Occupational therapy is real-life problem solving (backed by science) for kids and teens.
Sometimes that means finding smarter ways to navigate the things that matter to them like making friends, getting ready for school, joining in with learning, building independence, participating in sport or feeling confident in social situations.
Our occupational therapists work alongside kids, teens, young adults and families to understand what’s getting in the way of participation and then help design practical strategies, build skills and adapt environments so kids and teens can participate more fully in the things that matter to them.
What are OT assistants and what can they do?
OT Assistants work alongside our occupational therapists to support children and young people to practise skills and strategies in real-life environments.
Many of our OT Assistants are occupational therapy students or early childhood educators. They work under the guidance of our occupational therapists to deliver parts of a therapy plan, support skill development and help children practise new skills in meaningful ways.
This might include supporting a child during a peer group program, helping them practise independence skills, or working alongside them in community activities or workplaces.
What are community inclusion coaches?
Community Inclusion Coaches support children and young people to participate in everyday community experiences.
Their role is to help children build confidence, independence and social connection in the environments where life happens eg: community activities, social groups, local programs or everyday outings.
Community Inclusion Coaches provide a “just right” level of support and scaffolding to ensure success and support engagement and participation. They also support the adults running the programs to implement inclusive practises and provide an environment where everybody can participate and belong and experience success.
What is a Family Foundations Coach?
Our Family Foundations Program is “inspired” by a Key Worker/Lead Practitioner model and a Family Foundations Coach functions similarly to a Key Worker or Lead Practitioner. Rather than focusing directly on the child in therapy sessions, the Family Foundations Coach focuses on supporting the whole family by understanding your family’s routines, values, strengths and goals, and helping you find opportunities within everyday moments to support your child’s development and growing independence. Together, you identify what is working well, where there may be barriers, and practical ways to strengthen routines, connections and supports around your child. The Family Foundations Coach also helps families connect with helpful community supports and feel confident communicating their vision for their child with the wider team around them.
Discovering our “Occupations”
“Occupations” are the everyday things we do that “occupy” our days. The things we want, need or are expected to do as an individual, part of a family group and/or as part of the community. For a whole range of reasons, some kids can find it hard to do the things they want or need to do. A child’s “occupations” vary according to their age and stage of development, the context of their family and their community.
How do we strengthen connections?
We use a relationship-based approach that recognises the importance of the significant relationships a child has and the powerful therapeutic opportunities to develop skills in the context of strong connections and relationships.
We work from a range of evidence based approaches that hold connection and relationship central in all work with children and families.
Why do we use play?
We take play seriously! We know that play is a seriously powerful tool for supporting children to engage and connect, to learn about themselves and the world around them and to develop skills across all areas. We also know play is seriously fun!
We are truly play based in all that we do – from our playful interactions, to our creative spaces for play and range of play based assessment and intervention tools, resources and practical advice to bring back the play in every child (and adult’s) life!
What does participation mean?
Participation is our ultimate goal! We want your child to be an active part of their family, their peer group and their community.
We work with your child and the adults that help them to find out how we can support them to be involved in the things that interest them and once we get them involved, we step back and let them do it all by themselves – confident they are connected and engaged ‘kids doing the things that make them happy!
How do we support independence?
We look at independence broadly. We work with kids to help them be more independent in things that matter to them. This brings a feeling of self-efficacy and sense of accomplishment.
We also support your independence! We coach and support you to be able to have at hand the knowledge and ability to meet your child’s needs independently – without specialist supports!
How do we support inclusion?
We meet you where you are at and take the time to understand where you really want to be. Inclusion to us is about kids, teens and everyone regardless of ability being able to do the things you want to do in the places and spaces that make sense to you and with the people of your choosing.
Inclusion is about being equal, being valued for being uniquely you, having choice and being in control. The stuff that all humans want right? That’s what inclusion is to us!