Published 5 October 2026 · COH Rehab
For a NSW CTP or workers compensation matter, start with the person's current concern, a small set of clear questions, relevant background and the scope you are asking the insurer to fund. The examples below are practical drafting suggestions. They are not a prescribed SIRA referral form.
For an overview of the appointment itself, read what happens during an ADL assessment.
Start with the decision the report needs to inform
Before writing “please assess ADLs”, ask what you need to understand after reading the report. Is the concern a particular household task, the suitability of equipment, or whether existing assistance still matches the person's needs?
Write that purpose in one sentence. Then choose questions that will help answer it. A focused brief also gives the OT an opportunity to identify whether the proposed assessment can address the concern or whether another service is needed.
Example one: difficulty managing household tasks
Purpose: Understand the person's current ability to manage specified household activities and whether practical changes or assistance should be considered.
Possible questions:
- Which parts of meal preparation and laundry can the person complete, and which parts are difficult?
- What information or observations explain those difficulties?
- Are changes to task setup, equipment or technique worth considering?
- If assistance is recommended, what tasks would it cover, what is the rationale and when would review be appropriate?
Name the activities that are actually in question. Do not assume that every household task needs assessment or that a particular number of support hours is the expected outcome.
Example two: a request for equipment
Purpose: Clarify the everyday problem the proposed equipment is intended to address.
Possible questions:
- What task is difficult with the current setup?
- Is the proposed equipment suitable for the person and the environment in which it would be used?
- Should alternatives or a trial be considered before a final recommendation?
- Would training, setup or follow-up be needed if equipment is recommended?
Give the OT the existing request and the reason it was raised. Leave room for a recommendation that differs from the original suggestion.
Example three: reviewing an existing support arrangement
Purpose: Understand whether the current arrangement remains appropriate after a reported change in function.
Possible questions:
- What has changed since the earlier assessment, and what remains difficult?
- Which current supports address those difficulties?
- Are changes to the arrangement recommended, and what evidence supports them?
- What would indicate that another review is useful?
Include the earlier report when relevant and authorised for sharing. Describe the change that prompted the review, rather than simply requesting the same assessment again.
Add a short account of everyday life before and after injury
Describe the person's usual routine and the activities affected now. Distinguish what the person has reported, what another practitioner has documented and what still needs assessment.
SIRA's AHTR explanatory notes use a comparison between pre-injury and current activity capacity. That is a useful organising approach for the background in a referral too.
Keep it relevant:
- The injury information and treating advice that relate to the requested assessment
- The everyday tasks the person wants or needs to resume
- The living environment and known access concerns
- Existing assistance, equipment and recent assessments
- Communication, interpreter or accessibility requirements
Include the person's priorities where they are known. SIRA's Clinical Framework emphasises measurable outcomes, participation and helping people manage their recovery.
Ask for the reasoning behind recommendations
A useful referral can request that the report explain the information considered, relevant observations and how these support each recommendation. Ask the OT to identify any limitations, information gaps or further assessment needed.
For example: “Please distinguish the person's reported difficulties from activities observed during the assessment, and explain any limits on the conclusions.”
The assessment may not resolve every question in one visit. Agreeing what the report should address makes those limits easier to identify and discuss.
Confirm the funded scope and information sharing
An enquiry, a referral and funding approval are different stages. Before arranging an insurer-funded assessment, clarify what is approved and who is responsible for confirming the costs.
Ask whether the agreed scope includes the assessment, relevant document review, travel, report preparation and any proposed follow-up. Record items that still need clarification. Do not assume that approval for an assessment also covers equipment purchases or ongoing assistance.
For CTP rehabilitation-provider services, SIRA's provider guidance says insurer approval is required before services, including the initial assessment. For the particular OT referral, confirm the applicable pathway with the insurer and provider.
Share only information relevant to the referral that you are authorised to provide, using the agreed channel. Identify the intended report recipients and confirm the person's consent arrangements. SIRA's AHTR notes specifically address informed consent when sharing personal information unrelated to the compensable injury or illness.
Check that the referral fits the service
COH Rehab's occupational therapists provide ADL assessments for suitable CTP and defined WorkCover matters. The assessment concerns everyday function, safety, equipment and support needs.
If the main question is about driving, discuss an OT driving assessment separately so its specific requirements can be clarified.
COH Rehab does not provide workers compensation vocational assessments or work-focused functional/capacity assessments. For those requests, ask the insurer about referral to an appropriate SIRA-approved workplace rehabilitation provider. SIRA explains the workplace rehabilitation provider role.
A short ADL referral brief to adapt
Use these prompts to prepare your referral. Complete only what is relevant and authorised for sharing.
- Claim and contact: scheme, claim reference, insurer contact and referrer's role
- Purpose: the everyday concern and the decision the report should inform
- Person's priorities: activities they want or need to manage
- Referral questions: the specific matters the OT should address
- Background: relevant injury information, treating advice and earlier reports
- Current situation: living environment, existing assistance and equipment
- Scope and funding: proposed work, confirmed approval and unresolved costs or components
- Arrangements: location, access and communication needs
- Reporting: intended recipients, consent arrangements and requested timeframe for discussion with the provider
Label missing information clearly so the provider can identify what needs clarification before proceeding.
Common referral questions
Is this brief an Allied Health Treatment Request?
No. It helps the referrer explain what they want assessed. The Allied Health Treatment Request is a separate practitioner document used to communicate clinical information and request treatment or services. Its requirements depend on the applicable scheme and practitioner circumstances. Confirm the required documentation with the insurer and OT.
How can I check the occupational therapist's registration?
Use Ahpra's practitioner register to check current registration information, including any conditions. Also ask the provider about experience relevant to the specific assessment.
Under SIRA's treating allied health approval guidelines, occupational therapists are not among the professions requiring SIRA approval through that framework. This does not establish insurer funding for an assessment or approval to deliver workplace rehabilitation services. Check professional registration, the service pathway and funding separately.
Does an ADL recommendation mean a support will be funded?
Do not treat the report as funding approval. Confirm the insurer's decision and the approved scope before arranging a recommended service or purchase.
Discuss an ADL assessment referral with COH Rehab
Use the COH Rehab referral and enquiry page to describe the everyday concern and the questions you need answered. The team can clarify suitability and the proposed scope. Location, availability and funding arrangements need to be confirmed for the individual referral.
For other referral pathways, visit information for insurers.
This guide provides general referral-preparation information. It does not replace individual clinical advice or the insurer's assessment of the applicable claim and funding requirements.