Therapy Assistants
Our therapy assistants work alongside qualified therapists to help NDIS participants practise their goals more often, in real life settings, at a lower hourly rate. Here's everything you need to know about how it works, who's involved, and what it costs.
What is a Therapy Assistant?
A therapy assistant (also called an Allied Health Assistant, TA, or AHA) is a trained support person who helps deliver your therapy program under the direction and supervision of your therapist.
They're not a therapist, and they don't need to be. Their job is to carry out the specific tasks your therapist has designed for you, so you can practise your goals more consistently between sessions.
Think of it this way: your therapist builds the plan. Your therapy assistant helps you live it, every week.
What can a Therapy Assistant help with?
Occupational Therapy
Practising daily living skills, fine motor tasks, sensory routines, assistive technology use, community access, and more, all following a program developed by your OT.
Speech Pathology
Running communication drills, supporting AAC use, practising language tasks, and helping build confidence with different communication partners.
Hypermobility & EDS Physio
Fun, game-based sessions building strength, proprioception, and joint awareness, guided by a physio with specialist hEDS knowledge, without overloading unstable joints.
Why use a Therapy Assistant?
Therapy assistants bill at a lower NDIS rate than qualified therapists. That means your NDIS funding can go a lot further, with most participants accessing 2 to 3 times more sessions per dollar when they work with a therapy assistant alongside their therapist.
Note: the exact rates above are indicative. Check the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements for up-to-date figures, or contact us and we'll help you work it out.
What does the NDIS have to say?
The NDIS recognises therapy assistants as a legitimate and valuable part of a participant's support team. Under the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, therapy assistants are classified as either Level 1 or Level 2, depending on the level of supervision they require.
Level 1 — Therapy Assistant
Can only deliver support under the direct supervision of a therapist at all times.
Level 2 — Therapy Assistant
Can deliver therapeutic support independently, under the delegation and supervision of a therapist, meaning the therapist does not need to be physically present during sessions.
For full details, see the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits on the NDIS website.
Who's liable? Who's accountable?
This is one of the most important things for both families and therapists to understand, so we'll be straight with you.
For families and participants
First Step is accountable for our therapy assistants. We employ and manage them, ensure they are appropriately screened and trained, and carry Professional Indemnity, Public Liability, and Workers Compensation insurance on their behalf.
If you ever have a concern about a session, you come to us, not to your therapist.
For allied health professionals
When you refer a client to work with a First Step therapy assistant, your accountability is limited to:
- Identifying which tasks in the therapy plan are suitable for a therapy assistant
- Documenting and communicating the therapy plan clearly
- Supervising the therapy assistant's implementation at a clinical level
Once the therapy plan is transferred, accountability for task delivery sits with First Step as the therapy assistant's employer, in line with Victoria's Supervision and Delegation Framework for Allied Health Assistants.
How It Works, Step By Step
Referral or Enquiry
You (or your therapist, coordinator, or support person) reaches out to us to discuss whether a therapy assistant is right for you. We'll ask about your goals, your current therapy team, and what you're hoping to achieve. Get in touch →
Meet Your Therapy Assistant
We'll match you with a therapy assistant based on your goals, preferences, and location.
Team Meeting with Your Therapist
Your therapist, therapy assistant, and you (or your support person) come together to document your goals and therapy plan. This is the foundation for every session going forward.
Sessions Begin
Your therapy assistant works with you regularly, in your home, community, school, or wherever makes sense for your goals. They document every session and keep communication open with your therapist.
Ongoing Check-ins
Your therapist reviews progress and updates the plan as you grow. We make sure the lines of communication stay open between all parties.
Extra Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a therapy assistant replace my therapist?
No. A therapy assistant works alongside your therapist, not instead of them. Your therapist continues to hold your clinical plan and provides ongoing supervision. Think of a therapy assistant as the person helping you practise what your therapist has designed, consistently and affordably.
Who covers a therapy assistant's insurance?
First Step Support Services provides comprehensive insurance cover for all of our therapy assistants. Every therapy assistant working through us is covered by Professional Indemnity, Public Liability, and Workers Compensation insurance. You don't need to worry about arranging this, it's all taken care of on our end.
Who is accountable for the actions of the therapy assistant?
First Step Support Services is accountable for the actions of our therapy assistants. As their employer, we are responsible for their conduct, compliance, and the quality of their work. External allied health professionals are not accountable for the actions of our therapy assistants, their responsibility is limited to identifying suitable tasks and providing the therapy plan. Once that plan is transferred to us, accountability for its delivery sits with First Step.
Who does the therapy assistant work for, me, or my therapist?
Your therapy assistant is employed and managed by First Step Support Services. They're not employed by your therapist. Your therapist directs the clinical tasks, but First Step is responsible for the therapy assistant's employment, conduct, and insurance.
What if my therapist is from a different organisation?
That's completely fine, and it's how most of our therapy assistant relationships work. We partner with external therapists across the Geelong and Melbourne region. Your therapist doesn't have to be a First Step therapist to refer a client to us for therapy assistant support.
Is this covered by my NDIS plan?
In most cases, yes. Therapy assistant services are typically funded under the Improved Daily Living support category (or CB Daily Activity for plan-managed/agency-managed participants). If you're unsure what's in your plan, we're happy to help you figure it out, contact us.
What if I don't think it's the right fit?
Tell us. We'd rather find the right match than push ahead with someone who isn't working for you. We can work with you and your therapist to find a better-suited therapy assistant if needed.
How do I know what the therapy assistant is doing in sessions?
Your therapy assistant writes session notes after every appointment. These can be shared with you and your therapist. We also encourage regular check-ins between the therapy assistant and therapist to keep everyone aligned.
What areas do you cover?
We currently support participants across the Geelong region and parts of Melbourne. Contact us if you're unsure whether we cover your area.
Fees & Funding
Our Speech Pathologist Assessments are $193.99 per hour, with approximately 7.5 hours required for a full assessment and therapy plan (2 hours if an assessment was completed in the last 12 months). Our Therapy Assistants are $86.79 per hour, plus one-way travel (we group participants by suburb to keep this as low as possible). NDIS funding can be used for both. A Medicare 135 Referral can be used for the assessment (rebate of $85.20/hr), but not for a Therapy Assistant.
See how far your funding could go
How to Contact Us
Support Work Team
0480 045 456
Allied Health Team
0480 045 647