Learning To Shine - Occupational Therapy

Get to know Learning To Shine - Occupational Therapy

From Learning To Shine - Occupational Therapy's website.

• Our approach

  Therapists take a play-based, sensory integrative approach, believing children learn better with a multi-sensory approach. Sessions are designed to be enjoyable and fun, never dull, using specialised sensory integrative equipment in the clinic's sensory gym and school-based therapy room. Individual and paired sessions address therapy goals while supporting social and emotional development, with sessions typically lasting about one hour. The service adopts an eclectic, holistic approach that tailors programs to each child's unique needs, combining a broad range of therapy interventions. Assessment first identifies the child's strengths and difficulties to determine the starting point for intervention.

• Working with families

  The service works closely with families through regular communication and updates on successful strategies. Assessment includes discussion with both parent and child to identify needs. Therapists can provide home visits to see how the child copes in their home environment and offer recommendations for family implementation. School and preschool visits allow therapists to work with teachers and update families on progress. For NDIS clients, sessions are review sessions that provide extra time for education and training around therapy, with additional capacity-building services offered to family members.

• Meet the team

  The team includes occupational therapists with extensive experience and qualifications. Olwyn Farrar (owner) has over 40 years' experience as an Occupational Therapist, with 25 years dedicated to children, graduating from Cumberland College in 1980 with a Bachelor of Applied Sciences. Dr Susan Milne has over 40 years' paediatric occupational therapy experience, a Bachelor of Applied Science from Cumberland College (1983), and a PhD in Medicine from Sydney University (1998). Lyndel Larby graduated in 2005 with 19 years' diverse experience across hospitals and community settings. Jodie Brignell is passionate about child-centred therapy. The team also includes Allied Health Assistants: Vanessa Beasley (Cert IV in Allied Health Assistant), Anja Kasteleiner (qualified early childhood educator with 20+ years' experience), and Natalie Binning (Allied Health Assistant).

• Your first visit

  An initial assessment is conducted to determine the child's areas of difficulty and establish a starting point for intervention. The assessment includes clinical observation, a selection of formal and informal assessment tools, and discussion with both parent and child. The Service Model Agreement, terms, conditions and fee schedules are sent out before the first appointment and explained by the admin team. Payment is required on the day of service, and receipts are issued to support claims with private health insurance if applicable.