Starting occupational therapy is an important step toward greater independence and participation in daily life. Your first occupational therapy assessment helps your therapist understand your needs, your strengths, and the activities that matter most to you.
The goal is simple: identify practical ways to support your daily life.
At Access Your Supports (AYS), occupational therapists work closely with you and the people around you to build a clear picture of your goals. The assessment forms the foundation for your therapy plan and future supports.
What Is an Occupational Therapy Assessment?
An occupational therapy assessment is a structured conversation and observation process. The occupational therapist learns how you complete everyday activities and where you may need support.
Occupational therapists work with people across the lifespan. Under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), therapists often support people who live with physical, developmental, or psychosocial disabilities.
The assessment helps identify ways to increase independence and participation in daily life. These supports may include skill development, assistive technology, home modifications, or therapy sessions.
Occupational therapy focuses on activities that bring meaning to daily life. These activities may include personal care, household tasks, education, work, and community participation.
Getting to Know You and Your Goals
The first part of the assessment focuses on understanding your life and your priorities. The occupational therapist asks questions about your daily routines, activities, and goals.
This discussion may include topics such as:
- Personal care tasks like showering, dressing, and grooming
- Household activities such as cooking or cleaning
- Community participation, such as shopping or transport
- Education, employment, or volunteering
- Social activities and hobbies
Your therapist will also ask about your goals. Goals might focus on building independence, improving safety, or increasing participation in community life.
Family members, carers, or support workers may also contribute to this discussion if you wish. Their input often provides useful insight into daily routines and support needs.
Understanding Your Daily Activities
An important part of the assessment involves understanding how you perform everyday activities.
The occupational therapist may observe how you complete certain tasks. This helps the therapist identify strengths and challenges that affect daily participation.
The therapist may review areas such as:
- Fine motor skills and hand coordination
- Movement and physical ability
- Problem-solving and planning
- Sensory processing and attention
- Safety during daily activities
The therapist may ask questions about how you approach certain tasks or routines. The aim is to understand how daily activities fit into your life and where support may help.
Looking at Your Environment and Supports
Your environment plays an important role in independence. Many occupational therapy assessments include a review of the home or other environments where daily activities occur.
The therapist may look at areas such as:
- Bathroom safety
- Kitchen access and meal preparation
- Bedroom layout
- Access around the home
- Entryways, stairs, or ramps
The therapist may recommend assistive technology or environmental changes that improve safety and independence.
Examples include grab rails, shower chairs, adaptive equipment, or mobility aids. In some cases, the therapist may also recommend home modifications to support long-term independence.
Recommendations and Support Planning
After the assessment, the occupational therapist gathers the information and develops recommendations that support your goals.
These recommendations may include therapy strategies, skill development activities, equipment suggestions, or environmental changes.
Examples of support areas may include:
- Increasing independence in personal care activities
- Improving household and domestic skills
- Building confidence in community access and transport
- Supporting education, employment, or volunteering
- Increasing social participation
- Recommending assistive technology or home modifications
- Completing assessments for supported accommodation or supported independent living
If you access supports through the NDIS, the therapist may also prepare reports that outline recommended supports and funding requirements.
How Occupational Therapy Supports Independence
Occupational therapy focuses on practical outcomes. The goal is to help people perform the activities they want and need to do.
Occupational therapists work across many areas of life. They consider physical, cognitive, emotional, and social factors that affect daily participation.
Therapists may support people who live with disabilities, injuries, or ongoing health conditions. They also work with children, adults, and older people across many settings, including community services, schools, and healthcare environments.
By building skills and adapting environments, occupational therapy helps people increase independence and quality of life.
Accessing Occupational Therapy with AYS
If you are considering occupational therapy, the AYS team can help guide the process. The first assessment is an opportunity to understand your goals and explore practical supports that may improve daily life.
You can meet the AYS occupational therapy team here.
You can also submit a referral through the Occupational Therapy Referral Form.
