, emotional regulation, fine-motor tasks, or early language. Groups are typically run or overseen by a qualified therapist and can be a great fit for skills that are naturally practised with other children, like turn-taking, friendships and communication.
Together, these options let families stretch their therapy budget and give children more chances to practise, while a lead therapist keeps the plan on track.
Every child develops at their own pace, and this is general information rather than medical advice. Some parents look into therapy assistant or group support when a child:
If you have concerns about your child's development, a GP, paediatrician or qualified allied health professional can help you work out what support fits.
Groups and assistant-supported sessions run across a wide age range, from toddlers and preschoolers through to primary school and teens. Programs are usually grouped by age and stage — early-years play groups, school-readiness groups, social skills groups for older children, and teen programs. Ask each provider which age bands they cater for and how they match children within a group.
In most cases you'll start with the lead therapist rather than the assistant. A first appointment usually involves:
For groups, the provider may want to meet your child first to check the group is a good fit. Bring any recent reports, assessments or your NDIS plan if you have one.
As a general guide in Australia, therapy assistant sessions often sit lower than a qualified therapist's hourly rate, while group programs are usually charged per session or per term and can work out cheaper per child because the cost is shared. The NDIS publishes annual price caps that set the maximum providers can charge NDIS participants, and these change over time — always confirm current pricing directly with the provider, as fees vary and these are general ranges only.
Under the NDIS, therapy assistant and group supports are usually funded from the Capacity Building — Improve Daily Living budget, the same line that funds allied health therapy. How you can spend it depends on whether your plan is self-managed, plan-managed or agency-managed. If you're unsure, your support coordinator or plan manager can help you check what your plan covers.
This page features providers across the region, including Community Neuro Rehab Service, My Therapy Crew, Lodestar Therapy, Northcott, the ZOE Allied Health clinics (Cotton Tree, Maroochydore and Caloundra), More Than Able Therapy, Your Best Life Children's and Teens' Therapy at Kawana, Children's and Teens' Therapy Services, Chatter-Boxes Therapy Centre and Therapy Assistance Sunshine Coast. When comparing them, look at:
Taking time to ask these questions helps you find support that genuinely fits your child and your family's routine.
Or read the full therapy assistants & groups guide, or browse all Sunshine Coast providers.
A qualified therapist — such as a speech pathologist, OT or physiotherapist — assesses your child, sets goals and designs the plan. A therapy assistant is a trained support worker who helps deliver parts of that plan under the therapist's supervision, often at a lower hourly rate so your child can practise more often.
In most cases yes. These supports are usually funded from the Capacity Building — Improve Daily Living budget, the same line as allied health therapy. How you access it depends on whether your plan is self-managed, plan-managed or agency-managed. Check with your plan manager or support coordinator.
As a general guide, assistant sessions usually cost less than a qualified therapist's hourly rate, and group programs are often charged per session or per term. The NDIS sets annual price caps for participants, and fees vary between providers, so confirm current pricing directly with the clinic.
Programs run from toddlers and preschoolers through to primary-aged children and teens. Providers usually group children by age and stage — such as early-years play groups, school-readiness groups and teen social skills programs. Ask each provider which age bands they offer.
Confirm the lead therapist is registered with the relevant body — Speech Pathology Australia, AHPRA, or Occupational Therapy Australia. If your NDIS plan is agency-managed, check whether the provider is NDIS-registered. It's also worth asking how assistants are trained and supervised, plus current waitlist times.