Home Modifications
Clinically reviewed by Angela Lander, AHPRA-registered Occupational Therapist and Director of Occupational Therapy — last reviewed July 2026.
NDIS Home Modifications in Melbourne — Occupational Therapy Assessment & Reporting
Home modifications are physical changes to a person's home environment. They range from small additions such as grab rails and ramps through to bathroom redesigns and structural alterations. Each one improves safety, access, and independence for someone living with disability, injury, or age-related change. At Ability Rehab in Ivanhoe East, our occupational therapists assess the home environment. We then recommend modifications that suit the person's functional needs. We also prepare the clinical reports the NDIS requires, and coordinate with builders and other trades through to installation.
Most of our home modifications work supports NDIS participants. We also help clients who use private pay and Medicare-related pathways, TAC, and Support at Home (aged care). Our occupational therapists know the assessment and reporting requirements of each scheme, so the paperwork always matches the funder. We work with NDIA-managed, plan-managed, and self-managed participants. Our team handles both minor home modifications and complex home modifications. Minor mods sit under the NDIS minor modification threshold. Complex mods call for more rigorous reporting and oversight.
Some situations involve NDIS housing eligibility, such as Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) or Supported Independent Living (SIL). For those, visit our Housing Assessment page.
What Are Home Modifications?
Home modifications change a home's layout, fixtures, fittings, or structure. The aim, above all, is to help a person live there safely and independently. The right modifications depend on the person's functional needs and how they move around their home. They also depend on the daily activities the person wants to do, and on the home itself. Some modifications are small and quick to install. Others, however, involve structural change, detailed planning, builder coordination, and council approval.
Under the NDIS, home modifications fall into two categories: minor and complex. Each category has its own process, evidence requirements, and timelines. Both need an occupational therapist's assessment and recommendation. Complex modifications, though, carry a higher bar for clinical justification, build documentation, and review. In short, we work across both categories.
NDIS Home Modifications
Ability Rehab is a registered NDIS provider. As a result, most of our home modifications work draws on participant NDIS plans. We support NDIA-managed, plan-managed, and self-managed participants. Our occupational therapists produce the clinical reports the NDIS needs to approve both minor and complex modifications.
Minor Home Modifications
Minor home modifications are non-structural changes that fall under the NDIS minor home modification threshold. Examples include grab rails, hand-held shower heads, lever taps, threshold ramps, and raised toilet seats. Generally, these additions need no structural alteration or council approval. The process is generally faster than for complex modifications, and the reporting is lighter.
Complex Home Modifications
Complex home modifications involve structural changes to the home. For example, bathroom redesigns, doorway widening, level access showers, and ramps that need engineering input. Kitchen reconfiguration and major access alterations also sit in this category. These modifications call for a more rigorous OT assessment, detailed clinical justification, and builder quotes. Many also involve Building Construction Practitioners and the NDIS complex modifications team.
What the NDIS Funds
- The OT assessment and report — the clinical documentation that supports the funding request
- The modifications themselves — materials, labour, and installation costs within the approved scope
- Project oversight — OT involvement through planning, build, and post-installation review
- Equipment that forms part of the modification — ceiling hoists, automated door openers, or accessible bathroom fixtures
We work closely with support coordinators, plan managers, builders, and the participant's wider support network. As a result, recommendations stay evidence-based, costs stay realistic, and the build stays true to the clinical brief.
Types of Home Modifications We Recommend
The right modifications depend entirely on the individual — their functional capacity, their goals, and how they use the home. Some clients need a single grab rail; others need a complete bathroom redesign. Common categories of modifications we assess and recommend include:
Some clients receive a Home Care Package, or fund modifications through aged care pathways. For those, visit our Complex Home Modifications page under Home Care Services.
Meet Our Home Modifications Team
Experienced members of our occupational therapy team deliver home modifications work. In particular, several of our OTs focus on NDIS home modifications, complex disability, and neurological rehabilitation. Others work in dementia care and assistive technology prescription. These areas often intersect with home modification work. You can find full bios and AHPRA registration details for every clinician on our Our Clinicians page.
Our team values evidence-based, person-centred, and culturally safe practice. We ground every recommendation in the participant's actual environment and the activities they need to do safely. In other words, we never rely on generic templates or one-size-fits-all solutions.
