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. Alternatively, you can submit an enquiry form through 'Contact Us" on our website and our Reception team will contact you using the phone number or email provided.
If you choose to refer your child to us for OT services, you will be added to our waitlist for occupational therapy assessment and intervention. When being added to our waitlist, our Receptionist will ask a few more questions including your child's name, date of birth, main concerns for your child's development, and what days/times are suitable for appointments for you and your child.
(Please note the more flexible you can be with appointment days and times, the sooner you are likely to receive an appointment).

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 a position to privately fund appointments. Additionally, 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!
Once an appointment becomes available, we will contact families on our waitlist that have indicated availability for the same time appointment time. We will let you know whether the availability is for assessment only, ongoing therapy, or a once-off appointment.
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?

No. 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. As we are a private practice, our services fees are not determined by the NDIS Price Guide and there are out-of-pocket costs for NDIS participants.

Why is there out-of-pocket costs for NDIS participants?
The price limit for "therapy supports," which includes occupational therapy, has been frozen for the past six pricing reviews. This means the current rate of $193.99 per hour has remained unchanged for seven years, despite rising inflation and increased operational costs. Occupational Therapy Australia has reported that this has led to many providers struggling to remain sustainable causing many to reduce services provided, impacts the quality of services provided, cause burnout within teams struggling to keep up with demand, and many being forced to close their businesses, 60% of OT businesses in 23/24 reported running at a loss or breaking-even, and 8% of businesses exited the NDIS entirely.

Our fees allow us to continue providing best quality care for our clients, ensure high quality facilities and resources, and provide training and support for our therapists and administration team. Whether receiving government funding or paying privately, our fees are the same for everyone.

See the link below for more information: https://otaus.com.au/ndis-pricing-campaign

How much will therapy sessions cost?

Our fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change each year. 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. We recognised that 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 EFTPOS and Credit Card (Mastercard and Visa Only) payments only.
Clients receiving community visits must have a credit card number stored on file that will also be billed on the day of service.

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

Exceptions are made for NDIS Plan Managed participants, in which we expect payment within 10 business 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.