Riverland Allied Health Support
Occupational Therapy in the Riverland
Emma and our allied health team deliver face-to-face, NDIS-funded occupational therapy to your home, school, and community across the Riverland.
Submit a ReferralWhat Occupational Therapy Helps With in the Riverland
Occupational therapy is about helping people do the everyday things that matter - getting dressed, eating, writing, focusing, managing sensory input, and taking part in school and community life.
For children, that often looks like:
- Getting dressed and managing personal care without a daily battle
- Holding a pencil and keeping up with classroom writing tasks
- Managing sensory sensitivities at school and at home
- Building confidence with new routines and unfamiliar environments
- Developing the skills for greater independence as they grow
For young adults and adults, OT focuses on daily living - cooking, managing money, navigating public spaces, and building the practical foundations for independent life.
Occupational Therapy Services Available Across the Riverland
Paediatric OT for Children with Autism, ADHD, and Sensory Needs
For children aged 3 to 18 with autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, developmental delay, or coordination difficulties. Emma works at home and school to build practical skills where they matter most.
See our Paediatric OT page →Sensory Integration Occupational Therapy
For children who are overwhelmed or underwhelmed by sensory input. We use play-based techniques to help children process sensory information more comfortably so they can engage with daily life.
Fine Motor and Coordination Development
Pencil grip, scissor skills, dressing, tying shoelaces, using cutlery. If your child struggles with the small physical tasks that make school and home life harder, we work through those skills step by step.
Daily Living and Self-Care Skills
Dressing, hygiene, toileting training, and meal preparation. We help children and young people build independence in the routines that happen every single day, in the environments where those routines actually occur.
Functional Capacity Assessments for NDIS
Emma conducts Functional Capacity Assessments (FCAs) across the Riverland for NDIS applications and plan reviews. An FCA documents what a person can and can't do and supports access to the right funding.
Learn more about FCAs →Community-Based Occupational Therapy
Navigating shops, public transport, managing money, and using community spaces. We support young people and adults to build confidence and practical skills for greater independence in everyday community life.
Allied Health Assistant Support
Between OT sessions, our Allied Health Assistants implement strategies at home and school. This stretches your Capacity Building funding further and keeps progress moving between Emma's visits. Learn more about our Mobile and School Support service.
Therapy That Meets Your Child Where They Are
At home, at school, in the community. Real progress happens in real environments.
Submit a ReferralHow In-Home and School-Based OT Works for Riverland Families
We don't ask you to drive anywhere. Emma comes to you.
Here's how it usually works:
- Submit a referral - Use our online form or call us. Tell us about the participant and where they are in the Riverland.
- We'll talk through the goals - Emma or our admin team will call to understand the participant's needs, their NDIS plan, and the best location and timing for sessions.
- Sessions begin in your environment - Emma works with your child at home, school, or in the community - the environments where strategies need to actually work.
- Progress is tracked and reported - We keep NDIS goals front of mind and provide regular progress notes and reports when plan reviews come around.
What Families Typically Notice Once Occupational Therapy Starts
Here's what parents and carers often see once consistent OT support is in place.
Mornings Get Easier
Dressing becomes less of a daily battle. Routines start to click.
School Feels More Manageable
Classroom tasks are less frustrating. Your child starts keeping up.
Sensory Triggers Are Understood
What used to cause meltdowns is better understood and easier to work around.
NDIS Goals Are Being Met
You have the progress notes and reports to prove it at plan review time.
Strategies Work in Real Life
Not just in a clinic setting. At home, at school, in the community.
Our Sensory Play Space in Berri
Our Berri clinic includes a purpose-built sensory space packed with therapeutic equipment - colourful tumble mats, balance beams, a climbing wall, trampolines, aerial swings, and soft play equipment. Designed to make OT sessions engaging, motivating, and genuinely fun for children working on sensory integration, coordination, and movement skills.
Occupational Therapist Serving Renmark, Berri, Loxton, and the Wider Riverland
Emma is our Riverland occupational therapist. She's local, she knows the region, and she works across the full Riverland service area, from Renmark and Berri through to Loxton, Barmera, Waikerie, and surrounding communities.
If you're looking for an occupational therapist in Renmark, an OT in Berri, or NDIS occupational therapy anywhere across the Riverland, we can likely reach you. Submit a referral or give us a call and we'll confirm your area. Emma also delivers school-based OT sessions across the region - see our Mobile and School Support page for more on how we work with schools.
Frequently Asked Questions About Occupational Therapy in the Riverland
Is occupational therapy covered by my NDIS plan?
Yes. OT is typically funded under Capacity Building, specifically Improved Daily Living in an NDIS plan. If you're unsure what your plan covers, we can help work through the details when you get in touch.
What's the difference between occupational therapy and physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy focuses on physical movement, muscle function, injury, and pain. Occupational therapy focuses on helping people do the everyday tasks that matter to them, including daily living skills, sensory processing, fine motor development, self-care, and independence. Both are valuable, but they serve different purposes.
Do you work with children with autism or ADHD?
Yes, and it's a significant part of Emma's work. She uses play-based, child-led approaches to make sessions engaging and productive, even for children who find new situations difficult. Sensory integration, daily living skills, emotional regulation through OT, and school support are all part of the picture.
Can Emma work with my child's school in the Riverland?
Yes. Coordinating with schools across the Riverland is a core part of how we work. We schedule around the school day, share strategies with classroom staff, and work directly in the school environment where possible.
Do I need an existing NDIS plan to access OT?
Our OT services are primarily NDIS-funded. If you're in the process of getting a plan, an FCA can support your application. If you have existing funding but are unsure how to use it for OT, give us a call and we'll help you understand your options.