Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy Assessments

An NDIS assessment is performed to identify an NDIS participant’s current level of function. Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists identify any functional physical or emotional limitations and work with the participant to improve or overcome some of these limitations.

Under the NDIS, the majority of assessments are referred to as functional assessments or measuring someone’s function during tasks of normal living, these include:

  • Getting up from a chair
  • Transferring into and out of bed
  • Managing toileting
  • Showering
  • Ability to independently manage finances
  • Ability to manage cleaning and basic domestic housework
  • Cooking

Mobile Occupational Therapists

Assessments Explained

What is an NDIS Assessment?

Prior to our initial assessment, we will speak with the participant and their support coordinator to establish what they are looking to achieve from the session. Components assessed usually include:

  • The participant’s current capabilities
  • Home modification requirements
  • Assistive equipment requirements
  • Understanding what Physiotherapy/Occupational Therapy would be beneficial for that person to achieve their goals
  • If the participant has requirements for SIL or SDA, these assessments will also be performed

Some assessments will be purely functional, while others will involve reviewing the home environment too. If home modifications are required, measurements will be taken during the initial assessment.

How Long Does an NDIS Assessment Take?

This will vary depending on the needs of the individual participant.

It can take between one hour to three hours, based upon how complex the situation is and on whether a home modification assessment is also required.

Types of Assessments

Please click on an image to learn more.

Functional Capacity

SIL Assessments

SDA Assessments

What is the Outcome of an Assessment? 

At the end of the session, our clinicians will produce a document listing the assessment and recommendations. We refer to these as Intervention and Services Report. The document details:

  • What was assessed, together with assessment findings
  • Goals that the participant and the clinician have identified together
  • Interventions required (for example modifications or assistive equipment)
  • Anticipated hours required to reach the participant’s goals

We use a Total Health Choice document to record this report, but for cases involving complex home modifications, we use an NDIS report template.

These reports become important in the process of requesting both low cost or high-cost assistive equipment or modifications.

How are NDIS Assessments Funded?

These are government-funded assessments. They fall within an NDIS plan.

What Happens if a Client Doesn’t Understand their NDIS Report?

Please phone us at any time.

We are always happy to talk through the report and work with clients to make sure they understand it and understand variable options moving forward.

A young black disabled woman with a wheelchair and a bright colored sweater and her Asian friend walk around the city.

Who Can Access Total Health Choice’s Services?

Any NDIS participant can access our services. We primarily work with adult participants over 18.

With regard to funding, a participant’s NDIS plan will determine what type of services are covered for them. They would need to have funding under Therapeutic Support to have their services covered.

Total Health Choice can write a recommendation towards increasing funded hours. We can also provide services for someone who is looking to get onto the NDIS but is not a participant yet.

Can Total Health Choice be Engaged for an Assessment Only?

Yes, absolutely. We can:

  • Undertake a one-off functional assessment
  • Provide recommendations for someone’s NDIS plan
  • Provide recommendations in preparation for a Plan review

We can also provide an Occupational Therapy review specifically for home modification. Regardless of whether the participant continues to engage our services, we will still write the report and provide it to the participant and the support coordinator.

 

NDIS Assessment FAQ

  • What types of assessments do Physiotherapists & Occupational Therapists commonly use under the NDIS?

    There are a range of assessments and associated outcome measures that we undertake. These include:

    • Functional assessments
    • Activities of Daily Living (ADL) assessment
    • Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) assessment
    • Mobility Assessment
    • Gait assessment
    • Postoperative assessment
    • Pain scale assessments
  • Under what circumstances should someone be reassessed?

    There are a number of situations that would prompt a reassessment. These include:

    • If a participant is due for a scheduled plan review.
    • If there has been a change to the client’s mobility
    • If there has been a fault with someones assistive technology/equipment
    • If new assistive technology (or home modifications) are required to better benefit the individual
  • What other medical professionals might be involved?

    There is a range of medical and Allied Health professionals who may be involved in the assessment process. These include:

    • Occupational Therapists
    • Physiotherapists
    • Speech pathologists
    • Dieticians
    • Exercise Physiologists
  • Are components of the report clinical in nature and potentially hard to understand?

    There are clinical components, but we overcome this by keeping the structure straightforward: we outline a limitation, and then outline the correlating recommendation.

    We do our best to ensure that our reports are comprehensive but accessible to everyone.

  • What are your recommendations for someone who is living with a disability but who has not yet had an assessment or have awareness of the NDIS?

    The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is responsible for determining who is eligible to access the NDIS.

    There is a hotline (ph. 1800 800 110) set up for those wanting to make an access request. Equally, someone can complete and submit the access request form via email. A local area coordinator can also help with the process of applying.

    Potential NDIS participants will need to provide evidence of their disability. There will be assessments involved and an applicant may be required to engage a Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist (at their own cost) to write a report supporting the application for funding under the NDIA.

 

Ready to Work with Total Health Choice?

We’d love to hear from you. We proudly serve NDIS participants throughout South-East Melbourne.

  • We are an Australian-owned company
  • We are NDIS registered
  • We offer Physio, OT & EP
  • Our clinicians are trustworthy, compassionate & caring

Please get in touch using our contact or referrals pages.