Occupational Therapy helps a child reach their potential to participate in everyday activities at home, in social settings and in school environments.

A Paediatric Occupational Therapist specialises in understanding child development. Whilst no two children are the same and they all develop at different rates, there is a typical range and pattern for this development.

Our team is experienced in helping children with a range of challenges including: 

• Social skills and friendships
• Behaviour and emotional regulation
• Sensory processing and body coordination
• Fine and Gross motor skills
• Handwriting
• Confidence and resilience
• Problem solving and organisation
• Eating skills

Learn more about how OT can help

Does your child struggle to keep up with their peers? 

Has your child been diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder? 

Perhaps difficulty with motor skills or independence result in tantrums and poor behaviour? 

Or maybe your child is struggling to make social connections with other children?

If your child is having difficulty with daily activities or if you or anyone involved in their health or education is concerned about their development, feel free to reach out to our friendly reception team. 

Booking an initial appointment for your child with one of our occupational therapists can be done by sending an email to reception@otkidsacademy.com.au, giving us a call on (02) 8040 0876, or enquire here and someone will contact you. 

No – a referral is not required for Occupational Therapy.  Please contact us to organise an initial appointment. 

Yes — there are a couple different rebates available from Medicare. 

Chronic Disease Management Plan (formally the Enhanced Primary Care Plan EPC).
This is an annual plan that entitles you to 5 rebates from Medicare for your Occupational Therapy sessions. Your GP will assess your eligibility for this plan. If approved by your GP they will provide you with a written referral, which you must provide to your Occupational Therapist, before completing the first session under the plan. 

Better Access to Mental Health Care Scheme
Some of our OT’s are registered providers under the Better Access to Mental Health Care Scheme.  If approved by your GP or Paediatrician they will provide you with a written referral, which you must provide to your Occupational Therapist, before completing the first session under the plan.

Private Health Funds
Many health funds do cover Occupational Therapy.  This depends on your provider and your level of cover. Check with your health fund what rebates you are entitled to. 

NDIS is currently available for individuals using a self-managed or Plan managed NDIS plan.  

Prior to the initial appointment, we will send you our welcome pack, client intake forms and parent questionnaire to gain an insight into your child, their goals and intentions for therapy. This allows your OT to choose the most appropriate assessments to use. 

During the initial assessment, the OT will work with your child in carrying out various assessments, this usually take 90 minutes, and parents typically stay with their child throughout. Following this, the OT will score and evaluate the assessments. 

After the assessment we schedule a Parent meeting appointment where your OT will give you an overview of assessment outcomes and results, discuss goals, and outline a treatment plan. This also gives you the opportunity to ask any questions and discuss any concerns with the OT without your child. 

Click here to find out more about our Assessments

As part of your child’s treatment plan, we may identify that OT within the school or day-care environment would best address your child’s goals. These can vary from one off visits to regular sessions or a short block at school.  

At OT Kids academy we believe that our role is about building a child’s skills, including self-knowledge, self-advocacy and to communicate and connect.  

We also highly value our role in advocating and supporting wider changes in your child’s world; through educating other people, adjusting the physical environment and creating safe supportive spaces. 

We believe all behaviour is communication, and we understand that positive behaviour outcomes can be developed and built with respect.  

As a practice we aim to make environmental adaptations to support and respect your child’s needs. 

Our clinician’s value different forms of communication, expression and play.  

We value differences in a child’s ability, these differences are not to be considered as defects that need to be fixed. We believe in a strengths based approach and aim to provide support and adaptations that affirm the child’s Neurodivergent identity.  

We strive to set goals in collaboration with children and their caregivers. We want to explore and honour the child’s interests and own goals.  

Our social programs are focused on collaboration and social problem-solving skills, by creating organic opportunities in a safe space for children to experience social connection and explore their individual social preferences. 

We create opportunity for social connection, collaboration and self-expression. 

We aim to offer opportunities to expand play experiences while providing more choice, while all play is still valued.