Does My Child Need Occupational Therapy? 3 Common Signs to Look Out For
If you’ve ever looked into therapy or support programs for your child, you may have come across the term Allied Health Assistants (AHA) and wondered, what exactly do they do, and how are they involved in my child’s care?
Many parents ask us about the roles of different professionals involved in their child’s therapy. In particular, Therapy Assistants (also known as Allied Health Assistants or OT Assistants) are often misunderstood or overlooked, despite being a valuable part of the therapy team. In this blog, we’ll explain what a Therapy Assistant is, how they support children’s development, and how they’re involved in group programs like our upcoming early childhood program, Ready Set Grow!
An Allied Health Assistant (AHA) or Therapy Assistant is a trained and experienced support professional who works under the supervision of qualified Allied Health practitioners (e.g. Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, or Speech Pathologists).
Therapy Assistants help implement therapy plans by supporting clients during sessions, preparing materials or activities, and encouraging the practice of specific skills. While they don’t create therapy plans or conduct assessments, they play an important role in carrying out therapy tasks and ensuring continuity of support.
They can work one-on-one with clients or directly assist therapists during sessions. Some AHAs are even studying to become Occupational Therapists themselves, bringing strong knowledge and passion to their work. Learn more about Allied Health Assistants on Healthdirect
When it comes to working with children, especially in the early years, Therapy Assistants can play a key role in building confidence, skill development, and emotional resilience. Under the guidance of a qualified Occupational Therapist, they help children practise important skills through play-based and structured activities.
Here are just some of the ways they support therapy goals:
Therapy Assistants also offer a cost-effective way to maximise your NDIS funding, with the rate for therapy assistant sessions being less than half the cost of an OT session, giving you more value and flexibility in your plan.
Group therapy programs are designed to foster connection, confidence, and learning through peer interaction. In these settings, having both an Occupational Therapist and a Therapy Assistant ensures children are supported by a team that can offer structure, consistency, and warmth.
In group programs like Ready Set Grow!, Therapy Assistants assist with:
With small group sizes, every child gets meaningful support, and the involvement of Therapy Assistants helps maintain a calm, well-supported environment throughout each session.
One great example of Therapy Assistant support in action is our upcoming Ready Set Grow! program – a 10-week group program designed for children aged 3–5 years who need extra support with:
Facilitated by an Occupational Therapist and OT Assistant, this play-based program provides a safe, structured environment where children can build school-readiness skills, make friends, and grow in confidence.
Each session includes sensory play, motor skill games, and guided social activities, all designed to help kids thrive in a fun, low-pressure environment.
If you think your child could benefit from structured, therapeutic support delivered by a team that includes both Occupational Therapists and Therapy Assistants, we’d love to hear from you.
Contact us today to learn more and register your little one for Ready Set Grow! Places are limited, so get in quick!