Why Choose Ability Rehab for Home Modifications?
Choosing the right OT for home modifications matters. The quality of the clinical recommendation directly shapes what the NDIS will fund. It also shapes how well the build matches the participant's real needs. Above all, it decides whether the modifications deliver the safety and independence they promise.
Clients and referrers choose Ability Rehab because we offer:
- Experienced occupational therapists with deep NDIS reporting experience
- Coverage of both minor and complex home modifications
- Coordination with builders and other trades through to installation
- Clear, evidence-based clinical reporting aligned with NDIS requirements
- Post-installation review to confirm modifications work as intended
- Registered NDIS provider with experience across NDIA-managed, plan-managed, and self-managed participants
Home Modifications – Frequently Asked Questions
What are home modifications and how do they help?
Home modifications are physical changes to a person's home. They can affect layout, fixtures, fittings, or structure, and they improve safety, access, and independence. For instance, minor additions include grab rails and threshold ramps. Complex changes include bathroom redesigns and doorway widening. The right choice depends on the person's functional needs, the activities they want to do safely, and the home itself. An occupational therapist assesses all of this together and recommends modifications that work in practice.
Does the NDIS fund home modifications?
Yes. Home modifications are a funded support under the NDIS. The NDIS must consider them reasonable and necessary for the participant. Specifically, funding covers the OT assessment and report, the modifications, project oversight, and any integrated equipment. The NDIS funds both minor and complex modifications, with different evidence and reporting requirements for each. Our OT team prepares the clinical reports that support the funding request.
What's the difference between minor and complex home modifications under the NDIS?
Minor home modifications are non-structural changes that fall under the NDIS minor modifications threshold. Examples include grab rails, hand-held shower heads, lever taps, threshold ramps, and raised toilet seats. They rarely need structural alteration or council approval, so the reporting and approval process is lighter and faster. Complex home modifications involve structural change. For example, bathroom redesigns, doorway widening, level access showers, ramps with engineering input, and kitchen reconfiguration. These need more rigorous OT reporting, detailed clinical justification, and builder quotes. They often involve the NDIS complex modifications team as well.
How long does the home modifications process take?
Timelines differ significantly by modification type, so early planning helps. For example, a minor modification can move from referral to installation in weeks. In contrast, complex modifications typically take several months, sometimes longer. The assessment, reporting, quoting, NDIS approval, and build all add time. We keep things moving as quickly as practical. Still, realistic expectations matter: complex modifications are a process, not a single visit.
Can home modifications be done in a rental property?
Yes, with some additional considerations. Rental properties require the landlord's written consent before any work begins. You may also need to remove the modifications, or restore the property, at the end of the tenancy. Minor, non-structural modifications are generally easier to install in rentals than complex structural changes. Our OT can support clients through the conversation with landlords. We also document modifications in a way that respects both the participant's needs and the property owner's requirements.
Do home modifications need council approval?
Generally, minor modifications do not require council approval. Complex modifications may require building permits or council approval. This applies to structural change, external alterations, and significant building work, and it varies by council. Builders typically take the lead on permits and approvals. Our OT report and recommendations, however, help show what level of approval the project needs.
What types of home modifications can an OT recommend?
Overall, occupational therapists assess and recommend modifications right across the home. In bathrooms, for example, that means accessible showers, grab rails, raised toilets, and level access. In kitchens, it covers bench heights, accessible storage, and lever taps. Access to the home may call for ramps, platform lifts, or wider doorways. Similarly, inside the home, we look at doorway widening, ceiling hoists, and flooring changes. Smart home technology adds voice control, automated door openers, and smart locks. Finally, minor modifications include grab rails, non-slip surfaces, and transfer aids. Every recommendation starts with the person's functional needs and the activities they want to do safely.
How do I get started with a home modifications assessment?
To get started, submit a referral through our Make a Referral page. You can also call us on 0478 491 188. We'll then have a first conversation by phone or telehealth. That call covers what prompted the referral, what the home environment looks like, and which funding pathway is in place. From there, we arrange the in-home assessment with a suitable OT. Our admin team can also help navigate NDIS-related paperwork and coordination with support coordinators.