OT or physio: which does my child need?
The short answer: an occupational therapist (OT) helps your child with the everyday things they need to do, such as dressing, handwriting, play and managing big feelings. A physiotherapist (physio) helps with how the body moves, such as sitting, crawling, walking, balance, strength, pain and recovery from injury.
Both are health professionals registered with Ahpra. Many children only need one; some need both, and the two can work together.
My Therapy Space offers Occupational Therapy. We do not offer physiotherapy.
OT and physio side by side
| Occupational therapist (OT) | Physiotherapist (physio) | |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Everyday tasks: self-care, play, school and joining in | Movement and physical function: muscles, bones, nerves, heart and lungs |
| Common reasons children see one | Handwriting, scissors, buttons and zips, dressing, toileting, feeding themselves with cutlery, sensory processing, emotional regulation, play | Developmental delays such as late sitting, crawling or walking, movement and strength, sports injuries, pain |
| Where they overlap | Gross motor skills, such as using playground equipment and motor planning | Gross motor and developmental delays in children |
| Registered with | Occupational Therapy Board of Australia, through Ahpra | Physiotherapy Board of Australia, through Ahpra |
| Referral needed? | No; a referral is needed for a Medicare rebate | No; a referral is needed for a Medicare rebate |
| Medicare | GP Chronic Condition Management Plan; at My Therapy Space also a paediatrician or psychiatrist referral for complex neurodevelopmental conditions | GP Chronic Condition Management Plan |
| NDIS and private health | Can be paid from an NDIS plan if therapy is in it; private health extras may pay part, depending on cover | Private health extras may pay part, depending on cover. NDIS: depends on your child’s plan |
An OT may suit your child if they:
- find it hard to hold a pencil, cut with scissors, or do up buttons and zips
- need help learning to dress, use the toilet, brush their teeth or eat with cutlery
- find play frustrating or hard to join
- react strongly to noise, touch, movement or taste
- find big feelings hard to manage
- need help getting ready for school, such as sitting for longer and working in a group
A physio may suit your child if they:
- are late to roll, sit, crawl or walk
- have trouble with balance, strength or coordination
- have a sports injury or pain when they move
- have a condition that affects their muscles, joints or movement and need ongoing physical therapy
When to choose each
- Choose an OT when the main worry is what your child finds hard to do day to day: getting dressed, writing, playing, eating with cutlery, or coping with their senses and feelings.
- Choose a physio when the main worry is how your child’s body moves: milestones like walking, strength, pain or an injury.
- See both when a child has a condition that affects movement and everyday tasks. A physio may work on walking and strength while an OT works on dressing, seating or using equipment at home and school.
- Not sure? Start with your GP, who can check for a medical reason and tell you whether a Medicare plan applies.
How My Therapy Space fits
Our Occupational Therapists are registered with Ahpra. They work with children 0-18 years, with some support also available to young adults with disabilities, at our Burleigh Waters and Hope Island clinics and by telehealth.
We do not offer physiotherapy. With your permission, we can talk with your child’s physio and other therapists so everyone works towards the same goals.
Our team also includes Speech Pathologists, Dietitians and a Psychologist, so if your child needs more than one kind of support, they can plan together under one roof.
- What our OTs help with: Occupational Therapy
- Fees: Therapist Fees
- NDIS, Medicare and private health: Funding, and NDIS, Medicare or private health?
- What a session costs after funding: What will I pay?
Read more on our blog:
Questions families ask
What is the difference between an OT and a physio?
An OT helps children do everyday tasks such as dressing, writing and play. A physio helps with how the body moves, such as walking, balance, strength and recovery from injury.
Can an OT help with gross motor skills?
Yes. Our Occupational Therapists work on gross motor skills such as using playground equipment and motor planning. If the main worry is walking, balance or strength, a physio may be the right first step.
Does My Therapy Space have a physio?
No. We offer Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics and Psychology, and a Therapy Assistant Program.
Do I need a referral to see an OT or a physio?
No. You need a referral for a Medicare rebate.
Can I use Medicare for both?
A GP Chronic Condition Management Plan gives up to 5 Medicare-rebated allied health sessions a calendar year in total, shared across all the allied health services your child uses. See Funding.
Talk to us
Tell us what you have noticed, and we will help you work out whether Occupational Therapy is the right place to start. Call reception on 07 5559 9888 or make a referral.