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Paediatric Occupational
Therapy

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OT Services for Children

Our Occupational Therapists (OTs) provide support for children and young people aged 2–18, visiting homes across Melbourne and Brisbane to assist with their development and daily skills.

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About Paediatric OT

Most of the children we support are neurodivergent, including those with ADHD, autism, or psychosocial disabilities. We also work with children with neurological conditions like cerebral palsy and physical disabilities such as spina bifida.

Support isn’t limited to those with formal diagnoses. Many families reach out to us for help with daily activities, emotional regulation, motor skills, and other functional needs.

OTs focus on early intervention and developmental growth, helping children build skills, confidence, and independence in ways that feel natural and engaging.

How Our Occupational Therapist’s Help

When we begin working together, we start by understanding where things are at, creating a foundation to build on. This helps us support skill development in a way that makes sense for each child.

The areas our OTs typically focus on include:

  • Fine motor skills
  • Gross motor skills
  • Social skills
  • Engaging with the world, both physically and socially

We start with an initial meeting and then continue working with you and your child to develop and support their progress.

This may involve collaborating with other healthcare professionals through meetings, check-ins, or emails to ensure coordinated therapy plans and goal achievement (with your permission, of course).

Supporting Your Child’s Unique Developmental Journey

Each therapy session is designed to support the child’s specific needs and circumstances.

We often begin with an initial session focused on building rapport, using play-based activities that capture the child’s interest.

By letting the child lead the session, we gain valuable insights into their energy levels, engagement style, and comfort in different environments. This approach helps us understand how sessions can run most effectively and which environments will support the child best.

From there, we tailor our therapy techniques to meet the child’s unique needs and development.

Occupational Therapy & Developmental Milestones

We look at developmental milestones in a well-rounded way.

The first topic that comes around, is a little bit of psychoeducation (education about psychological concepts) and talking to the parent/caregiver about their understanding of the milestone. It should be noted that milestone time ranges are very broad, and everything isn’t always fixed.

During assessments, we refer to normative data to understand where a child of a certain age and presentation typically falls.

We then use techniques such as play-based/social observations in settings like school or kindergarten, to evaluate the child’s skills and understand their developmental needs.

Involving Parents and Caregivers in Therapy

Developmental milestones are important markers in a child’s growth, and it’s essential to approach them from a well-rounded perspective.

When we talk about milestones, we start by helping parents or caregivers understand each one and how it applies to their child. It’s important to remember that milestone ranges are wide, and children can reach them at different times, and that’s ok.

During assessments, we refer to normative data (this means data collected from a large group of children of the same age, used to understand what’s typical at a certain stage) to understand where a child may fall in their development.

We then use techniques like play-based and social observations, often in familiar settings like school or kindergarten, to evaluate the child’s skills and identify their developmental needs. From there, we work on these areas together, providing support and strategies tailored to the child’s individual needs.

Beginning Paediatric Occupational Therapy

At Ignite Healthcare, we work as a team to provide the best care for your child.
  • The clinician working with your child is supported by experienced mentors to ensure they have the knowledge and resources to provide top-quality care.
  • Our OTs are always learning, so your child receives the latest, tailored support.
  • We’ve built a strong knowledge base in the NDIS paediatric space to offer personalised care.
  • With your permission, we’ll coordinate with other healthcare providers to ensure holistic care.
If you have any questions or want to chat before starting, feel free to reach out through our contact page We’re here to help. Get Started Today
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Meet Our Occupational Therapists

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Nathaniel
Clinical Excellence Lead
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Sarah
Occupational Therapist
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Jovita
Occupational Therapist
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Judith
Occupational Therapist
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Gabrielle
Allied Health Team Manager
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Ebony
Occupational Therapist
Headshot
Sophie
Occupational Therapist
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Andy
Occupational Therapist
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Tiffany
Occupational Therapist
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Samantha
Occupational Therapist

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We love to make therapy fun by tapping into what kids enjoy.
For example, if a child loves dinosaurs, we might place a dinosaur in the bathroom holding a toothbrush to make brushing teeth a bit more exciting.

Indirectly, yes.

While OTs don’t directly teach subjects like maths or reading, we do help kids engage with their learning in a way that fits their style. By adapting things to their strengths, we help make learning more effective and enjoyable.

This decision involves input from a few key people:

  • Your paediatrician
  • Allied health professionals and other specialists
  • Teachers and educational professionals

Everyone works together to figure out what’s best for your child, and that combined advice leads to the final recommendation.

We can, if it’s helpful!

We make this decision together with the child, their guardians, and the school, focusing on what will best support the child’s needs.

Some of the recommendations might include:

  • Specifying the amount of OT, Physio, Speech, Psychology and sometimes Positive Behaviour Support provided (or any other healthcare needed)
  • Making sure there are well-rounded supports to continue developmental capacity
  • Advocating to support workers, if needed, especially in cases where it could ease some pressure on the family

At this stage, the right support can make a big difference and really set the stage for positive progress moving forward.

The Ignite Healthcare Way

Integrity First

We keep it real, always. Because doing what’s right is what matters most.

Progress Over Perfection

It’s not about being perfect; growth is a journey, not a finish line.

Beginers Mindset

Curiosity fuels us. t’s how we grow, learn, and create impact.

Joy of the Journey

Every moment counts. We’re all about finding the magic in the everyday.

Get in Touch

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We acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands we live and work on. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging, honoring their enduring connection to Country and contributions to healthcare.

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