Little Hands OT

Get to know Little Hands OT

From Little Hands OT's website.

• Our approach

  Little Hands OT uses a family-centred and holistic approach that recognises your child first and foremost as a human being, a member of your family and of your community. Sessions are individually tailored to your child's specific needs, with the occupational therapist working closely with you to set and work towards goals that make a real difference in your child's life. The clinic also offers group interventions where children practise skills in settings more similar to daycare or school, and additional parent and community support activities. During school holidays, multidisciplinary therapy intensives (SPARK) combine occupational therapy with physiotherapy and speech pathology for intensive goal-directed therapy.

• Working with families

  The provider actively works with families as partners, valuing your expertise and working together towards shared goals. You are involved in setting goals and developing the intervention plan, and the occupational therapist actively seeks your feedback as evidence of what works for your family, using it to tailor ongoing interventions and build on progress. Beyond one-on-one therapy, the clinic offers free fortnightly parent information nights on topics such as mealtimes, social interaction, sleep and managing emotions. Free Wine, Whinge and Wisdom Parent Catch-Ups provide opportunity to connect with other families facing similar challenges, and a parent break room is available at the clinic if you choose not to be in therapy sessions.

• Meet the team

  The team consists of 10 paediatric occupational therapists supported by therapy assistants (who are all students of occupational therapy) and admin staff. Kat is the Director, Clinical Manager and Senior Occupational Therapist who founded the service in 2015 and graduated as an OT in Germany in 2008. Hillary is the Clinical Supervisor and holds a Master of Occupational Therapy. The other occupational therapists hold bachelor's or master's qualifications in occupational therapy and bring diverse expertise including trauma-informed care, play-based therapy, mealtimes, physical disabilities, emotional regulation, and animal-assisted therapy. Sam, the Practice Manager, brings over 15 years of office administration and management experience.

• Your first visit

  High demand for services means your child will probably be placed on a waitlist before starting ongoing therapy. To bridge this gap, Little Hands OT offers a Start-Up Session giving you clear, practical support while you wait for an ongoing therapy spot (there is a fee for this service). You can also access free Baby drop-in sessions monthly, where a physiotherapist and occupational therapist can check your baby's development and address any concerns. Once you begin regular therapy, an occupational therapist will work with you to develop an individually tailored program based on your child's specific needs and goals.