Home Modifications
From a grab rail to a full bathroom rebuild — assessed, prescribed and seen through by an occupational therapist.
A home modification is a change to the building itself so that someone can use it safely and independently. Under both the NDIS and the aged care Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme, modifications must be prescribed by an occupational therapist. We assess the house, the person and the way they actually move through it, then write the prescription that unlocks the funding.
Who this is for
Someone who can’t safely get into their own bathroom or shower
People struggling with steps, thresholds, doorways or a driveway
Families planning ahead for a progressive condition rather than waiting for a fall
Older people on Support at Home wanting to stay in the house they’re in
Participants whose current plan includes home modification funding but no prescription yet
What you end up with
- A home modification report with clear specifications
- Cost estimates and quotes coordinated with builders
- Evidence formatted for your funder’s requirements
- A final visit to check the work is safe and usable
What’s involved
Home visit and assessment
We measure, photograph and watch how you move through the space. We look at the whole route, not just the room — a modified bathroom is no use if you can’t get down the hall.
Options and discussion
Minor or complex, what each would cost you in time and disruption, and what happens if we do nothing. You choose.
Prescription and drawings
A written report with specifications, and for complex work, drawings and scope for builders to quote against.
Build and sign-off
We liaise with builders and suppliers, answer their questions mid-build, and inspect the finished work to confirm it does what it was prescribed to do.
How it’s funded
NDIS. Minor modifications are usually funded from Capital Supports, with complex modifications requiring a more detailed OT report and NDIA approval. Both need an OT prescription.
Support at Home. Home modifications sit in the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme, which is a separate funding stream from your quarterly budget, with tiers up to around $15,000. Higher tiers require assessment and prescription by an allied health professional — for home modifications, an occupational therapist.
Why we do this in your home
You cannot prescribe a bathroom from a photograph. Door widths, turning circles, the fall of the floor, where the light comes in, which side someone’s stronger on, whether the washing line is up three steps — all of it changes the recommendation.
We also assess the house as it’s lived in. Where the dog sleeps, where the walker gets parked, which chair someone always uses. Those details are why a modification either gets used or gets ignored.
Common questions
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Generally, changes that don’t alter the structure — grab rails, handheld showers, lever taps, step ramps, removing a shower screen. Complex modifications involve structural change: widening doorways, rebuilding a bathroom, structural ramps, or anything affecting load-bearing walls or drainage.
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Yes. Both the NDIS and the aged care AT-HM scheme require modifications to be prescribed by an occupational therapist. Funders will not approve on a builder’s quote alone.
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Minor modifications can move within weeks. Complex work realistically runs several months from first visit to completion, because it involves assessment, funder approval, builder quoting, scheduling and the build itself. We’ll give you an honest timeline at the first visit.
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Often yes, but you’ll need the owner’s written consent, and funders will want to see it. We can help frame the request. In some cases reversible or freestanding options achieve most of the benefit without permanent change.
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Yes, and we prefer to. We’ll write scope your builder can quote against, stay available through the build, and inspect at completion. If you don’t have one, we can point you to builders who’ve done accessible work before.
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Related services
Talk to us about home modifications
Tell us what’s going on and we’ll tell you whether this is the right service, what it will involve, and when we could get to you.