North Coast Kids is a paediatric multi-disciplinary therapy service located in the Clarence Valley. We are passionate about delivering quality support that is tailored to individual needs, offering both clinic and mobile services. Our clinic is conveniently located in the centre of Grafton, which provides access to well equipped clinic rooms and sensory gyms. We currently provide Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathologist and Allied Health Assistant and Key Worker Services.
We are passionate about providing child and family centred early intervention. Supporting children from birth allows families to access support when they first need it. Our therapists understand that every child has unique interests and motivation, which they foster through play while supporting their sensory regulation. Our team works to empower our families by involving and educating families during therapy and working collaboratively to create and meet their child’s goals. We can advocate for your child and support you to navigate medical systems, schools and the NDIS.
We believe in implementing evidence-based and neuro-affirming practice. We provide access to a range of standardised assessments and interventions, encouraging our staff to implement therapy that suits the individual needs of the client. We understand that not every brain is the same, and that we need to support the individual neuro-biological differences that shape how children see and process their environment. This evolves drawing on their strengths and interests during therapy to support their skill development and advocating for environmental adaptions to meet their needs.
Evidence Based Approaches
Ayres Sensory Integration® Intervention
Our Occupational Therapists are certified in Sensory Integration. This involves completing a series of theoretical and practical modules that provide a Post-Graduate Certificate once completed. Sensory Integration Intervention involves thorough information gathering using standardised and structured assessment tools as well as clinical observation during play or routine activities. Therapy aims to improve sensory perceptual abilities, self-regulation, motor skills, and praxis. Our goal is to support a child’s confidence, independence, behaviour, learning, and social participation. Intervention is provided in a specialised therapy room utilising suspended equipment and play based themes in collaboration with the primary caregivers. Intervention is child-led and play-based, allowing the construction of sensory experiences and the planning of actions in relation to guided and growing challenges.
What is Sensory Processing?
Sensory processing is the ability to register, organise and adapt to information from the body and the environment using our seven sensory systems. These sensory systems include our vestibular (balance), proprioception (body awareness), tactile (touch), auditory (hearing), visual (seeing), gustatory (taste) and olfactory (smell).
“The neurological process that organises sensation from one’s own body and from the environment and makes it possible to use the body effectively with the environment” Dr Jean Ayres
Sensory processing difficulties are found in individuals with and without diagnoses. For individuals with sensory processing diffiuclties, sensory information can be inefficiently registered and organised by the brain to create appropriate responses. Sensory information gets “mixed up” in their brain and therefore the responses are inappropriate in the context in which they find themselves.
North Coast Kids OT 