Online OT for Young People

Koar Health provides flexible online occupational therapy for older children and teenagers, with a particular focus on young people aged 10–18.

Sessions are delivered through telehealth, allowing young people to work on practical everyday skills from home—without needing to travel to the clinic for every appointment.

Our occupational therapists can support young people with areas such as organisation, planning, emotional regulation, independence, social participation, school routines and preparation for adult life.

Referral Form

Why Online Therapy/Telehealth?

For many NDIS participants and their families, accessing regular occupational therapy can be challenging. School, homework, extracurricular activities, parent work schedules, other appointments and travel can all make it difficult to maintain consistent therapy. For families living in regional, rural or remote areas, access may be further affected by distance, limited local availability or longer wait times. At the same time, families want to make thoughtful use of the funding available in their NDIS plan. By delivering appointments through telehealth, we can reduce the need for clinician travel and help families direct more of their available therapy funding towards meaningful occupational therapy intervention. It can also provide another way for NDIS participants to access ongoing OT when distance, scheduling or local service availability makes regular attendance more difficult. Sessions take place in the young person's own environment, allowing therapy to connect directly with the routines, systems and challenges they experience every day.

This may include working with their actual:

  • school timetable and homework systems;

  • calendar and reminders;

  • computer and digital tools;

  • study environment;

  • morning and evening routines; and

  • strategies for managing everyday responsibilities.

Our focus is on using therapy time meaningfully—working towards practical functional goals that support the young person's independence and participation in everyday life. This is primarily designed for young people aged 10 years and above, with a particular focus on 12–18-year-olds suitable for young people working towards greater independence with school, home, relationships and everyday life.. It may be suitable for young people who can participate in an online session with an occupational therapist and who have functional goals that can be effectively addressed through telehealth. Young people do not need to sit still and talk for an entire appointment. Our therapists can use movement breaks, games, visual activities, screen sharing, practical tasks and the young person's interests to support engagement.

What can OT Telehealth work on?

  • OT Telehealth may support young people to develop skills for:

    • planning and organisation;

    • starting tasks;

    • managing time;

    • prioritising what needs to be done;

    • breaking large tasks into smaller steps;

    • developing homework and study routines;

    • managing school workload;

    • remembering responsibilities;

    • problem-solving; and

    • adapting when plans change.

    The focus is not simply on becoming "more organised". We work with the young person to develop practical systems that make everyday tasks more manageable.

  • Young people may work with their OT to better understand:

    • what helps them feel regulated and ready to participate;

    • their individual signs of stress, overload or fatigue;

    • strategies for managing frustration;

    • coping strategies for challenging situations;

    • energy and attention levels;

    • when and how to ask for support; and

    • how to use regulation strategies more independently.

    The aim is to help the young person develop strategies they understand, can practise and can increasingly use for themselves.

  • OT Telehealth may support skills related to:

    • understanding social situations;

    • perspective taking;

    • conversation and communication;

    • problem-solving within friendships;

    • navigating changing peer relationships;

    • recognising personal needs and boundaries;

    • communicating preferences;

    • asking for help; and

    • developing self-advocacy.

    For teenagers, this can become increasingly important as they begin managing more social situations independently.

  • As young people get older, expectations for independence also increase.

    Occupational therapy may support areas such as:

    • morning and evening routines;

    • preparing for school;

    • managing personal belongings;

    • keeping track of responsibilities;

    • household tasks;

    • planning simple meals;

    • preparing for activities;

    • managing personal schedules; and

    • increasing independence in the community.

    Where appropriate, sessions can incorporate the young person's actual home routines and environment.

  • OT Connect can support young people as they prepare for increasing independence.

    Goals may include:

    • transitioning to secondary school;

    • adjusting to increasing school demands;

    • taking greater responsibility for routines;

    • managing appointments and schedules;

    • developing planning and goal-setting skills;

    • identifying strengths and support needs;

    • building self-awareness;

    • developing self-advocacy; and

    • introducing work-readiness and adult-life skills where appropriate.

What does an online OT session look like?

An online OT appointment includes an hour of direct telehealth intervention.

Sessions are structured around the young person's goals, interests, attention and regulation needs rather than expecting them to remain seated and talking for the entire appointment.

A session might include:

  • a check-in about the week;

  • reviewing the current goal;

  • learning or practising a new skill;

  • a game, challenge, movement or regulation break;

  • applying the skill to a real-life situation;

  • developing a practical strategy to try between sessions; and

  • brief parent or carer feedback when appropriate.

Our therapists may use online games, visual activities, collaborative documents, screen sharing, movement, challenges and the young person's own technology or interests to make sessions practical and engaging.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Not necessarily! Sessions can include movement, practical activities, games, challenges, screen sharing and regulation breaks. The therapist structures the appointment according to the young person's needs.

Does my child need to sit in front of the computer for the entire session?

1

Yes! The level of parent or carer involvement will vary depending on the young person's age, goals, independence and clinical needs. For some teenagers, developing greater ownership of therapy is an important goal. In these situations, the therapist may work primarily with the young person while providing appropriate communication and feedback to parents or carers.

Can parents be involved?

2

Yes. For some young people, a hybrid model provides the best balance. For example, assessment or particular activities may occur face-to-face while ongoing coaching, executive functioning intervention or routine development occurs online.

Can we combine online and face-to-face OT?

3

What happens if technology isn't working?

4

Families should ensure they have reliable internet, a functioning webcam and microphone, and access to the required video platform. Your therapist will provide information about the platform and appointment process before commencing the service.