Occupational Therapy

How we can help you

Some people have difficulties with daily activities as a result of illness, injury or aging. Occupational Therapists can help show you different ways of undertaking everyday tasks including:

  • How to look after yourself (eg showering, drying, dressing, toileting and grooming)
  • Cooking
  • Cleaning
  • Managing your medicines
  • Leisure activities
  • Accessing the community.

We meet with you to identify your specific needs. Our aim is to help you stay safe and to stay at home. 

We do this by:

  • Assessing your abilities and developing a plan
  • Organising useful adaptive equipment
  • Providing education to patients and their families/carers
  • Visiting your home and recommending home modifications
  • Help with using oxygen at home, preventing pressure injuries and falls
  • Offering individual or group based therapy.

We look after patients in our hospital as well as provide follow up outpatient appointments after you leave our hospital.

If you think you or someone you care living in the community may benefit from Occupational Therapy services in their home, you can call the Northern Network Access and Referral Centre on 9369 0400.

Our qualified Occupational Therapists are part of multidisciplinary teams working across Prince of Wales Hospital.  

For those who have been under the care of our hospital, we provide outpatient appointments to continue care once you have gone home. These include:

  • Falls Prevention
  • Wheelchair & Seating Clinic (for Spinal Injuries)
  • Balance Disorders
  • Rehabilitation after stroke
  • Amputees and pain. 

To refer your patient please call 9382 8299 or email: Danielle.Collins@health.nsw.gov.au  

If you need occupational therapy after leaving hospital you will be referred to our occupational therapy outpatient team.

Some services including our Balance Disorders and Falls Prevention Services will accept referrals from your local general practitioner (GP).

Once we receive your referral, you will be placed on a waiting list and contacted as soon as an appointment is available.

If we think your needs are better met by another service (eg Community Health) we will help you make a referral.

If you have questions regarding this appointment or if you would like to reschedule or cancel this appointment please call the Occupational Therapy Department on 9382 8299.

Can I chose the day and time I attend the centre for my appointment?

We are open from 8.00am - 4.30pm. We will try to find an appointment time that suits you.  However, outpatient appointment times may be limited.

How long will my appointment go for?

This can vary. It is best to check with your therapist when booking the appointment. Most appointments take about 1 hour, although our Seating Clinic appointments generally take about 2 hours.

You may need to wait up to 3 months for an outpatient appointment before you can see the Occupational Therapist (depending on the clinic). Please note this is not an emergency service.

If you are coming to an outpatient appointment we recommend bringing a support person (a relative, friend or carer) with you to the first appointment.

Please wear comfortable, loose clothing as we may get you to do some exercises whilst you are with us. You may feel more comfortable in trousers rather than a skirt.

Please let us know if you need an interpreter. You can contact us telephoning the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. Tell the operator what language you speak and then ask the interpreter to set up a telephone conversation between you, an interpreter, and the healthcare professional you want to speak with.

We are a teaching hospital and you may be asked to be involved in research or for an Occupational Therapy student to be present at your session under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist. You have a right to say no. If you do so, this will have no impact in any way on the services we will provide.