Better Together: The Benefits of Multidisciplinary Therapy

Better outcomes happen when we work together

At Back to Basics Health Group, we believe therapy works best when it’s a team effort. People’s needs are rarely one-dimensional – they often include physical, communication, behavioural, and emotional factors. That’s why we use a multidisciplinary care approach.

Multidisciplinary care brings together professionals from different allied health disciplines to share expertise, coordinate therapy strategies, and deliver consistent, practical support that helps people achieve meaningful, everyday goals.

Quick Guide

What does multidisciplinary care mean in allied health?

In allied health, multidisciplinary care means that a coordinated team of therapists from different disciplines work towards shared goals for a client. Instead of each therapist working separately, they collaborate to form one clear, connected plan that considers the whole person, including their goals, strengths, challenges, and supports.

At Back to Basics, we do this through two types of collaboration:

  1. Internal Multidisciplinary Therapy (MDT) Meetings – held between our Back to Basics therapists when a client is supported by more than one of our services (for example, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, or Behaviour Support). These meetings make sure all therapy plans align, strategies are consistent, and everyone is working towards the same outcomes.
  1. External Care Team Meetings (CTMs) – where our therapists meet with external professionals, such as teachers, support coordinators, or family and carers. These meetings ensure open communication across a client’s whole support network, helping everyone work together towards shared goals.

Both types of collaboration keep therapy cohesive, transparent, and person-centred.

How our disciplines work together

Each of our allied health disciplines brings something unique to the team, and when they collaborate, clients benefit from care that’s more connected and effective.

Occupational Therapy (OT)

Occupational Therapists help people do the things that matter most, like managing routines, cooking, dressing, and participating in community life. They also support sensory and emotional regulation so clients can stay calm and focused during therapy and daily tasks.

Speech Pathology (SP)

Speech Pathologists focus on communication and mealtime safety. They help people express themselves, understand others, and safely enjoy food and drink. In multidisciplinary settings, Speech Pathologists also help the team communicate effectively with clients, ensuring every session supports understanding and participation.

Behaviour Support (BS)

Behaviour Support Practitioners look at the reasons behind behaviour and develop positive, respectful strategies to improve wellbeing, independence, and participation. Their input helps other team members respond consistently and create calm, structured environments.

Allied Health Assistants (AHA)

Allied Health Assistants work alongside qualified therapists to help clients practise strategies and build skills between sessions. They reinforce consistency and help clients apply therapy goals to real-life activities.

Together, these roles create a connected, coordinated system of support that builds confidence, progress, and independence.

How collaboration makes therapy more effective

Our Multidisciplinary Therapy Meetings (MDTs) are structured sessions where Back to Basics therapists who share a client meet to discuss goals, progress, and strategies. These meetings occur at least every six months (or more frequently when needed) to ensure therapy stays on track and consistent.

During these meetings, therapists:

  • Review the client’s current goals and achievements.
  • Share discipline-specific insights.
  • Coordinate approaches to make therapy smoother and more effective.
  • Adjust strategies where needed to support steady progress.

This collaboration prevents conflicting advice, promotes consistency, and ensures every therapist’s input builds toward the same goals.

Case Study: How Collaboration Strengthened Everyday Skills

A recent team discussion between a Speech Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, and Behaviour Support Practitioner at Back to Basics highlighted how a multidisciplinary approach helped one client build greater independence and improve communication around sensory safety in daily routines.

The team collaborated to support the client’s ability to recognise and express discomfort with water temperature during showering, a daily task that required coordination between communication, sensory, and emotional skills.

By combining their expertise:

  • The Speech Pathologist introduced visuals and communication tools to help the client describe how the water felt and ask for help when needed.
  • The Occupational Therapist developed strategies to build independence and support sensory regulation, ensuring the client could participate safely and confidently in daily routines.
  • The Behaviour Support Practitioner worked with the team and family on emotional coaching and transitions, helping to prevent distress or escalation.

Through regular feedback loops between the therapists, the team aligned their language, tools, and strategies. This meant the client received consistent support across all sessions and environments.

Practical examples included:

  • Shared visual supports to help identify and communicate shower discomfort.
  • Transition prompts to reduce anxiety and ease movement between daily activities.
  • Coordinated parent coaching to maintain consistent routines at home.

This multidisciplinary approach not only improved the client’s communication skills but also supported emotional regulation, safety awareness, and independence. It’s a clear example of how collaboration within the Back to Basics team leads to real-world progress, one small step at a time.

(Details have been de-identified in line with AHPRA requirements.)

Collaboration beyond our walls

For many clients, therapy involves more than one service provider or setting, such as school, day programs, work or community support. That’s why our therapists also participate in Care Team Meetings (CTMs) with external professionals and family members when appropriate.

CTMs help everyone involved understand what’s working, share updates, and stay aligned on goals. This creates a connected circle of care that supports progress across home, therapy, and community life.

Benefits for clients and families

Multidisciplinary care offers real advantages for clients, families, and support networks:

1. Holistic support

Every aspect of wellbeing — physical, emotional, behavioural, and communication — is considered together, ensuring care that’s well-rounded and personalised.

2. Consistent strategies

When therapists and families use the same language and approaches, it creates clarity, reduces frustration, and helps clients feel supported across all environments.

3. More efficient progress

Collaboration reduces duplication and ensures each therapist builds on the work of others, saving time and maximising outcomes.

4. Empowered families and carers

Families are a vital part of the team. Their insights guide therapy, and regular communication keeps them informed, involved, and confident in continuing strategies at home.

Our philosophy in action

At Back to Basics, collaboration is at the heart of how we work.


We are committed to:

  • Providing therapy that’s personalised, practical, and built around real life.
  • Holding regular MDT Meetings between our internal therapists for clients who receive more than one service.
  • Participating in Care Team Meetings (CTMs) with external professionals, schools, and families where beneficial.
  • Communicating openly with everyone involved in a client’s care.

By sharing knowledge and working together, our team helps each person achieve meaningful, lasting progress, one connected step at a time.

Putting people at the centre

Behind every therapy plan is a person with their own strengths, story, and goals. Our multidisciplinary approach keeps that person, and their family, at the centre of every discussion, decision, and strategy.

Because when therapists, families, and supports work together, therapy becomes more than just a session, it becomes a shared journey towards greater confidence, independence, and wellbeing.

Want to know more?
For more information about how our internal Multidisciplinary Therapy Meetings work, please refer to our Multidisciplinary Therapy Meetings Fact Sheet.