If you’re new to Occupational Therapy, or your child has been referred to us and you’re unsure what to expect, the following information outlines the journey your family can expect when joining us at OTHC.
OTHC provides a range of services to support your child and family throughout your therapy journey.
Referral
After contacting via email or phone, you will speak to our supportive Client Service Team, who will gather information and answer any questions you may have.
You will receive paperwork outlining how our services work, along with caregiver questionnaire. You may be asked to send through any relevant reports and writing or drawing samples if applicable.
Background Information
Once all your paperwork is returned, our Client Service Team will call you to schedule a Parent Planning Meeting with one of our Occupational Therapists.
We will aim to match you and your child with an Occupational Therapist who has experience in your child’s specific areas of need and concern.
Parent Planning Meeting
During the parent plan, the Occupational Therapist will gather background information about your child, including; family history, early development, medical history, other allied health involvement, schooling, daily routines, social skills etc. You will be asked what a “typical” day looks like for your child.
Children do not attend this meeting, allowing parents/caregivers to have an open discussion about your child’s strengths, challenges and needs.
Your Occupational Therapist will coach you to identify and prioritise some meaningful goals for your child. They may also refer you to other allied health professionals and provide you with some helpful resources or strategies.
Discovery Session
As an alternate to a Parent Planning Meeting, a single appointment or Discovery session may be recommended at the discretion of OTHC.
A discovery session is a one-off appointment designed to screen a child’s skills in a specific area (typically handwriting, school readiness or social skills).
A discovery session is not a comprehensive assessment. Instead, it is a brief screening to determine whether Occupational Therapy is recommended or if another service may be more appropriate, or whether the child may benefit from group based support etc.
Individual Therapy Sessions
Your Occupational Therapist might recommend individual therapy for your child.
The first few sessions will be primarily focused on rapport building using our Fun First Philosophy. This approach helps build strong therapeutic foundations and ensures your child’s sessions are enjoyable and engaging.
Research also shows that when children are having fun, they are more likely to learn and progress.
Progress
An Individualised Support Plan (ISP) meeting is a collaborative meeting between parents/caregivers and the Occupational Therapist to review your child’s goals, progress and current therapy priorities.
The meeting provides an opportunity to reflect on what is working well, identify any changes that may be needed and adjust and priorities therapy goals as required.
Progress is monitored using the goals developed during the initial Parent Planning Meeting and subsequent ISP meeting.
Each week, your Occupational Therapist reviews your child’s progress towards these goals and provides ongoing feedback to parents/caregivers.
At the end of each term, goals are formally reviewed. If goals have been achieved, individual therapy may conclude. If ongoing or longer-term needs are identified, goals will be updated or refined so therapy can continue to support your child’s development.
Alternative Therapy Programs
Paired Therapy Sessions
Paired Therapy Sessions are suitable for children who are working on developing their social skills.
These sessions provide greater opportunities for skill transfer, peer interaction and real world practice in a supported setting.
Group Programs
Our group programs run during both school holidays and term time.
We offer a range of groups including School Readiness, Handwriting, Social Skills, Lego and life skills.
These groups support children to develop confidence, independence and social connections in a fun and supportive setting.
Holiday Intensive Therapy Sessions
Holiday intensive sessions are when children come for 3-5 consecutive sessions a week.
These sessions are suitable for children who benefit from intensive input or who have difficulty attending regular sessions throughout the year. This model also includes a strong focus on parent coaching to support carryover of skills in the home and in the community.
Home Therapy
At OTHC, we use a hybrid model that includes both clinic-based and community-based sessions.
Where therapeutically indicated, your Occupational Therapist may also conduct a home visits or therapy session in the home environment to support your child in achieving their goals.
Some children may transition to home-based therapy when it is beneficial to focus on functional, everyday skills in real-life settings. This approach helps support the generalisation of skills in environments that are meaningful and familiar to the child and family.
Completing Your Therapy Journey
One of the greatest privileges we have at OTHC is supporting children and families throughout their school years.
We have many clients who start with us in preschool and we provide support for them until they complete their schooling.
No matter where your journey takes you, you will always remain part of the OTHC. If you ever have questions or would like to access any of our services in the future, we are only a phone call or email away.
