Therapy assistant sessions and group programs can be a practical, affordable way to help your child build skills and confidence with the guidance of allied health professionals. This guide explains how these services work, what they typically cost, and how to choose a Sydney provider. It also features several local services, including The Therapy Studio, Grow & Tell Speech and Occupational Therapy, Active OT For Kids and others listed on this page.
Paediatric allied health team offering physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and allied health assistant support from prenatal through young adulthood, treating conditions like cerebral palsy, developmental delay, and movement disorders. No mention of NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlist.
Hurstville-based provider offering ESDM early intervention for autistic children aged 1-6, plus Developmental Educator services, parent coaching, and a social skills group (Sunday Social Explorer) for 4-5 year olds. Supports self- and plan-managed NDIS clients; sessions mainly clinic-based with some telehealth and preschool visits.
Three Little Birds Allied Health offers Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Therapy, Dietetics and Nutrition, and Allied Health Assistant services for people of all ages. NDIS and Medicare payment options accepted. No specific practitioner names, telehealth details, or waitlist information provided.
Granville, NSW provider offering child-focused Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy for children with Autism, developmental delays and intellectual disability, including one-on-one therapy, group programs (social skills, school readiness), and assessments.
Multidisciplinary paediatric therapy centre on Sydney's Northern Beaches offering occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physiotherapy, plus social skills groups and school holiday intensives. Services delivered in-clinic, at home, schools, daycares, or via telehealth. Mentions NDIS Functional Capacity Assessments.
Reboot Occupational Therapy in Monterey, NSW offers OT services for children and adolescents, including clinic-based sessions, school/home support, telehealth, group sessions for social skills, and parent support. Focus areas include fine motor skills, sensory processing, and independence.
Mighty Steps is a Hurstville, NSW provider offering ABA-based early intervention and behaviour support for children aged 2–5, plus social skills groups. NDIS-funded and private clients welcome; small, individualized therapy approach.
Speech pathology clinic in Westmead, Western Sydney, serving children aged 12 months to school age. Offers assessments, AAC, fluency, speech sound, literacy and social communication therapy. Has a therapy assistant on staff. Supports 19 suburbs; no explicit NDIS registration, telehealth, or waitlist details given.
Allied health assistants (sometimes called therapy assistants) work under the supervision and delegation of a qualified therapist — usually an occupational therapist, speech pathologist or physiotherapist. The therapist sets the goals and the plan, and the assistant helps deliver the hands-on practice, often at a lower hourly rate. This can stretch your funding further while keeping regular momentum between therapist-led sessions.
Group programs bring several children together to work on shared goals in a social setting. Common examples include social skills groups, fine-motor or handwriting groups, play-based groups, feeding groups and school-readiness programs. Groups are led or overseen by an allied health professional, and they give children a natural chance to practise skills with peers — something that's hard to replicate one-on-one.
Every child develops at their own pace, so this is not a checklist for diagnosis. Some families explore group or assistant support when a child:
If you're unsure, a GP, paediatrician or your child's current therapist can help you decide whether individual therapy, a group program, or a combination is the best fit. This guide is general information only and isn't a substitute for professional advice.
Programs exist across early childhood through to the teenage years. Toddler and preschool groups often focus on play, language and early social skills, while school-age groups may target friendships, emotional regulation, handwriting or executive functioning. Some providers run separate teen groups. When enquiring, ask whether a group is grouped by age, developmental stage or specific goal.
Before joining a group or starting assistant sessions, most providers begin with an initial assessment or intake with a qualified therapist. This usually involves:
Bring any previous reports, your child's NDIS plan (if you have one) and a list of questions. First appointments often run 45–90 minutes.
As a general guide, allied health sessions in Australia commonly range from about $150 to $220 per hour, while therapy assistant time is usually charged at a lower rate. Group programs are often priced per session or per term and can work out cheaper per child than individual therapy. The NDIS publishes annual price caps for registered supports, and actual fees vary between providers — always confirm current pricing directly, as these figures are indicative only.
Under the NDIS, therapy for skill development typically comes from your child's Capacity Building budget (Improved Daily Living). Therapy assistant time is often billed at a separate, lower line item under the supervising therapist's delegation. If you're plan-managed or self-managed, you'll have more flexibility to use non-registered providers; if you're NDIA-managed, you'll generally need an NDIS-registered provider. Ask each service how they bill and whether group programs can be claimed against your child's plan.
Sydney has a wide spread of services, from the Sutherland Shire to the Inner West, North Shore and Eastern Suburbs. When comparing options:
Taking a little time to ask these questions upfront helps you find a service that suits your child's goals, your budget and your family's routine.
Or read the full therapy assistants & groups guide, or browse all Sydney providers.
A therapy assistant (or allied health assistant) delivers hands-on practice under the supervision and delegation of a qualified therapist, such as an OT or speech pathologist. The therapist sets and reviews the goals, while the assistant helps with repetition and practice — often at a lower hourly rate, which can help stretch your funding.
Often, yes. Group therapy for skill development is usually claimed from the Capacity Building (Improved Daily Living) budget in your child's plan. How it's billed can depend on whether your plan is self-managed, plan-managed or NDIA-managed. Confirm with the provider and check that the program aligns with your child's plan goals.
As a general guide, allied health sessions in Australia often range from around $150 to $220 per hour, with therapy assistant time charged at a lower rate. Group programs may be priced per session or term. The NDIS sets annual price caps for registered supports, and fees vary, so always confirm current pricing with the provider.
Speech pathologists should be members of Speech Pathology Australia, and occupational therapists and physiotherapists should be registered with AHPRA (OTs may also belong to Occupational Therapy Australia). You can ask the provider directly and confirm registration through the relevant professional body's public register.
It depends on your child's goals. Groups are great for practising social and peer-based skills, while individual sessions allow more tailored, focused work. Many families use a mix. A qualified therapist can assess your child and recommend the best combination — this guide is general information and not personal advice.