Paediatric Occupational Therapy
In The Gold Coast

At BillyLids Therapy, we welcome both private paying and funded clients in the Gold Coast area. Our team of occupational therapists holds Medicare provider numbers for clients accessing therapy through Enhanced Primary Care Plans (EPC) or Chronic Disease Management Plans. We also provide therapy for NDIS participants who are plan-managed or self-managed. For more details on fees and funding options, please visit our dedicated Fees & Funding page.

Although the process can vary depending on your child’s specific needs, here’s a general overview of how it works at BillyLids Therapy:

1. Initial Discovery Call: We’ll arrange a free 15-minute discovery call to discuss your child’s needs, match them with the right therapist, and schedule your appointments. Routine is important, so we generally recommend weekly or fortnightly sessions.

2. Parent/Carer First Appointment: The first formal session is between you (the parent or carer) and the therapist. During this time, you can share detailed information about your child’s needs, review their development, and set therapy goals. This meeting can take place at our Gold Coast clinic or over Zoom.

3. Child’s First Appointment: In this appointment, we focus on making your child feel comfortable and building rapport. We’ll observe and conduct informal assessments to inform the next steps in therapy. The goal is to make your child enjoy their time with us and look forward to returning!

4. Formal Assessment: During sessions 3 to 5, we carry out formal assessments. While these sessions are structured, we keep the atmosphere fun and engaging for your child to ensure they feel relaxed.

5. Therapeutic Intervention: Starting from appointment 5, we begin implementing interventions tailored to your child’s specific goals. These may include developing physical skills, improving social interactions, or mastering everyday tasks. Though the sessions may look like play, they are all built around specific therapeutic objectives. Our experienced paediatric occupational therapists are dedicated to finding new ways to help your child learn and grow.

Definitely! Many of our clients benefit from seeing both a speech pathologist and an occupational therapist. At BillyLids Therapy, we’ve created a multidisciplinary clinic specifically for children in the Gold Coast, making it easier for families to access multiple therapies in one place. We’ll discuss your child’s unique needs during the discovery call and help tailor the right approach.

No, a formal diagnosis isn’t required to start therapy at BillyLids Therapy. Many of our clients don’t have a diagnosis but still benefit from support in areas like sensory processing, social skills, or physical challenges. We can help your child whether they’re working toward a diagnosis or just need extra assistance.

A referral isn’t mandatory to see an occupational therapist at BillyLids Therapy. However, if your child is eligible for a Medicare rebate, a referral from your GP is required. If you are privately paying or using NDIS funding, no referral is needed. For those seeking Medicare rebates, a referral from your GP is essential.

Your child may be eligible for the Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) plan, which provides access to subsidised therapy visits with allied health professionals, including occupational therapists and speech pathologists. You may be entitled to up to five subsidised visits per calendar year. To check if your child is eligible, please consult with your GP. For more information, please visit our blog post: Navigating Funding Options for Children’s Allied Health Services in the Gold Coast.