How do I get OT in my child's NDIS plan?

An OT recommendation is evidence for the NDIA to consider, not a guarantee that funding will be approved. This guide explains what to check and which questions to ask. If your child is not yet an NDIS participant, start with the official NDIS information about how children get help.

Check the plan you have

If your child already has an NDIS plan, look for the Capacity Building budget and the Improved Daily Living category. The NDIS says this category can include occupational therapy to help build functional skills; the plan shows the funded budget and how it is managed. Read the NDIA's capacity building guide for the current details.

If that budget is already in the plan, check the support description, available funding and management type before arranging an assessment. Our guide to what NDIS funding covers for therapy explains the budget basics, and the first-plan therapy checklist shows where to look in a plan.

If OT is not included, or your child's needs have changed, contact your my NDIS contact or support coordinator if you have one. Ask whether the plan can be used flexibly or whether the change needs a plan variation or reassessment. The NDIA decides which process applies and whether the requested support meets its rules; its guide explains how to ask for a plan change.

Prepare information for an OT request

The NDIA says evidence for a therapy request should identify the therapy, why it is needed, and how often it is recommended. An OT report can also explain the approach, the goals it supports, expected outcomes, how long support may be needed, and what has already been tried. See the NDIA's therapy supports guidance and evidence guide.

To make the report useful for your planning conversation, collect examples of the everyday tasks your child finds difficult and what they want to do. Ask the OT to connect recommendations to those needs and the child's goals. Avoid relying on a diagnosis alone: the NDIA decides whether a request meets its criteria using the evidence for that individual child.

Situation	Useful next step
OT is already included	Check the Improved Daily Living budget, support description and management type before booking.
You are preparing for a first plan	Tell the planner or early-childhood partner that you are seeking OT and ask what evidence they need.
Your child's needs have changed	Contact the my NDIS contact and ask whether a variation or reassessment is appropriate; prepare current supporting evidence.

These steps reflect the NDIA's current guidance on capacity building supports and changing a plan. The NDIA makes the funding decision; an OT cannot promise that a request will be approved.

Check the provider and payment rules

Before booking, check how the OT budget is managed and whether the provider is registered if your plan requires a registered provider. Ask the provider to confirm current availability, the service they can offer, and whether any assessment needs to happen in person. Our occupational therapy information describes the service; use the enquiry page to ask whether it fits your child's situation.

If you already have a plan, our guides to plan-managed funding and NDIA-managed funding explain payment differences. For a general overview of how NDIS funding covers therapy, start there before arranging a service.