Occupational therapy costs for children in Australia
Australia · amounts in AUD · By The Jay Way team
There is no standard price for occupational therapy. Fees vary between practices, and the biggest differences often come from what is charged on top of sessions: assessments, reports, travel and school visits. The most reliable number is a written quote from the occupational therapist you are considering.
When you have a quote, our therapy cost estimator adds up a year of sessions and extras and shows what Medicare or an NDIS plan might cover.
What the first appointments involve
An occupational therapy assessment looks at the everyday things your child needs or wants to do, such as dressing, eating, play, handwriting or getting through the school day. It may include questionnaires for you and the teacher, observation at the clinic, and sometimes a visit to your home or the school.
Visits outside the clinic often carry travel charges. If an OT recommends equipment or home changes, the assessment and written recommendation for that are often quoted separately from regular sessions.
Questions to ask when you get a quote
- What does the initial assessment cover, and will it include a home or school visit?
- Is a written report or recommendation included in the assessment fee?
- Is travel charged for home or school visits, and at what rate?
- If equipment is suggested, are trials and the written recommendation charged separately?
- What is your cancellation policy?
Medicare rebates
Medicare does not cover occupational therapy on its own, but two kinds of plan can reduce the cost of some sessions.
- GP chronic condition management plan. Up to 5 allied health sessions a calendar year, shared across every allied health professional your child sees. Medicare pays back $63.40 per session of at least 20 minutes. On a $180 session you would still pay about $116.60.
- Autism, other complex neurodevelopmental conditions and eligible disability. For children under 25 with an eligible diagnosis and a referral after an assessment by a paediatrician, psychiatrist or GP. Up to 20 treatment sessions in the child’s lifetime, shared across therapies, at $89.50 back per session of at least 30 minutes. On a $180 session you would still pay about $90.50.
The $180 fee is made up to show the gap, not a typical price. Separate charges for reports or travel usually have no rebate. Check the item numbers on MBS Online and ask the practice which items they claim.
NDIS price limits
If your child’s NDIS plan is agency-managed or plan-managed, providers can’t charge more than the NDIS price limit. For occupational therapy in the 2026–27 pricing schedule (checked , in effect from 24 September 2026), the limits are:
| Location | Maximum per hour |
|---|---|
| Most of Australia | $193.99 |
| Remote | $271.59 |
| Very remote | $290.99 |
These are maximums, not what practices typically charge, and they don’t mean a plan has money for a particular support. Self-managed plans aren’t bound by them. Report writing can be claimed as part of the support when the provider and your plan allow it, so ask before assuming it is covered or not. The official source is NDIS: Pricing arrangements (pricing schedule 2026-27); check it before relying on a figure.
Adding it up
Session fee × number of sessions, plus any separate assessment, report or travel charges, gives the full cost before any rebate or funding. For example (made-up numbers), 10 sessions at $180 plus a $250 report comes to $2,050. Keep the extras in your total until someone confirms they are covered.
Work out your own total with the estimator, or write questions for the first appointment.
Outside Australia
The quote questions work anywhere. The dollar figures, Medicare items and NDIS rules on this page are Australian only.
General information to help you plan costs. It is not financial, NDIS, medical or clinical advice. Providers, the NDIA and Services Australia confirm their own fees, decisions and payments.