Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get started?

You can phone us on 03 5940 3857 or email our Pakenham clinic on admin@sweetpaeds.com.au to enquire whether our services are what you are looking for.
If you choose to refer your child to us for OT services, you will be sent an Intake Form to complete, including informing us of the days/times that are suitable for you and your child.
(Please note the more flexible you can be with appointment times, the sooner you are likely to receive an appointment).
Once we receive the completed Intake Form, we will make an offer of appointments available or place your child on our waitlist.
Due to a high demand for our services, we are only able to place your child on our waitlist if you wish to be contacted immediately for appointments. Unfortunately we are not able to do so if you are not ready to start your therapy journey e.g. if you are awaiting government funding and are not in the position to privately fund appointments.
Please note that due to a high demand for our occupational therapy services, our waitlist may be closed at the time of enquiry. We encourage you to check in again in a few months time if this is the case!
If your child has received an offer for ongoing therapy, this means you have secured one block of appointments at the same day/time.
(Block therapy positions are offered again towards the end of the block if the need for therapy is ongoing).
There are terms and conditions to accepting a block of appointments with our service which will be explained prior to receiving an offer and are also stated within our Intake Form.
Our therapists begin by assessing your child's needs. Depending on your child's abilities and current level of functioning, assessment may involve standardised and/or non-standardised testing. This helps us to develop an individualised therapy plan for your child. It usually takes a few sessions to assess your child's skills before proceeding to intervention sessions.
Your child's therapist will work together with you to create a Care Plan (Goal-Setting) to have a clear therapy intervention plan targeting what is important to you and your child.
We provide Therapy Intervention and/or Home Program targeting the goals that have been identified in the Care Plan.
We then Review, Re-assess if necessary & provide Feedback to your family, and other important people in your child's life (e.g. educators, other treating health professionals, GP, paediatrician etc.)

Does my child need a referral to access your service?

You do not need a referral to schedule an appointment with Sweet Paeds Therapy. However, if you wish to claim Medicare rebates for your child's therapy sessions, you will need to obtain a referral from your GP or Paediatrician to do so.

Is Sweet Paeds Therapy a NDIS Registered Provider?

Sweet Paeds Therapy is not a registered NDIS provider therefore we do not accept plans that are managed by the NDIA. However, we do accept clients who self-manage their NDIS funds or are Plan-managed by an Agency.

Self-managed and Plan-managed NDIS plans allow you to have more choice and control over which providers you would like to work with. You can choose your provider whether they are NDIS registered or not. NDIA managed plans are only able to be used with NDIS registered providers.

How much will therapy sessions cost?

Our fees are set with consideration to the rates recommended by the NDIS and Occupational Therapy Australia association. Our fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change on 1st July each year.

For NDIS participants, majority of our services do not incur an out of pocket fee.
Please contact our clinic for more information about fees for specific services.

How many sessions will my child need?

It would be nice to be able to provide a 'number' of how many appointments your child might need for therapy, however, this looks different for every child.

We need to get to know your child and develop an individualised therapy plan before we can start to think about a 'the number' of sessions required. Each child is unique and progresses at their own pace.

Additionally, the amount of follow up at home makes a significant difference in the amount of therapy sessions required. Capacity for follow up at home also looks different for every family.

Do I have to pay on the day?

Sweet Paeds Therapy is a private practice and full payment is required on the day of consultation.
Payments can be made by Cash (exact amount only), EFTPOS and Credit Cards (Mastercard and Visa Only).

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding payments before booking an appointment.

Community visits must also be paid for on the day and can be done so using the above methods.

Exceptions are made for NDIS Plan Managed participants, in which we expect payment within 7 days of service.

What if i need to cancel my appointment?

We understand that sometimes plans change unexpectedly or last minute, including illnesses, however in order to be able to continually provide services to our wonderful families, we have a strict Cancellation Policy in place.

To avoid a Late Cancellation Fee, please provide more than 48 hours notice so we can offer your appointment spot to another family waiting for services. For more information on our Cancellation Policy, please phone our Reception on 03 5940 3857.

Can I bring a visitor or another therapist to my child's therapy session?

In order to ensure the safety of our staff and clients, we have a strict policy in place for visitors and external therapists to the clinic. This includes safety checks and written consent from the Director prior to any visitors attending our clinic. For more information, please contact our Reception on 5940 3857.