SUPPORT · ASSESSMENTS
Occupational Therapy Assessments
Therapie provides mental health, functional capacity and activities of daily living assessments for adults, either as a stand alone service or as the first step in treatment. Assessments can be funded through the NDIS, WorkCover, RTWSA, private health or self-funded, and can be requested for treatment planning or medicolegal purposes. Assessments may be available in your home depending on funding limitations, in the clinic, or via telehealth across Australia.
ACCEPTED FUNDING PATHWAYS:
NDIS · WorkCover · RTWSA · Private Health · Medicolegal referral · Self-funded
Why Every Treatment Starts With an Assessment
Good treatment starts with a clear picture of how disability, pain or a mental health impairment is actually affecting your day to day life. An assessment identifies your strengths, the challenges you're facing, and the support or treatment that will make the most difference. In line with best practice in the occupational therapy profession, every treatment plan I provide is preceded by an assessment, and reviewed again after a period of intervention to check it's still the right fit.
Assessments can be requested as a stand alone service, for example for RTWSA, NDIS planning or a medicolegal report, or as the first step before starting therapy or support work with me. Depending on what's being assessed, sessions can take place in the clinic, in your home, or via telehealth.
Assessments Provided
The following assessments are available individually as a stand alone service, or as the first step in a treatment plan. They can be requested privately or through another insurer such as RTWSA or NDIS.
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Mental Health / Occupational Therapy Initial Assessment
An initial assessment of your current mental health status and how this is affecting your everyday functioning, with recommendations for the services and treatment most likely to help.
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Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Assessment / Functional Capacity Assessment
Assesses how you're able to manage everyday tasks such as self-care, household activities and community access. Includes advice and recommendations for assistance, equipment and treatment planning. Can be requested as an NDIS or insurer-funded service, or for medicolegal purposes, and is often carried out in your home to see how you manage in your own environment.
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Individualised Comprehensive Needs Assessment and Action Plan
A broader, whole-of-life assessment that looks across your daily needs and circumstances to build a clear, individualised action plan for support and treatment going forward.
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Individualised Goal Assessment and Formulation
Works with you to identify and formulate meaningful, achievable goals, forming the foundation for a treatment or support plan that's tailored to what matters to you.
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Follow Up and Review
Follow up of recommendations made in a previous assessment can be requested as its own service, including a review of progress and whether the original recommendations still meet your needs.
MEDICOLEGAL ASSESSMENTS
Clinical expert assessments are requested by your lawyer or another lawyer for legal purposes. These assessments are designed to answer specific questions for court or legal proceedings. All reports are independent and non biased no matter who requests the service. The resulting reports are the clinical opinion of the assessor. The primary duty of the assessor is to the Court. Please ask your lawyer for details and ensure you receive information about your assessment from Therapie and consent forms prior to your assessment meeting. The OT assessor does not represent the legal firm requesting reports. The lawyer requesting the assessment will arrange the appointment for you. Please ensure you read the section in the privacy policy and complaints policy relevant to a medicolegal setting.
What to Expect From the Assessment Process
Assessments can be requested individually, as part of a wider service, or as the necessary first step before treatment begins. Wherever it makes sense clinically, I'll come to you, an ADL or functional capacity assessment (FCA) is usually conducted in your own home. Clinic-based and telehealth appointments are also available depending on the type of assessment. All therapy begins with an assessment, but home assessments, functional capacity assessments or activities of daily living assessments are quite a large undertaking and separate to your therapy sessions. A home based assessment or FCA may involve more than one appointment.
Once complete, you'll receive clear recommendations for services, treatment or supports, along with a written report where this is required for NDIS, insurer or medicolegal purposes.
Getting Started Is Simple
1
Get in touch
Get in touch by phone, email or the contact form to talk through what kind of assessment you need.
2
Have a quick chat
We'll confirm funding, eligibility and whether the assessment is best done in the clinic, at home, via telehealth or a combination.
3
Book your first session
Your assessment is scheduled, multiple meetings can be part of the process, and, where applicable, you'll receive a written report with clear recommendations.
Therapists — are you interested in Supervision targeting your assessments?
Where We See Clients
In-person assessments are available at Southcare Sheidow Park and Pennington House, North Adelaide. Home visits are available across Adelaide's central to southern suburbs, and telehealth assessments are available Australia-wide where appropriate.
Sheidow Park, Hallet Cove, Marino, Brighton, Seacliff, O'Halloran Hill, Hove, Glenelg, Oaklands Park, Marion, Reynella, Morphett Vale, Aberfoyle Park, Flagstaff Hill, Happy Valley, Seaford, Noarlunga, surrounding Adelaide southern suburbs and Adelaide city and North Adelaide
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get an assessment funded through the NDIS?
Yes. We work with Plan Managed NDIS clients. Assessments such as functional capacity assessments (FCAs), ADL and comprehensive needs assessments are commonly requested through the NDIS, either for planning, plan review, or to support a request for supports. Talk to your Support Co-ordinator.
Can I get an eligibility for NDIS assessment done for free?
Generally not. An OT or functional capacity assessment can be funded once you are an NDIS participant if required, but if you are seeking access to the NDIS and would like a functional report for this, usual rates apply privately. This is a lengthy assessment, and can cost in the vicinity of $1500.00 - $2000.00 with no guarantees that you would be accepted under the NDIS as this is up to the NDIS itself to decide.
Do I need an assessment before starting treatment?
Yes, this starts with your first appointment conversation where we will scope out your plan for what we do together and inform your goals. An assessment gives us a clear, evidence-based picture of your needs so treatment is tailored to you. We then review progress together after a period of intervention in line with best practice in the OT profession and mental health practice, and to make sure your help is working for you.
Can an assessment be done in my home?
Yes, ADL and functional capacity assessments are often more accurate when carried out in your own home, so home visits are available across Adelaide's southern suburbs.
Can assessments be used for medicolegal purposes?
Functional capacity and ADL assessments can be requested for medicolegal purposes by a third party, with a detailed written medicolegal report provided by the OT. These reports are quite specific and differ to a report written for general purposes. General reports should not be used as evidence, so a medicolegal report must be requested for potential court or other medicolegal purposes.
What insurers do you work with?
Assessments are often requested through an advocate, the NDIA, WorkCover, RTWSA or other insurers. A medicolegal OT report requires absolute impartiality of the OT, no matter who the report is requested by. The report can be used as evidence in court.
How long does an assessment take?
This depends on the type of assessment. An initial mental health / OT assessment is generally shorter than a comprehensive needs or functional capacity assessment, we'll confirm timing when you book.
Will I get a written report?
Where required for NDIS, insurer or medicolegal purposes, yes, a written report with clear recommendations is provided following your assessment. If requested through a third party, ask your third party about arrangements for provision of a copy to you.
How much does it cost?
The cost of sessions will vary depending on your funding source and CPI or other increases. Gap payments apply to medicare referrals and NDIS and RTWSA clients are paid by the insurer. For an up to date fee schedule, please contact us.
Let's Talk
If you're not sure which assessment is right for you, or want to check funding and eligibility first, get in touch for a free 5-minute suitability chat.
Book a free 5-minute suitability chat
Your legal representative may be in touch in regard to suitability by email or phone.
By submitting this form, you agree to be contacted regarding your enquiry.
Therapie — mental health occupational therapy, individual therapy and professional supervision, location Sheidow Park in Adelaide's southern suburbs and centrally at Pennington House, North Adelaide.
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Southcare at Sheidow Park
Pennington House in North Adelaide
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