Assisting Children Through Paediatric Occupational Therapy
About our Paediatric Occupational Therapy
Our Paediatric Occupational Therapists work with children who have challenges resulting from conditions such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, rare genetic disorders, and brain injury.
Occupational Therapy for children is focused on enhancing their ability to perform daily activities such as dressing, grooming, and feeding themselves, as well as improving their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. We also support children with more profound disabilities to live more comfortably and maintain function through the use of equipment and positioning.
We have 2 paediatric occupational therapy clinics in Sydney, including our Liverpool (Prestons) & Wollondilly locations. Our Therapists use many therapeutic techniques and tools to help children develop the skills they need to achieve their goals. These may include splinting, casting, adaptive equipment, and assistive technology. We also work closely with families and other healthcare professionals to ensure that each child receives the most comprehensive and coordinated care possible.
How Our Clinics Are Accessible and Purpose-Built for Your Child's Care
A Therapy Space Tailored for Your Child
Both our clinics are designed to offer easy access without the stress of navigating the busy city centre.
With ample onsite parking, including dedicated disability parking right at our doorstep, we ensure a smooth and convenient experience for you and your child.
Our clinics also features accessible amenities designed to accommodate children and carers using mobility aids, ensuring comfort and ease during your visit.
Liverpool (Prestons)
With over 1,000 sqm of specialised therapy spaces, our Liverpool (Prestons) clinic is one of the largest in Sydney and has been custom-built for children with disabilities. It has been designed to provide the highest level of care for children with a variety of needs. Key features include:
- 23 Individual Treatment Rooms: Designed for different types of therapy to suit your child’s needs.
- State-of-the-Art Indoor Rehab Gym: Equipped with the latest therapy equipment like spider cages, treadmills, climbing structures, and a mobility track to support all levels of physical therapy.
- Advanced AAC Equipment: Access to complex assistive communication devices, including eye gaze technology and switch-adapted toys.
- Therapy Kitchen: Our kitchen, designed with lower bench heights, allows children using wheelchairs to fully participate in therapy sessions.
- Specialised Casting and Splinting Room: A dedicated space for splinting and casting to support your child’s physical development.
- Accessible and Modern Facilities: From bathroom amenities to our child-friendly atmosphere, we ensure a clean, comfortable, and welcoming environment.
Wollondilly (Picton)
Located in the heart of Picton, our newest clinic offers a relaxed, family-friendly environment designed to support children with physical disabilities. While more compact than our Prestons site, the Picton clinic delivers the same high standard of care, supported by experienced therapists and advanced technology. Key features include:
- Specialist Paediatric Services: Onsite Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, and Physiotherapy tailored to children with complex needs. Dietetics is also available via telehealth.
- Purpose-Designed, Accessible Layout: The lower level has been designed for families with limited mobility, ensuring easy access to all key services.
- Exclusive Local Provider: We are the only dedicated paediatric disability clinic in the area, offering much-needed support for children and families in the region.
- Warm, Supportive Environment: For families who find larger clinics or busy settings overwhelming, our Picton clinic offers a calm, slower-paced alternative. Surrounded by a peaceful rural backdrop, the space feels more relaxed while still offering the same expert care, therapies, and technology as our larger clinic.
- Proven Local Support: Since opening, our Picton clinic has become a trusted choice for families of children with complex physical disabilities in the region.
- Convenient Parking: Street-level and undercover parking is available, including accessible spaces located under Coles.
How Our Paediatric Occupational Therapists Can Help
About our Occupational Therapy services
At South West Kids Clinic, we offer an extensive range of Paediatric Occupational Therapy services customised specifically for children. Our skilled and caring Occupational Therapists use various evidence-based techniques and interventions, including state of the art tools and equipment, to address each child’s unique needs.
Support to participate in daily activities:
We support children’s essential day-to-day activities, encompassing self-care, play and recreation, and learning. Our Occupational Therapy services are designed to enhance participation in these vital areas, ensuring each child can experience life to the fullest.
Development of underlying skills:
Our Occupational Therapists focus on the crucial development of fundamental underlying skills for learning tasks, self-care routines, and play activities. These underlying areas may be strength, coordination, reach and grasping, attention and concentration, or motor planning. We use innovative techniques and the latest therapeutic equipment to support children in becoming more independent and confident in their daily interactions.
