Many NDIS participants are allocating Capacity Building funding in their plans to access therapy supports and Allied Health services. Rest assured that only a qualified therapist will deliver the therapies. As a registered National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provider at Posity, we are often asked about the various types of allied health and therapeutic support we offer, and how they can help you.
We strongly believe that every person with a disability should live their life to the fullest through empowerment and support. Posity love being a part of the lives of the people we serve and active members of our community. Therefore, deliver therapy services that are extensive, family-centred, and individualised in an easily accessible manner. Indeed, our quality and flexible services can help you in the long run. Let us work towards achieving your personal goals and independence. In addition, we help you to enhance your presence in the community. Thus, you will welcome more opportunities for your desired life.
Table of Contents
What are NDIS Therapy & Allied Health Services
At Posity, we serve people of all ages, from birth to 65 years of age. Our team of experts uses an in-depth approach to help you achieve your desired outcomes. Here at Posity, we provide the following therapies:
What is Occupational Therapy?
Is Occupational Therapy just about working? Not always! “Occupation” is often the misconceived term in Occupational Therapy. However, it is more than just about an individual’s occupation.
First and foremost, Occupational Therapists use the term ‘occupation’ to describe the everyday things we do in our life roles. It comprises of the things we do, to be who we are. In other words, the things we do to create a meaningful life and engage with our wider society and culture.
At Posity, our team of occupational therapists will get to know you, your strengths, and skills, as well as what you would like to achieve. Also, it is more than just helping you live the life you choose at Posity. We support the things you love to do to live a full and meaningful life.
How do you find meaning in your day-to-day life?
What everyday activities do you enjoy?
Occupational Therapy for Children and Adolescents
At Posity, we support infants, toddlers, children and adolescents to participate in therapy sessions. Therapy sessions can happen in a home, school, clinic or the community. Occupations in childhood include
- Learning self-care skills, such as toileting, dressing, eating, and bathing.
- Productive skills such as learning at school, paying attention, gross motor skills, and handwriting.
- Leisure skills such as playing, and making friends.
- A child’s development of cognitive skills, social-emotional skills, and executive functioning skills promotes independence and emotional regulation.
In addition, our occupational therapists support children from birth to adolescence. Guiding your children in achieving goals lead to them reaching their full potential. Also, you can expect an increase in independence, engagement and participation in their communities.
Occupational Therapists can support participants with multiple diagnoses including but not limited to:
- Autism Spectrum Disorders,
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder,
- Oppositional Defiance Disorder and behavioural concerns
- Mental Health Conditions,
- Neurodevelopmental Delays and Intellectual Disability
- Physical conditions such as Cerebral Palsy,
- Congenital conditions such as Down Syndrome,
- Acquired Brain Injury and Traumatic Brain Injuries
- and other rare health disorders.
Therapeutic approaches
Our qualified and committed occupational therapists use evidence-based, strengths-based and family-centred therapeutic approaches in addressing:
- Mental Health concerns include anxiety, depression, mood disorders, ADHD, and schizophrenia;
- Fine motor skills such as handwriting, scissor skills, grasping, buttons and zips
- Gross motor skills such as climbing, running, jumping, and ball and sports skills
- Cognitive thinking skills such as executive functioning, following instructions, working memory, attention and concentration and processing skills
- Sensory-processing skills such as organising and responding to information in the environment using our senses. Exp: sight, sound, taste, touch, smell, movement and body positioning
- Supporting positive behaviour, relationships, and interactions based on behaviours, positive behavioural interventions and supporting communication
- Self-Care Skills such as brushing teeth, toileting, dressing and bathing
- Environmental Assessment to identify and address any barriers to participation and engagement at home, school, or the community
- Equipment and assistive technology prescription to ensure your child has access to all possible supports and technology
Occupational Therapy for Adults
At Posity, we support adults from 18 to 65 years to participate in therapy sessions. Participants can receive therapeutic support at home, in the clinic or in the community. As a matter of fact, occupations for adults may include:
- Participating and building independence in self-care skills, such as toileting, dressing, eating, or bathing
- Developing the skills required to engage in work or study
- Life skills include shopping, community access, household management, driving and using public transport
- Social skills such as socialising, making friends and community participation
Our Occupational Therapists can support adult participants with multiple diagnoses, including but not limited to:
- Autism Spectrum Disorders,
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder,
- Oppositional Defiance Disorder and Behavioural concerns
- Mental Health Conditions,
- Intellectual Disability
- Physical conditions such as Cerebral Palsy,
- Congenital conditions such as Down Syndrome,
- Acquired Brain Injury and Traumatic Brain Injuries
- and other rare health disorders.
Furthermore, our Occupational Therapists work closely with our adult participants. These therapists want to be part of the goal-creating journeys to ensure they are as unique as the individual. They create a thorough assessment and intervention plan for each participant and may include
- Functional Capacity Assessments and reports,
- Environmental modifications,
- Assistive technology prescription,
- Mental health supports or life skills training
If you require occupational therapy services or would like to find out more, please contact us for an obligation free discussion.
What is Speech Therapy?
At Posity, our team of experienced Speech Pathologists work with people of all ages and their families. Teamwork is crucial when it comes to diagnosing and treating communication disorders. Some of these disorders are difficulties with speaking, listening, understanding language, reading, writing, social skills and using voice. In addition, our Speech Therapists also work with people who have difficulty with mealtimes. This may include fussy eating, and difficulty drinking and swallowing.
Speech Therapy for Children and Adolescents
Communication is fundamental to childhood development. Children need to understand and be understood. The ability to communicate effectively is an important skill. It improves the quality of life and helps build relationships as a whole. In addition, it is essential for learning, play and social interaction. This can reduce challenging behaviour and empower individuals. Effective communication builds understanding and trust and helps children thrive.
