For Patients and Visitors
What is this service?
Occupational therapists are qualified health professionals who work with people of all ages and abilities to do the things they need and want to in all aspects of life, such as taking care of oneself and others, working, driving, participating in hobbies, interests and social events. Occupational therapists call these, “occupations”.
The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the occupations of everyday life. Occupational therapists can also prescribe, if necessary, devices and therapy equipment to help you do the activities you want and need to do. They will make sure you can use the device in the best way to meet your needs. (OT Australia website).
What do I bring/need for my appointment?
The Occupational Therapist will advise what to bring to the appointment
Contact us
Phone: 9495 3443
Allied Health Enquiries: alliedhealthenquiries@nh.org.au
For Health Professionals
Service Overview
What is this service?
Occupational therapists are qualified health professionals who work with people of all ages and abilities to do the things they need and want to in all aspects of life, such as taking care of oneself and others, working, driving, participating in hobbies, interests and social events. Occupational therapists call these things “occupations”.
The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the occupations of everyday life.
Occupational therapy is a client-centred health profession that involves ongoing assessments to understand what occupations are important to you, any current issues you may have in doing them, and understanding your goals. Occupational therapists will then work on any or all of the following to ensure you can participate in the occupations you need and want to do – enhancing your own personal life skills, adjusting the environment you do your occupations in, and adjusting the occupation itself.
Occupational therapists can also prescribe, if necessary, devices and therapy equipment to help you do the activities you want and need to do. They will make sure you can use the device in the best way to meet your needs. (OT Australia website).
Interventions may include:
- Assisting clients to regain or enhance their daily lives after specific events through therapeutic interventions.
- Assessing and modifying clients’ home and community environments to improve safety and independence.
- Discharge planning for Inpatients
- Assessment of clients’ cognition, function and psychosocial needs and provision of management strategies to maximise independence and safety.
- Prescribing and educating clients and carers in the use of adaptive equipment to assist function. This includes complex equipment prescription such as pressure care, seating, powered mobility aids, and hoists.
- Monitor clients’ function and progress; prescribe adaptive equipment to ensure safety upon discharge from hospitals.
- Specialist interventions in various health conditions e.g. neurological conditions, burns, cognitive impairments.
- Referral on for driving assessments, return to work,
- Facilitating funding applications for equipment and home modifications for eligible clients e.g. Statewide Equipment Program (SWEP), NDIS (National Disability Insurance Screen), CHSP (Commonwealth Home Support Package).
- Assisting children to achieve their developmental milestones such as fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
- Educating and involving parents, carers and others to facilitate the normal development and learning of children.
Occupational Therapists provide services in the following locations/programs:
Northern Hospital Epping
- Emergency Department (ED) / Short Stay Unit (SSU)
- Inpatient Units- adults, paediatrics and neonatal
- Day Procedure Unit (DPU)
- Chest Pain Evaluation Unit (CPEU)
- Palliative Care Unit (PCU)
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
- Cardiac Rehabilitation Outpatient Service
- Orthopaedic Pre-Admissions Clinic
- Hospital in the Home (HITH)
- Targeted Acute Rehabilitation Program (TARP)
- Renal Dialysis Unit
Broadmeadows Hospital, Bundoora Centre and Kilmore District Hospital
- Geriatric Evaluation and Management Unit (Broadmeadows Hospital, Bundoora and Kilmore)
- Rehabilitation Unit (Broadmeadows Hospital)
- Acute Inpatient Unit (Broadmeadows Hospital)
- GEM at Home (Bundoora)
Ambulatory and Community Programs
Northern Hospital Epping, Broadmeadows Hospital, Bundoora and Craigieburn)
- Community Therapy Service (CTS)
- Subacute Ambulatory Care Services (SACS) – Broadmeadows Hospital and Bundoora and Craigieburn
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) – Bundoora
- Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) – Bundoora
- Home and Community Care Program for Younger people (HACC PYP) – Bundoora
- Specialist Clinics:
- Cognitive Dementia & Memory Services (CDAMS)
- Pain Management (Broadmeadows Hospital and Bundoora)
- Falls and Balance Clinic (Bundoora only)
- Spasticity Clinic (Broadmeadows Hospital only)
- Paediatric Outpatients (Northern Hospital Epping and Craigieburn)
- Transition Care Program – Bed based and Home based
- Hospital Admission Risk Program (HARP)
- Rehab in the Home
- Early Stroke Discharge Program
- Renal Dialysis outpatients (Epping and Broadmeadows)
Inclusion criteria:
Please refer to relevant service/program
Exclusion criteria:
Please refer to relevant service/program
How to Refer
Fax: 84058616
How to contact for general enquiries
Telephone: 94953443 or 1300 128 593
Email: Community.Access.Helpdesk@nh.org.au
Alternative service options:
Occupational Therapy Australia
My Aged Care Contact Centre
Phone: 1800 200 422
www.myagedcare.gov.au
Director/Head of Unit:
Adrienne, Munro
Associate Director, Allied Health – Occupational Therapy and Hand Therapy
Enquiries:
Allied Health Enquiries: alliedhealthenquiries@nh.org.au
- Locations offering this service
- Northern Hospital Epping
- Craigieburn Centre
- Broadmeadows Hospital
- Bundoora Centre
