4.5.29.2 Mental Health Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy Occupational therapy is a client-centred health profession concerned with promoting health and well being through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Occupational therapists achieve this outcome by working with people and communities to enhance their ability to engage in the occupations they want to, need to or are expected to do or by modifying the occupation or the environment to better support their occupational engagement. Australia (OTA) mental health endorsed occupational therapists demonstrate specific experience in evidence-based management of mild to moderate mental health conditions.
WorkSafe will only pay for mental health occupational therapy services by providers who:
- are registered with WorkSafe to provide services as both a mental health occupational therapist and occupational therapist
- hold and maintain registration with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia with no restrictions on practice
- hold and maintain endorsement with OTAand registration with Medicare to deliver focused psychological strategies under the OTA Mental Health Endorsement program, previously known as BAHM (Better Assess to Mental Health) endorsement.
- sign a declaration committing to provide mental health occupational therapy services in line with the Clinical Framework and related Service Standards.
See: BAMH Occupational Therapy Services application form
Policy
The policy provides guidelines for BAMH occupational therapy services.
See: Policy for Better Access to Mental Health (BAMH) Occupational Therapy Services
The policy provides guidelines about:
- what costs will be paid for
- what costs will not be paid for
- who can provide mental health occupational therapy services
- service standards
- reporting requirements of mental health occupational therapists
- referral requirements.
Fee Schedule
WorkSafe publish a fee schedule for the maximum amounts payable for a range of mental health occupational therapy categories.
See: Occupational Therapy Services Fee Schedule | Cost of Services