Children learn to communicate by interacting with their carers and families, early childhood educators, and their peers. Posity stands firm with our mission and vision to help you obtain quality health support and services to help you to reach your goals. We offer individualised, evidence-based speech therapy. Our support comes in the form of techniques and activities. They assist you with your speech, communication and investigate any other barriers to effective communication.
At Posity, we use a family-centred practice and strengths-based approach to help support children with their speech therapy needs. Parents and carers come hand-in-hand in this scenario. They involve themselves in therapies, assessments and interventions based on the child’s needs.
Our speech therapists will begin by obtaining a thorough history and assessment of your child’s current communication skills. We work with you to achieve your child’s communication, social and feeding goals. Your Speech Pathologist may also assist you to access communication supports such as high and low technology supports. Those who require assistance with speech or language skills can access some of these supports.
- Visual Schedules
- Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS)
- Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display (PODD)
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
Speech Therapy for Adults
At Posity, our team of experienced Speech Pathologists can also support adult participants by providing therapy for communication disorders. These may include speech disorders, language disorders, swallowing, cognitive communication and social communication. Other than that, speech therapy comprises pragmatics, auditory processing, fluency and voice disorders. In addition, our team provides Assessment, prescription and training for use of Augmentative / Alternative Communication (ACC).
Our speech therapists will begin by obtaining a thorough history and assessment of your current communication skills. We work with you to achieve your communication, social and/or feeding goals. Your Speech Pathologist may also assist you to access communication supports. He or she will provide high and low technology supports such as
- Visual Schedules
- Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS)
- Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display (PODD)
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
Who might benefit from Speech Therapy?
At Posity, we provide Speech Therapy to people who may not
- Be developing typical communication, speech or language skills
- Have difficulty with mealtimes, fussy eating and swallowing
- An acquired disability. Our speech pathologists support participants with a range of diagnoses, including but not limited to:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder (ADD/ADHD)
- Neurodevelopmental Delays and Intellectual Disability
- Low muscle tone and excessive drooling
- Dyspraxia of Speech (partial loss of the ability to coordinate and perform oral motor skills to communicate)
- Apraxia of Speech (total loss of the ability to coordinate and perform oral motor skills to communicate)
- Feeding and swallowing difficulties
- Birth conditions such as cleft lip or cleft palate
- Physical conditions such as Cerebral Palsy
- Chromosomal & genetic disorders such as Down Syndrome and other syndromes
- Acquired Brain Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury
- Neurological conditions such as Stroke
- Metabolic syndromes and conditions
If you are concerned about communication, don’t wait, and see. Contact us today for a thorough assessment and support plan if needed.
Accessing Therapy Services
At Posity, we provide Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy Services. Please Contact Us to discuss our Parent Support Groups and Peer Support groups.
The following funding options are available to use at Posity.
1) National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
Posity is a registered NDIS provider, for Agency Managed, Plan managed and Self-managed families.
Please click here for more information on accessing the NDIS and eligibility requirements.
The NDIS website also provides useful information for families
2) Private Health Funds
Posity allows you to claim through your private health extras. Depending on your private health fund, you may be eligible for a private health rebate from your OT or Speech Pathology sessions. In order to claim a rebate, you will be provided with a receipt. Next, you can pass the receipt to your insurance provider. And with that, they will organise the rebate to your nominated account. In addition, please note that there may be a gap fee. Some out of pocket expenses for therapy may occur as well.
Your eligibility for a rebate and amount will depend on your specific health coverage. In other words, Private health rebates and coverage differ. This depends on when you purchased your private health insurance, waiting periods and level of cover purchased. Moreover, annual limits also apply. So, please check with your insurance fund to determine your eligibility. Besides, find out the rebate amount before any therapy sessions as well.
The following codes may be helpful when liaising with your insurance fund regarding rebates:
- 100 — OT Initial Consultation
- 250 – OT 60-minute therapy session
- 330 — Speech Initial Consultation
- 350 – Speech 60-minute therapy session
3) Medicare
You or your child may be eligible for a Medicare rebate. A rebate is provided if they are accessing Occupational Therapy or Speech Pathology Services. A Medicare can be provided by your GP, Specialist or Paediatrician. Most importantly, complete it before the session to ensure the rebate is available. Moreover, please note that we charge a gap fee. Hence, some out of pocket expenses may occur.
In addition, our therapists can use the following Medicare plans to support you or your child. Obtain high-quality care when it comes to Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy Services.
a) Occupational Therapy:
CDMP – Chronic Disease Management Plan
- 5 sessions per calendar year
ASD – Autism Spectrum Disorder Plans
- 20 sessions (one-time use) until 15 years of age
BAMH – Better Access to Mental Health Care Plan
- 10 sessions per calendar year (20 sessions per calendar year under COVID-19 changes)
b) Speech Pathology
ASD – Autism Spectrum Disorder Plans
- 20 sessions (one-time use) until 15 years of age: $75.95 rebate, $104.05 out of pocket
CDMP – Chronic Disease Management Plan
- 5 sessions per calendar year
MEDICARE Rules:
You cannot pay the gap with your private health insurance.
For instance, share the ASD, CDMP, and BAMH plans across allied health providers. i.e. 5 sessions equal 5 in total across OT, Speech Therapy or Psychology. In fact, this applies to a child who is accessing more than one service at a time.
How to Access Services With Posity
At Posity, our trained and experienced team of therapists are:
- Focused on you and your needs
- Respectful of each other
- Bold and honest in what we say
- Innovative at providing you with the services for your needs
- Cooperative team to make things work
- Excellent in delivering what we do
- Authentic in what we say and do
If you think you or your child may benefit from accessing Posity’s services, please contact our team today. Let us help you obtain the most of your NDIS plan to achieve your goals and improve your life!
