Paediatric Occupational Therapy
Our Paediatric Occupational Therapist, Nicole, specialises in:
Intensive therapy blocks (goal based therapy)
Research suggests that working intensively helps the brain learn and adapt, making it easier to reach important goals.
Intensive blocks give you and your child the chance to focus on a specific goal together. Each block is designed around what works best for your child’s unique needs and your family’s priorities.
Nicole draws from the following intervention approaches as relevant to the child and their goals;
Constraint induced movement therapy (CIMT)
Bimanual therapy (BIT)
Goal directed therapy
Inclusion services
Nicole goes out to kindergartens, homes and schools to assist with the daily functioning and inclusion across all of the child’s environments, as well as working with the important people in the child’s life.
Equipment prescription
A vital aspect of supporting children with physical disabilities, with aims to enhance mobility, independence, and overall quality of life. Nicole’s process involves the assessment of a child’s specific needs, abilities, and environment to identify the most appropriate assistive devices and subsequently to liaise with equipment suppliers to trial, apply, and deliver the equipment in a timely manner. Commonly prescribed equipment includes wheelchairs, adaptive seating solutions, home modifications, beds, car seats, kitchen aids; all designed to enhance participation in daily activities.
Nicole’s warm, playful approach is grounded in the belief that self-efficacy, inclusion, and belonging are key to every child’s success.
Occupational Therapy Approaches
Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT):
A therapeutic approach that encourages use of a child’s affected arm by gently restraining the stronger arm, promoting improved movement, strength, and function through repetitive, goal-oriented tasks in a playful and supportive environment.
Bimanual Therapy (mBIT):
This is a structured, play-based approach that focuses on improving the coordinated use of both hands in children with unilateral motor challenges by practicing meaningful, two-handed activities to enhance functional independence and everyday skills.
Goal Directed Therapy:
This approach involves setting specific, meaningful goals, in collaboration with the child and their family, and using those goals to guide the therapy process.
In this approach, all activities and interventions are intentionally designed to help the child achieve clearly defined functional outcomes, such as improving hand coordination to button a shirt. It emphasises motivation, active participation, and real-world relevance, which helps children stay engaged and make measurable progress in skills that matter most to them.
