What Does an Occupational Therapist Do?

Choosing the right occupational therapist is key to helping your family thrive. An occupational therapist acts as a bridge between current challenges and future independence. At Planet Ability in Warrandyte, every occupational therapist on our team provides neurodiversity-affirming support for children, teens, and young adults (ages 2 to 35). Most importantly, an occupational therapist does not try to change a person we adapt environments and builds practical strategies for everyday life.

What Does an Occupational Therapist Do?

An occupational therapist helps individuals participate in meaningful everyday activities ("occupations"). An occupational therapist supports:

Self-Care: An occupational therapist assists with showering, dressing, hygiene, and sleep routines.

Daily Living Skills: An occupational therapist aids in cooking, cleaning, shopping, and managing money.

Executive Functioning: An occupational therapist guides planning, organising, task initiation, and focus.

Sensory Regulation: An occupational therapist identifies sensory preferences to prevent overload and shutdown.

Motor Skills: An occupational therapist builds fine motor skills (handwriting, tool use) and gross motor coordination.

Emotional & Community Skills: An occupational therapist supports emotional regulation, self-advocacy, and community access.

Why Work with an Occupational Therapist?

• To Make Life Accessible: An occupational therapist looks beneath surface behaviours to reduce unnecessary sensory load, build visual supports, and simplify routines.

  
  

• To Develop Real-World Skills: An occupational therapist translates therapy goals into daily environments, the bathroom, kitchen, classroom, and workplace.

  
  
  
  

Planet Ability: Seeing an Occupational Therapist in Warrandyte

• 🌿 Outdoor spaces for nature-based regulation

  
  

• 🧠 A specialised sensory gym for coordination and body awareness

  
  

• 🍳 A full kitchen for practical meal preparation

  
  

• 🐕 Animal-assisted therapy with a gentle therapy dog

  
  

How an Occupational Therapist Assists with the NDIS

An occupational therapist delivers NDIS occupational therapy by conducting functional capacity assessments, writing detailed funding reports, and recommending assistive technology. While an occupational therapist cannot guarantee funding decisions, an occupational therapist links recommendations directly to functional independence.

Who Needs an Occupational Therapist?

• Children, Teens & Young Adults: An occupational therapist supports anyone struggling with sensory overload, motor challenges, task initiation, or life transitions.

  
  

• Families & Networks: An occupational therapist collaborates with parents, teachers, and support workers to create realistic home and school strategies.

  
  

Note: An occupational therapist should never be used to "fix" neurodivergence, enforce compliance, or push goals that are not meaningful to the individual.

Connect with an occupational therapist today by exploring Planet Ability's services or reaching out to consult with an occupational therapist on our team.