At Super Rehab, our Physiotherapists (PTs) and Occupational Therapists (OTs) work closely together to provide the best quality services for our participants. While each profession has its own scope of practice, there are times when our roles overlap — particularly between PT and OT. This guide is designed to help you understand the key differences and make more confident referral decisions.
What do OT and PT have in common?
Both our OTs and PTs work to keep participants safe and independent at home. Both professions can support participants with the following:
- Walking aid prescription and replacement
- Basic community access wheelchair prescription and replacement
- Falls prevention education
Where do they differ?
Occupational Therapy
OTs specialise in helping participants perform their daily activities safely and independently. They assess the participant’s individual needs and observe how they perform everyday tasks within their home environment. They identify barriers to safe performance and discuss practical solutions — including home modifications, equipment prescription, and adaptive strategies.
In relation to mobility aids specifically, an OT can prescribe a replacement for an existing aid — for example, when a walking frame is broken or worn out — provided there has been no change in the participant’s function or health. A new mobility aid prescription, where the participant has not previously used one, falls outside OT scope and requires a PT assessment.
Physiotherapy
PTs specialise in mobility, movement, and physical rehabilitation. They can assess a participant’s gait pattern and physical impairments — including declining balance, joint deterioration, and falls risk — and prescribe a suitable mobility aid where one has not been used previously. This ensures that the need for a new mobility aid is thoroughly assessed by the right clinician.
PTs also deliver manual therapy, exercise-based rehabilitation, and physical interventions that go beyond the scope of OT practice.
Quick reference guide
| Situation | Refer to |
|---|---|
| Participant needs a new mobility aid (no previous aid) | PT |
| Participant needs a replacement of an existing mobility aid (no change in function) | PT or OT |
| Participant needs equipment for daily living (shower chair, over-toilet aid, etc.) | OT |
| Participant needs a home modification assessment | OT |
| Participant has falls risk and needs a balance and gait assessment | PT |
| Participant needs falls prevention education | PT or OT |
| Participant needs a basic community access wheelchair | PT or OT |
Still not sure who to refer to?
Our referral allocation guide covers a wider range of scenarios across all disciplines including Exercise Physiology, Speech Pathology, and Dietetics. You can also call our team directly — we are happy to help you identify the right clinician before you submit a referral.
📞 (02) 8970 4632
✉ info@superrehab.com.au
🌐 superrehab.com.au/referral-guide