Our wonderful Occupational Therapists can assist children with their engagement in daily activities such as play, self-care, sleep, feeding, and school participation. A child’s engagement in daily activities can be impacted by developmental delays, disability and mental health conditions. Our therapists can assess and provide treatment for the following developmental areas:
- Fine motor skills
- Gross motor skills
- Self-regulation
- Sensory processing
- Attention / listening
- Social / emotional skills
- Cognitive areas (attention, memory, organisation & problem solving)
Initial Assessment
Initial assessment includes caregiver consultation, standardised assessment and clinical observations during play based activities. Assessment may require more than one session dependent on the referral. The parent questionnaire is required before the initial assessment to provide valuable information to the assessing therapist.
What does the initial assessment include?
- Caregiver consult to understand your concerns, your child’s developmental history and goals for intervention.
- 1:1 assessment which involves play-based observations and standardised assessments to evaluate your child’s development in the areas of posture, visual processing, play/social skills, attention/regulation, sensory processing, motor planning, gross motor and fine motor skills.
- Standardised questionnaires that provide valuable information on a child’s level of functioning at home and/or school in the areas of Sensory Processing, Motor Planning, Social Participation and Activities of Daily Living.
Do I need a report included with my initial assessment?
Reports are not included in the initial assessment fee. However, if requested one of the following report packages can be organised. Reports can be requested at any time during the therapy process.
| Initial Assessment and Summary Report |
| A 1-2 page summary report is ideal for parents, teachers or other health professionals to have an overview of the assessment findings and recommendations. |
| Initial Assessment and Full Report |
| A full report (6-8 pages) provides a detailed overview of the child’s functioning utilising the results of standardised assessments and provides specific recommendations. This report would be ideal for parents, teachers or other health professionals to have an in-depth understanding of the assessment findings and recommendations. This report can be provided to a paediatrician and could be used to determine the amount of support the child requires at home or school. |
Therapy Sessions
Therapy sessions are conducted in a specialised therapy room utilising suspended equipment, soft play and climbing equipment. Therapy sessions are child-led and play-based which involves following the child’s interests and using play to target therapy goals. Therapy sessions aim to facilitate a child’s regulation, attention and participation in challenging activities by using motivating themes.
Consultation Services
Consultation can be provided face to face, over the phone or by video call. Consultation with caregivers provides the opportunity to provide education, support and gather information to enable a compressive service to meet your child’s needs. Feedback sessions are recommended after initial assessment to provide the caregiver with understanding of the assessment results and engage in collaborative goal setting.
School and Kindy Services
School and Kindy consultations are offered as part of the therapy process. This service provides an opportunity to assess the child’s participation at school and collaborate with the teacher and learning support staff. Therapy sessions are not offered at school as therapy requires specialised room and equipment.
| School Consultation and Report | |
| A school report is often recommended after a school consultation to provide teachers with an understanding of a child’s functioning, their participation in the classroom and suggestions on how to adapt the classroom environment and activities. |
Telehealth
Telehealth services provide more accessibility and flexibility. Accessing therapy services online creates opportunities to connect with; families in rural and remote areas, teachers and support staff and caregivers who can’t be in the same place at the same time. Telehealth sessions can include:
- Consultation – to provide feedback, discuss current challenges and make recommendations.
- Therapy Activities – the therapist can guide the caregiver or child in therapeutic activities by coaching, utilising video functions, video sharing or providing real-time demonstration.
North Coast Kids OT 