Occupational therapy looks at three things together: the young person themselves, the environments they're moving through, and the everyday activities they need or want to do. Rather than teaching skills in isolation, we look at how a young person's strengths and challenges interact with their home, school, or community setting, and how that shapes their ability to do things like manage routines, communicate, cook, handle money, or plan their week. Planning and decision making sit at the heart of this too, learning how to weigh up options, problem solve when things don't go to plan, and make choices with growing confidence. It's about building real, lasting capability for the life the young person actually wants, not just practising isolated tasks.

Absolutely. Many of the young people we support are autistic, have ADHD, or experience the world differently in other ways. Our approach is strengths based and adapts to how each young person thinks, communicates, and learns best. There's no one size fits all here.

Executive functioning is the set of mental skills we use to get things done, like plan ahead, manage time, stay organised, start tasks, regulate emotions, and adjust when things change unexpectedly. It's come up a lot in recent years because we now understand just how much these skills sit underneath everyday independence, things like remembering appointments, managing a job, or following through on study without someone else keeping track for you. For many young people executive functioning doesn't always develop at the same pace as other skills and for those who are neurodivergent these skills can work differently rather than simply lagging behind. This isn't about effort or willpower, it's simply a difference in how the brain organises and carries out tasks. With the right support and strategies, things that feel hard or overwhelming can start to feel manageable and familiar. Young people can be supported to build their own version of what works, at their own pace.

Supporting parents is a core part of what we do, not an afterthought. This might look like coaching sessions where we work through specific challenges together, practical strategies you can use at home, or simply a space to talk through what the transition to adulthood is bringing up for your family. Some parents want tools and structure, others want someone who understands what they're navigating. We shape sessions around what's most useful for you.

Not necessarily, and it works differently for every family. Some young people prefer to work one on one, building independence in a space that's just theirs. Others benefit from parents being closely involved, especially early on. I also work with parents alone, without the young person present, which can be a good option if you want support navigating the transition yourself or need strategies for home. We'll talk with you about what fits best, and this can shift over time as things change.

Happy Adapt works with NDIS funded clients, and we also see people who are self funded or using other funding pathways. This includes GP referrals under a Medicare care plan, private health insurance where OT is covered under your extras policy, or simply paying privately without any of these.

If you're not sure what applies to you, get in touch and we can talk it through together.

No formal referral is needed.

Connection can come directly from you or your family, or through your GP, school, or Support Coordinator. Some families come to us after a conversation with someone who knows them well and others reach out on their own. However you come to find us, we're happy to talk through your situation and understand where you are at.