A transport accident can sometimes turn ordinary things into the hardest parts of the day. Things you used to do without giving them a second thought like having a shower, cooking a meal, getting dressed, or simply leaving the house may suddenly require far more energy, planning and willpower than they did before. It can suddenly take a surprising amount of energy, planning and willpower. And when an injury gets in the way of doing the things you love most, it can genuinely feel like you have lost a small part of yourself. Recovery is not just about healing an injury; it is about finding your way back to your life.
Have you ever heard of occupational therapy? Or an OT? If so, have you ever wondered, “How does an occupational therapist help after a transport accident?” Fair question! Well, I hope you keep reading this article because I’ll explain what occupational therapy is, what the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) does, and how TAC-funded OT can help people in Victoria regain independence and return to everyday life after an accident.
How Occupational Therapy Helps After a Transport Accident
After a transport accident, recovery involves more than healing the injury; it also means rebuilding your ability to manage daily life. An occupational therapist assesses what you can currently do, what has changed, and how pain, fatigue, reduced movement or cognitive difficulties affect your routines and independence. We can then develop practical strategies, retrain everyday skills, adapt difficult tasks, recommend assistive technology, or suggest changes to your home environment. The goal is to reduce the barriers created by the injury and help you safely return to the activities, responsibilities and roles that matter most to you.
What is an Occupational Therapist?
An occupational therapist, or OT, is an allied health professional who helps people participate in the everyday activities that matter to them. After a transport accident, an OT looks beyond the injury itself. We take the time to understand how the it affects your daily life, routines and the things you value most. From there, we work with you on practical ways to rebuild independence, safety and confidence. This may include adapting daily tasks, managing fatigue, assessing your home environment, recommending assistive technology, or supporting a gradual return to work, community life and the activities you enjoy.
Learn more: What Is Occupational Therapy?
What Is the Transport Accident Commission (TAC)?
The Victorian Government owns the Transport Accident Commission, better known as the TAC. The TAC is responsible for promoting road safety and supporting people injured in transport accidents. You may be eligible to make a TAC claim if an accident involving a car, motorcycle, bus, train or tram injured you in Victoria, whether you were a driver, passenger, pedestrian or cyclist.
Some people may also be eligible if an interstate accident involving a Victorian-registered vehicle injured them. Importantly, eligible people can make a claim regardless of who caused the accident. If the TAC accepts the claim, it may help pay for reasonable medical treatment, rehabilitation and support services related to the accident injuries. Depending on the person’s circumstances, it may also provide income support, return-to-work assistance or compensation for permanent injuries. The simplest way to understand it is this: TAC focuses on helping injured people recover and rebuild their lives; it does not generally pay for vehicle repairs or damage to non-medical personal belongings such as clothing or mobile phones. Eligibility and available support depend on the individual claim, so it is always best to confirm directly with the Transport Accident Commission.
Can TAC Fund Occupational Therapy?
Yes. The TAC can help pay for reasonable, clinically justified occupational therapy that is required because of transport accident injuries. OT may include assessment, intervention and recommendations to support daily activities, prescribe adaptive techniques, recommend assistive technology, improve functional ability and contribute to rehabilitation goals. The focus is not simply on providing appointments; it is on helping you progress towards meaningful outcomes in everyday life. See TAC’s occupational therapy guidance.
TAC Occupational Therapy Services at Cas Health
Good news! Cas Health is now accepting referrals for TAC-funded occupational therapy for eligible adults across Melbourne. People recovering from transport accidents can access practical, mobile OT support in their homes and communities.
Our TAC occupational therapy services may include:
- Functional assessments to understand how injuries affect daily living
- Strategies for personal care, meal preparation, household tasks and routines
- Pain, fatigue and activity-management strategies
- Home safety assessments
- Assistive technology assessment and recommendations
- Home modification assessment and recommendations
- Community access and participation support
- Functional support for returning to work or other meaningful roles
- Reports, recommendations and liaison with relevant treating professionals where appropriate
We already have extensive experience supporting adults through the NDIS and Support at Home programs. This has given our team strong knowledge and practical experience in functional assessments, assistive technology, home safety, home modifications, daily-living strategies and collaboration with families and treating professionals. We now bring that same person-centred, evidence-informed approach to TAC clients.
Areas We Support Across Melbourne
Cas Health provides mobile TAC occupational therapy across selected northern and western Melbourne suburbs, including Lalor, Coburg, Doreen, Epping, Fawkner, Macleod, Preston, Wollert, Bundoora, Essendon, Brunswick, Footscray, Reservoir, St Albans, Thomastown, Craigieburn, Pascoe Vale, Broadmeadows, South Morang and Greensborough.
You can submit your referrals here!
If your suburb is not listed, please contact us to discuss availability. Home visits are assessed based on clinical need, service availability and TAC funding arrangements.
TAC Occupational Therapy FAQs
You may be able to make a claim if you were injured in an eligible transport accident involving a motor vehicle, motorcycle, bus, train or tram. This can include drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists. TAC also recognises some mental injury claims related to transport accidents. Check TAC claim eligibility.
A formal GP referral is not always required to contact Cas Health or enquire about OT. However, during the first 90 days after an accident, TAC states that you need a TAC claim number, a recommendation from a doctor or other health professional, and a clear connection between the OT service and your accident injuries.
TAC may fund appropriate equipment, assistive technology or home modifications where they are clinically justified, related to accident injuries and approved under TAC requirements. An OT can assess your needs, trial suitable options where appropriate, and prepare recommendations. Funding is not automatic, and approval may be required. TAC’s equipment policy explains the current requirements.
Yes, Cas Health provides mobile occupational therapy across the service areas listed above. Home-based OT can be particularly useful when an injury affects showering, transfers, meal preparation, access around the home or the safe use of equipment. TAC payment for practitioner travel is subject to its own approval requirements.
Reference:
https://www.tac.vic.gov.au/what-to-do-after-an-accident/who-can-claim-with-the-tac
