Frequently Asked Questions

Occupational therapy (OT) is a health profession focused on helping people participate in the activities that matter to them — whether that's self-care, household tasks, work or social activities. An OT assesses how a person's physical, cognitive, or psychological condition affects what they can do day-to-day, then works with them to overcome those barriers through therapy, equipment, training, or environmental changes.

Occupational therapists work across a wide range of conditions including traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, spinal cord injury, neurological conditions, acquired brain injury, multi-trauma injuries, chronic pain, and cognitive impairment. At Solve OT, we specialise in complex neurological and catastrophic injuries in both the clinical and medico-legal settings.

For private clients and some funding schemes, no referral is required — you can contact us directly. For funded services (iCare, NDIS, WorkCover), you will generally need approval from your insurer, case manager, or plan manager before services begin. For medico-legal assessments, referrals come from solicitors, insurers, or rehabilitation providers.

We are based in Sydney and primarily service New South Wales for OT assessment and rehabilitation. For medico-legal assessments and reports, we travel Australia-wide.

An OT assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of your functional abilities — what you can do independently, where you need support, and what could improve with intervention. At Solve OT, assessments are conducted in your home and community to capture a realistic picture of your everyday environment. We look at physical function, cognition, daily living skills, equipment needs, safety, and your goals for recovery.

The assessment begins with a detailed discussion about your history, current challenges, and goals. We then observe you performing everyday tasks in your home or community, administer standardised cognitive and physical tests where appropriate, and evaluate your environment for safety and suitability. The result is a clear, tailored picture of your strengths and support needs.

This depends on the complexity of your situation. A standard functional assessment typically takes 2–3 hours. Comprehensive assessments for complex or catastrophic injuries may take longer across one or more sessions.

Following the assessment you will receive a detailed written report outlining your functional abilities, identified areas of difficulty, equipment or home modification recommendations, and a plan for therapy or support services. The report is tailored to your goals and the purpose of the referral.

Yes. Home-based assessments are a core part of how we work. Assessing someone in their own environment gives the most accurate picture of how they function day-to-day and allows us to identify practical solutions that suit their actual living situation.

We work within iCare, NDIS (self and plan managed), WorkCover, CTP, and private funding. Contact us to discuss your specific scheme and funding situation.

OT rehabilitation is an ongoing therapy program focused on helping you regain skills, build independence, and achieve your daily living goals. At Solve OT, rehabilitation is delivered in your home and community — where real life happens — rather than in a clinic. This makes the therapy immediately relevant and practical.

We provide physical rehabilitation (strength, coordination, upper limb function), cognitive rehabilitation (memory, planning, organisation, self-management), activities of daily living (ADL) training (self-care, household tasks, community access), and complex equipment prescription (custom seating, wheelchairs, specialist aids).

Cognitive rehabilitation focuses on rebuilding thinking skills affected by brain injury, stroke, or neurological conditions. This can include training strategies to improve memory and organisation, techniques for managing daily tasks more independently, and building confidence in personal management and problem-solving.

Yes. Recommending and prescribing assistive technology and complex equipment — including custom seating and wheelchairs — is a speciality at Solve OT. We work with equipment companies and assess your specific environment to ensure any solution is safe, practical, and right for your needs. Where required, we can also assess for and recommend home modifications.

Rehabilitation duration varies significantly depending on your goals, the nature of your condition, and the funding available. We develop a personalised therapy plan with clear goals and review your progress regularly. Some clients work with us for a focused period; others need longer-term support.

Absolutely. We take a collaborative approach and actively involve family members and carers where that is helpful. This can include training carers in how to support specific tasks, ensuring the home environment works for everyone, and keeping families informed about progress and goals.

A medico-legal OT assessment is an independent, objective evaluation of how an injury or condition affects a person's everyday function and quality of life. Unlike clinical OT, the purpose is not treatment — it is to provide expert opinion and a detailed written report for use in legal, insurance, or compensation proceedings.

A clinical OT focuses on treatment and rehabilitation, working in the client's best interests toward recovery. A medico-legal OT provides independent, unbiased assessments to inform legal or insurance decisions. They do not provide treatment or advocate for one side — their role is to give an objective, evidence-based account of functional capacity and future needs.

Referrals come from personal injury and compensation lawyers, insurance companies, iCare, rehabilitation providers, and employers. Injured individuals themselves may also request an assessment in some circumstances.

We provide assessments for motor vehicle accidents, workplace accidents, medical negligence, and other complex injury claims. We have experience across multiple compensation schemes including CTP, iCare, and WorkCover. Fiona Goron has been providing medico-legal opinions since 2004.

Our specialty is complex neurological and catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury, multi-trauma, acquired brain injury, and other serious neurological conditions. We also assess physical injuries, cognitive impairment, and the functional impact of chronic conditions on daily life.

Medico-legal assessments are typically conducted in the person's home and community environment. This allows for a realistic and objective evaluation of how the person functions in their actual daily setting, rather than in an artificial clinical environment.

Assessment duration depends on the complexity of the injury and the scope of the referral questions. Most assessments take between 2 and 4 hours. For catastrophic injuries, additional time or multiple visits may be required.

The report addresses the specific referral questions and provides a clear, evidence-based account of the person's functional abilities and limitations, their independence across daily activities, equipment and care needs, home or workplace modification requirements, and future support and rehabilitation needs. Where required, the report will also address return-to-work capacity and future cost projections.

We aim to deliver reports within 15 business days of assessment. We are able to accommodate urgent turnaround requirements — please contact us to discuss your timeline.

Yes. We can prioritise urgent assessments and reports where required by court deadlines or other time-sensitive circumstances. Contact us directly to discuss your requirements.

Yes. Fiona Goron is available for expert conferences, joint expert reports, and expert witness testimony where required.

Yes. While we are Sydney-based, we travel Australia-wide for medico-legal assessments. Contact us for a quote for travel requirements outside New South Wales.

The assessment report is prepared for the instructing party (usually a lawyer or insurer) and used in the context of the legal proceedings. Privacy obligations apply under Australian law and the relevant professional registration standards. We take the privacy of all individuals assessed seriously.

Yes. We provide OT assessment and rehabilitation services to NDIS participants who are self-managed or plan managed. We can help with functional assessments, equipment prescription, and capacity-building therapy goals. If you are agency managed, please contact us to discuss options.

Yes. We have experience working within the iCare (NSW Workers Compensation) framework for both OT assessment and rehabilitation services, as well as medico-legal reporting.

Yes. We provide both clinical OT services and medico-legal assessments for CTP insurance claims arising from motor vehicle accidents.

Yes. We accept private clients and are happy to discuss rates and arrangements directly. Contact us for more information.

You can contact us directly by phone or email to discuss a referral. We will confirm the scope of the assessment, required documentation, and funding approval process. For medico-legal referrals, please send a letter of instruction along with relevant medical records and your referral questions.

For clinical referrals: the person's name, contact details, condition or diagnosis, goals, and funding details. For medico-legal referrals: the letter of instruction, medical records, imaging reports, and any specific questions you require addressed in the report.

The easiest way is to call us on +61 480 538 479 or email fiona.goron@solveot.com. We are happy to have an initial conversation about your situation and whether Solve OT is the right fit before any formal referral is made.