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Looking for an occupational therapist in Melbourne’s southeast who actually gets the day-to-day struggles—mobility, home safety, driving, NDIS red tape? AAOT isn’t just another therapy clinic. They’re the go-to for real, practical solutions across all ages and life stages.
What AAOT Does Differently
AAOT stands for All Ages Occupational Therapy. The name’s not just branding—it’s exactly what they do. Kids, adults, seniors, post-accident clients, NDIS participants, drivers recovering from injury—they handle it all. Based in southeast Melbourne, they’ve been around since 2004. That kind of staying power matters. You don’t keep operating in such a competitive field without doing solid work.
Their team doesn’t sit in a clinic waiting for people to walk in. They come to you. Most sessions happen right in the home or community setting, which makes a huge difference when someone’s dealing with mobility or cognitive challenges. It's way more useful to assess a client’s actual bathroom than to imagine one from an office chair.
The People Behind It
The clinic’s led by Jenny Witterick. She’s been in occupational therapy for over 25 years—plenty of it in community rehab, complex cases, and driver assessments. She also advises for the Statewide Equipment Program (SWEP), which handles assistive equipment funding across Victoria. Basically, she knows her stuff—and not just in theory.
Then there’s Alex Huebner. She came up through Monash and has done the rounds in hospitals, aged care, and now community OT. She knows how to balance clinical rigor with real-world application. And Paul Witterick, another OT on the team, focuses on assistive tech and complex NDIS home mods. He’s the one you want if you’re looking at a major home overhaul or specialty equipment.
Support staff like June and Diane keep the admin side humming—referrals, appointments, funding paperwork, all that behind-the-scenes load that often slows therapy down elsewhere.
Real-World OT Services (Not Just Buzzwords)
Home Modifications That Actually Work
AAOT handles everything from grab rails to full bathroom reworks. These aren’t just aesthetic upgrades. Think about someone with progressive MS who struggles stepping into a shower. Installing a level-access wet room can be the difference between independence and needing a carer every morning.
They don’t guess their way through it, either. They assess the environment, map out needs, liaise with builders, and prepare documentation to secure NDIS or TAC funding. It's clinical reasoning plus project management—baked into one service.
Driving Assessments That Go Beyond “Pass or Fail”
If someone’s had a stroke or brain injury and wants to get back behind the wheel, VicRoads requires a medical and functional fitness-to-drive assessment. That’s where AAOT steps in. They don’t just throw you in a car and say “show me what you got.”
They run clinical evaluations first—cognitive screening, reaction times, physical range of motion. Then, if it looks viable, it’s onto the on-road test with a driving instructor. Depending on the outcome, they might recommend vehicle modifications—like left-foot accelerators, hand controls, steering aids.
This isn’t about green-lighting unsafe drivers. It’s about seeing what’s possible and backing it up with evidence.
Assistive Technology Done Right
Some therapists rattle off catalog numbers for wheelchairs or walkers and call it a day. AAOT actually matches tech to the person and their context.
Take someone with a spinal cord injury trying to live independently. They might need a combination of a powered wheelchair, adjustable bed, environmental controls (like voice-activated lights), and a lift system. Getting that setup right requires trialing options, getting supplier quotes, and preparing clinical justifications to secure NDIS funding.
AAOT knows that system. They don’t just know the gear—they know how to get it funded and delivered.
Funding Pathways? Covered.
NDIS, TAC, WorkSafe, DVA, VicRoads—AAOT is registered with them all. That matters a lot because it means clients aren’t paying out of pocket while also navigating therapy and recovery. They're NDIS registered for early intervention, therapy supports, and home mods—including complex ones that need a qualified home mods assessor (which Jenny is).
They know how to write reports that meet the requirements for each scheme. That’s not just about filling forms—it’s about understanding the language, the evidence they expect, and the scope of what each funder will cover. When a therapist actually knows how to unlock funding, that’s when clients start to see real change.
Who AAOT Works With
The name’s accurate—they work with all ages. But more specifically:
- Older adults wanting to stay in their homes safely
- People with neurological injuries or illnesses (stroke, Parkinson’s, MS)
- Children with developmental delays or physical disabilities
- Workers recovering from injury, needing workplace or vehicle modifications
- Veterans navigating DVA support
- Drivers recovering from trauma or cognitive change needing clearance or modification
They’re especially useful when someone's at a turning point—leaving hospital, moving home, trying to get independence back, or facing a diagnosis that’ll change how they function day-to-day.
What It’s Like to Work With Them
It usually starts with a referral—either from a GP, case manager, or directly from the person or their family. The admin team books a home visit. The therapist shows up, does a full assessment (not just ticking boxes), then develops a plan. That might involve writing up a report for funding, ordering equipment, lining up trades for home mods, or scheduling a driving test.
The follow-up’s tight. They don’t disappear after the report’s written. If the handrails don’t work right or the wheelchair supplier is dragging their feet, AAOT stays on it. That continuity makes a big difference when the rest of the system feels disjointed.
What Sets Them Apart
There are plenty of OTs around Melbourne. But most either do generic clinic work or specialize in just one area. AAOT’s strength is the range—they’re qualified across home mods, assistive tech, driving, and they know the funding side inside-out.
And they’re mobile. That’s rare. Especially for more complex assessments, it’s crucial to see someone in their real environment—not a sterile clinic space.
Their reports hold weight with funders. Their therapists are deeply experienced. And most importantly, they see people as more than a diagnosis or funding number. That shouldn’t be rare, but it is.
Bottom Line
AAOT isn’t flashy. But they’re the kind of therapy team that quietly gets big stuff done—home transformations, driving independence, tech that gives people their life back. For anyone dealing with disability, injury, or aging in southeast Melbourne, this team’s worth knowing about.
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