An NDIS OT assessment explores how disability affects everyday activities and what practical support may be useful. The appointment should have a clear purpose. You might need a functional report, advice about equipment, support with a daily task or an assessment related to the home.
The therapist should explain what the appointment covers, seek consent and discuss how the findings will be used. An assessment is not a test you must pass. Its value comes from accurately describing your circumstances and connecting recommendations with relevant needs.
Before the appointment
Tell the provider why you are seeking OT and whether a report is required. Include any deadline, existing evidence and changes that affect the question being assessed. Ask for the estimated professional time, expected report date and any relevant travel charges.
If a support coordinator is arranging the service, make sure your preferences and consent are included. Tell the therapist about communication requirements, the need for breaks or who you would like to attend.
Talking through your day
The OT may ask about routines, interests, goals and the help you receive. Describe the tasks that are difficult in concrete terms. For example, explaining which parts of a meal routine need assistance provides more detail than saying you have trouble cooking.
Discuss variation. A task may be manageable on some days and much harder on others. Tell the therapist what changes, how often it happens and what assistance is needed. Your assessment should not rely only on one unusually comfortable day.
Observing relevant activities
Where appropriate, the therapist may observe an agreed task. A home visit can help show the effect of the environment, materials and available support. You can discuss what feels comfortable to demonstrate and what would be unsafe or too distressing.
The therapist may consider:
- The steps you manage independently.
- Where prompting, supervision or physical assistance is needed.
- The effort, time or fatigue involved.
- The way equipment and the environment affect the activity.
- What happens when usual support is unavailable.
Observation is one source of information. The OT may also consider your account, input from agreed supports and relevant existing reports. They should distinguish between those sources in their conclusions.
Assessment tools and further information
A therapist may use suitable structured tools to help investigate the assessment question. A score should be interpreted in context rather than treated as a complete description of the person.
The OT may identify questions needing another professional's input or a more specific assessment. For example, a general functional assessment may not provide all the measurements, trials and evidence needed for a particular equipment prescription.
Ask what further work is proposed and why it is relevant before agreeing to additional services.
Recommendations and the report
A report should explain the functional concerns, relevant findings and reasons for recommendations. It can identify practical strategies, assistance or further assessment, depending on the agreed scope.
The NDIS makes its own funding decisions under current requirements. An OT report provides evidence; it does not guarantee a particular support, budget or access outcome. You can ask how the findings will be explained and how to raise a factual correction.
Preparing a few useful examples
Write a short list of activities you want help with. Include one example of a typical situation for each. You might note who assists, how long the task takes or which part you avoid.
You do not need to prepare an elaborate presentation. Honest, practical examples help the therapist understand the routine and choose relevant questions. Bring any useful reports through the provider's appropriate information-sharing process.
Common questions
Can someone attend with me?
Discuss having a family member, carer or coordinator involved. Their role should be agreed, and your own voice should remain part of the assessment.
Do I need to show every difficulty?
No. Do not attempt an unsafe activity to demonstrate a need. Explain the situation and let the therapist discuss an appropriate assessment method.
Will I get recommendations on the day?
Some discussion may happen during the appointment, but interpretation and report preparation can take additional professional time. Confirm the process and expected timing beforehand.
How do I refer to Ergo?
Use the referral form with your location, goals, assessment purpose and any report deadline. We can discuss the suitable service and appointment format.