Help to make your home easier to live in

If you already have a qualified and accredited occupational therapist, they can give us their recommendations for the home modifications you need.

Check if you can use the service

The Housing ACT Occupational Therapy Service helps Canberrans with disability or changing needs to live more independently in their Housing ACT homes.

You can use the service if:

• you are a Housing ACT tenant or an approved resident
• you are a community housing tenant
• you work for a community organisation and have concerns about your client’s mobility or safety in their Housing ACT home.

People we cannot assess

We cannot accept referrals for people who:

• are having major surgery in the next 3 months, for example orthopaedic surgery
• are being discharged from hospital or have been in hospital in the last 3 months
• have medical conditions that should resolve within 3 months, for example fractures
• need to trial equipment or learn how to use it
• have multiple occupational therapy needs.

Changes your home can get

You can get changes to make your home suit your health needs and improve your safety and quality of life.

Your home can get minor changes such as:

• grab rails or handrails
• threshold ramps
• changes to steps.

Your home can get major changes to create or improve wheelchair access, for example:

• installing ramps
• wider doorways
• removing walls between toilets and bathrooms
• changes to shower recesses
• lowering kitchen bench heights.

Our occupational therapist may also recommend equipment like:

• shower stool or shower chair
• over toilet frame or toilet seat raiser
• bath board.

Changes your GP can recommend

If you need small changes, you can ask us to install:

• handrails alongside steps
• lever taps and door handles
• handheld showers
• clothesline height adjustments
• different floor coverings.

To get these changes:

• ask your GP to write you a letter about why you need the changes
• email the letter to housingmaintenance@act.gov.au.

How to get your home changed

If you have your own occupational therapist, they can send their assessment and recommendations to housingmaintenance@act.gov.au.

If you don't have your own occupational therapist, ask your housing manager to refer you to our occupational therapist.

After we get your referral:

• we’ll contact you to talk about what you need
• add you to the waitlist for a home visit.

Assessing your needs

Our occupational therapist will visit your home to assess your needs. They will:

• watch how you go about your daily activities
• decide on equipment or changes your home needs to help you move about safely.

After the visit

We will ask Programmed Maintenance to make the changes your home needs.

Changes to your home can take up to:

• 3 months for minor changes
• 12 months for major changes.

After your home is modified

Our Occupational Therapist will check in with you over the next 6 to 12 months to make sure the changes made to your home are safe and work for your needs.

If your home can’t be modified for your needs

You will get help to move to a Housing ACT home that meets your current and future needs.

Refer a client if you are an occupational therapist

You can send your recommendations for changes to your client's home.

Your report must include your:

• client’s name, date of birth, health condition
• recommended modifications
• reasons for the changes.

Email your report to housingmaintenance@act.gov.au.

Advice for occupational therapists

You can contact us for advice about:

• the clinical reasons for major modifications or for relocating your client to another home
• the design of modifications.

Contact us