Launceston Occupational Therapy

Get to know Launceston Occupational Therapy

From Launceston Occupational Therapy's website.

• Our approach

  Occupational therapy sessions focus on helping children develop skills for daily activities through direct work with the child paired with practical guidance for parents. Individual therapy sessions are typically 60 minutes and involve working on activities that build skills and confidence, with discussion during sessions about strategies parents can incorporate into daily routines at home. The service also offers school-based sessions to ensure therapy strategies carry over into the classroom and childcare setting. Sessions address a wide range of developmental areas including fine motor skills, handwriting, sensory processing, attention, organisation, balance and coordination, and social interaction. In addition to individual therapy, the provider offers consultations with parents and teachers to set goals and share practical strategies that support the child's development and performance across all their environments.

• Working with families

  Parent involvement is central to the approach, with discussions built into individual therapy sessions to share practical strategies that can be incorporated into daily routines at home. The provider works collaboratively with parents and teachers in setting goals, establishing programs and providing intervention. Individual programs are designed and monitored to meet specific goals across home, school and childcare settings, ensuring consistency in how strategies are used across the child's day. The service also offers school therapy sessions and consultations to share information and practical strategies with both parents and educators.

• Meet the team

  Melinda Miller is the occupational therapist at this practice, holding Bachelor and Master's degrees in Occupational Therapy from the University of Sydney. She brings over 25 years of experience working with children and adolescents, with particular expertise in learning difficulties, dyslexia, developmental coordination disorder, autism spectrum disorders, chromosomal disorders, ADHD, sensory processing difficulties and developmental delays. Having worked in both Australia and the USA, she is committed to providing family-centred and evidence-based practice. She has 20 years of local experience working in partnership with families and schools.

• Your first visit

  The first appointment is an assessment that takes approximately 1.5 hours and includes a series of standardised and non-standardised tests to understand your child's strengths and areas for improvement. You will have a discussion about your child's development and current difficulties. Following the assessment, recommendations will be outlined explaining how occupational therapy can assist your child and what support might look like moving forward. This comprehensive initial assessment ensures a clear understanding of your child's needs before treatment planning begins.