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NDIS Mental Health Occupational Therapist Burnside
Mental Health Occupational Therapy
NDIS Provider Servicing Burnside and Surrounds
Burnside sits between Caroline Springs and Deer Park, with the Kororoit Creek trail winding along its edge. For people living with psychosocial disability (mental illness), getting life back on track after a tough period or a hospital stay often starts with small, everyday things, like a regular walk or a meal cooked at home.
PotentialMe's mental health occupational therapists visit participants across Burnside and Burnside Heights at home and in the community. We support people living with schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, OCD and personality disorders to rebuild routines, regain everyday skills and take part in life again.
Occupational Therapy Services
Getting Back on Track
Psychosocial disability can knock everyday life off course. Budgeting, paying bills, planning and cooking meals, looking after the house, self-care, managing time, work or study, and staying in touch with people can all fall away.
Our occupational therapists specialise in mental illness (psychosocial disability), including schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, OCD and personality disorders. We take the time to understand where you're at, then shape our support around your goals, your strengths and your daily life.
We help you rebuild your week, starting with the basics.
Functional Capacity Assessments
We assess how you're managing now and where support would help most.
Goal Focused Therapy and Rehabilitation
We work on practical goals with you and rebuild skills at your pace.
Care Team Collaboration
We create care plans and can train your support team to follow them.
Evaluation, Review and Reassessment
We complete an initial assessment and reassess as your needs change.
Our Key Areas of Focus
Mobile Mental Health OT in Burnside
We want participants to feel steadier, more capable and more connected to their community. Our mobile mental health occupational therapists visit you at home in Burnside, Burnside Heights or nearby, or meet you in the community, at a time that suits you.
Improving Motivation and Achieving Goals
Find small, achievable goals that help you build momentum again.
Mood Management and Improvement
Notice what affects your mood and build habits that support recovery.
Strengthening Identity and Self-Esteem
Rebuild confidence and a sense of who you are, at your own pace.
Sensory Regulation
Learn calming strategies for when things start to feel like too much.
Improving Social Skills and Relationships
Reconnect with friends, family and community activities.
Independent Living Skills
Regain the skills to manage everyday tasks.
Executive Functions
Simple tools to plan your week and stay on track.
Emotional Regulation
Steadier ways to respond to strong emotions and setbacks.
Travel and Community Integration
Get confident using local buses, shops and trails.
Personal Care
Rebuild personal care routines that are easy to keep.
Household Activities
Simple routines for meals, cleaning and laundry.
Your OT works alongside you, building a plan around your goals, your needs and where you're at right now.
Explore Our OT Services
Paediatric Occupational Therapy
Our paediatric OTs work with children and families on fine motor skills, sensory processing, emotional regulation, self-care and school readiness using play-based sessions, with telehealth available to families across Melbourne.
NDIS Functional Capacity Assessment
Our mental health OTs complete thorough Functional Capacity Assessments showing how psychosocial disability affects your daily life, giving the NDIS clear evidence for planning and reassessment.
Telehealth Mental Health OT
Some days are better spent at home. Telehealth keeps your sessions going, with secure online OT across Greater Melbourne, regional Victoria and Australia-wide.
Practice Specialty
What Is Mental Health Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is about the everyday activities, or “occupations”, that give a day its shape. That includes getting up and dressed, cooking, shopping, managing money, working, studying and spending time with others.
Mental health occupational therapy looks at how mental illness affects those activities. After a period of being unwell, it's common for routines to fall apart and everyday skills to feel rusty. For someone living with schizophrenia, that might mean losing the structure that made the day manageable. An OT helps you rebuild it piece by piece, from a regular wake-up time and simple meals to a walk along the creek or a trip to the shops.
Our OTs ask “What matters to you?” rather than “What's the matter with you?” OT focuses on daily function rather than talk therapy, and works well alongside your psychologist, psychiatrist or GP.
NDIS support workers offer daily support, emotional steadiness, and care that helps you feel seen and supported. Learn more about them and what they do in this blog.
Areas We Service
Local NDIS Support
Our occupational therapists support people living with mental illness, psychiatric conditions and psychosocial disability across Burnside, Burnside Heights and the eastern edge of the City of Melton. We help participants rebuild independence, manage daily responsibilities and reconnect with their community, at a pace that feels right for them.
What Participants Say
In Their Own Words
Hear from participants and families who have worked with our team. If you'd like to talk about how mental health OT could help you or someone you support, we're here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you visit participants in Burnside?
Yes. Our OTs are mobile and visit you at home or meet you in the community. Telehealth sessions are also available, and many participants mix the two depending on how they're feeling.
Can an OT help me rebuild routines after a hospital stay?
Yes. After time in hospital or a period of being unwell, routines often need rebuilding. Your OT can help you set up a simple daily structure, get back into cooking, shopping and self-care, and gradually return to the activities that matter to you.
How does an OT help someone living with schizophrenia?
An OT focuses on the practical side of daily life. That can include a consistent routine, cooking and shopping, budgeting, keeping track of appointments, using public transport and getting back into social activities. You set the goals.
Is mental health OT the same as psychology?
No. Psychology mainly focuses on thoughts, feelings and behaviour through talk therapy. OT focuses on everyday function, using practical, hands-on strategies. The two work well together.
Can the NDIS fund mental health OT?
If therapy supports are included in your plan, mental health OT can usually be funded. It's often funded under Capacity Building, and sometimes Core, depending on your goals. We can go through your plan with you.
Do you work with my mental health team?
Yes. With your permission, we keep in touch with your GP, psychiatrist, psychologist, case manager, support coordinator and family, so everyone is working towards the same goals.
Do you complete Functional Capacity Assessments?
Yes. Our OTs complete FCAs for participants with psychosocial disability. The report describes how your mental health affects daily life and can be used as evidence for a plan reassessment.
How do I get started?
Call us, send an enquiry through our website or ask your support coordinator, LAC or health professional to refer you. We'll talk about your goals and arrange for an OT to visit you in Burnside.
