Roles of OT, PT, and EP under Support at Home

Here are some questions you may wonder:

What are the differences between OT and PT when it comes to prescribing AT?

When should you refer to a PT vs EP for mobility or restorative care support?

🟦 Occupational Therapy (OT)

The OTs assess a participant’s function in daily life, including personal care, safety at home, cognition, and equipment needs. They can:

1. Conduct functional capacity / needs assessments, falls risk assessments, and home environment and modification assessments
2. Support participants with capacity building to improve independence and safety at home
3. Recommend and prescribe the products, equipment and home modifications related to the participants’ function in their daily life within the AT-HM List
4. In terms of walking aid or products for walking in the AT-HM List, an OT can only recommend like-for-like replacement of a walking aid (e.g., replacing an existing 4WW or walking stick). The OT cannot recommend any new walking aid if the participant hasn’t used it previously or is unfamiliar with it. 

❓ Why can’t an OT recommend a new walking aid?

Great question! There are a few clinical and safety considerations before prescribing a new walking aid. Here’s why.

• The participant may not have received proper assessment or training in the safe use of the current walking aid. It might have been purchased by a family member, passed down from a loved one, or borrowed from a friend.
• There may be underlying reasons, such as reduced strength, balance or confidence, which requires a Physiotherapist’s assessment and tailored interventions. In some cases, buying a new  walking aid may not be the right solution at all. 
• Introducing any walking aid (e.g., walking stick, quad stick, or 4-wheeled walker) requires individualised education and training to ensure safe use. Without this, there is a significant risk of misuse or injury.

🟥 Physiotherapy (PT)

The PTs assess mobility, strength, falls risk, and pain. They can:

1. Prescribe new walking aids (e.g. walking stick, quad stick, 4-wheel walker, pick-up frame)
2. Treat musculoskeletal pain or post-surgery recovery
3. Prescribe exercises to improve balance and mobility
4. Provide gait retraining using a walking aid, especially when clients haven’t used one before

PTs are essential when:

1. The participant is unsteady, has never used a walking aid, or has mobility-related risks
2. The participant need an evidence-based assessment of physical function and falls prevention strategies

🟩 Exercise Physiology (EP)

EPs specialise in chronic disease management, functional movement, and exercise programs tailored to individual needs. They can:

1. Provide ongoing exercise programs for clients with conditions like diabetes, stroke, arthritis, heart or lung conditions
2. Help with balance, endurance, fatigue, and strength
3. Work collaboratively with PTs and OTs as part of a wellness and reablement approach
4. Promote physical activity for clients recovering at home or at risk of deconditioning

For Restorative Care Pathway or Support at Home participants, EPs are often allocated to assist with longer-term goals.

💡 How Super Rehab Allocate Referrals

We allocate referrals based on:

1. Participant needs and preferences
2. Urgency and funding priorities (e.g., Restorative Care or End-of-Life Pathway)
3. Clinical risk and safety

Sometimes, we may allocate an EP for timely access under RCP, rather than PT. However, we will always ensure the team works collaboratively and escalate to a PT when clinically appropriate. Read more on Super Rehab Referral Allocation

📞 Let’s Continue Supporting Participants Together

Whether you’re a care partner or service provider, we’re here to make this transition smooth and successful for everyone involved, especially our older Australians.

If you have any questions about our pricing, capacity, or service areas, or would like to schedule a meeting, don’t hesitate to reach out.