Task-specific training:
We provide targeted training for specific daily tasks such as grooming, dressing, simple meal preparation, and self-organisation. This technique is also used for developing academic tasks such as handwriting and learning to use scissors. These practical skills are taught in a supportive and structured manner, enabling children to perform them with greater ease and independence.
Advanced Equipment Solutions:
Our team is skilled in researching, trialling, and prescribing the right equipment to enhance functional participation. This includes mobility aids like wheelchairs, specialised seating, sleep systems, toileting aids, bathing equipment, disability-specific car seats, adaptive bicycles, and assistive technology devices to support daily living skills, enabling children to have a more engaged and fulfilled life with their families and friends.
Task modification and adaptation:
Our expert team of Occupational Therapists work to modify tasks to suit the individual capabilities of each child. Whether it’s adjusting the environmental set-up of a task, customising materials for easier handling, or adapting activities to increase inclusive participation, our goal is to enable children to participate as fully as possible in their daily lives.
Splinting and casting services:
We use splinting and casting techniques to help children with tightness in their arms and hands achieve better movement. We create custom splints to support children during activities and provide nighttime splints to help maintain good wrist, hand, and finger positioning while they sleep. Additionally, we use serial casting to increase movement gradually for children experiencing stiffness and reduced range of motion.
Environmental assessments:
Our team conducts thorough environmental assessments to promote accessibility and participation at home, in school, and within the community for minor modifications.
Vehicle modifications:
Our team is experienced in assessing, trialling and making application recommendations for vehicle modifications to assist families in transporting children safely and comfortably whilst travelling in wheelchairs, enabling children with disabilities and their families to maintain an active lifestyle.
Development of home programs:
We develop personalised home programs focusing on building strength, coordination, and other vital skills. These programs complement in-clinic therapy, ensuring continuous progress and development.
Collaboration with specialist teams:
Our approach is inherently collaborative. It involves various teams providing a holistic treatment plan for the best possible outcomes. This integrated approach ensures that all child development aspects are addressed.
Parent and carer coaching and education:
Understanding that parents and carers play a crucial role in therapy, we offer dedicated coaching and educational sessions to equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively support their child’s development. This empowerment enables parents and carers to participate actively in the therapeutic process, fostering better outcomes for the children in their care.
Our Paediatric Occupational Therapy Treatment Techniques
How We Help Assist Your Child
Our Paediatric Occupational Therapy services are designed to assist children facing a wide range of conditions. With a commitment to personalised care, our therapists ensure that each child’s specific needs are met with the utmost attention and expertise.
Goal-directed training
Goal-directed training involves setting specific functional goals, breaking them into achievable tasks, and engaging in repetitive practice with guidance and feedback to improve performance and adapt strategies. This helps your child learn new skills step by step, improving over time and using these skills in everyday situations. By focusing on activities that are meaningful to your child, we can help them develop the skills they need to participate more fully in daily life.
Bimanual therapy
Bimanual therapy is helpful for children who may have difficulty using both hands together due to conditions such as cerebral palsy or other neurological or developmental challenges. We identify and work on specific bimanual actions, facilitated by identifying particular toys and activities to target these actions, practise them with support and feedback, and gradually build up their ability to coordinate both hands in tasks like drawing, playing, and self-care.
Modified constraint-induced movement therapy
Modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) is where we encourage your child to use their affected arm. This helps your child become more confident and skilled in using both arms, especially if one is weaker due to conditions like cerebral palsy or brachial plexus injuries.
Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP Approach)
This client-centred approach empowers children by involving them in goal-setting and problem-solving, which enhances their participation and success in daily activities. In the CO-OP approach, we empower your child to actively choose goals and participate in finding solutions to challenges they encounter during activities. We provide guidance and encouragement as your child explores different strategies and support them in trying new approaches and problem-solving independently. By fostering this sense of autonomy and self-discovery, your child gains confidence in overcoming obstacles and achieving their goals. This collaborative process also promotes a sense of ownership and pride in their accomplishments.
Theratogs
These wearable therapy garments provide improved postural control and feedback. Our team is trained in using Theratogs to address their clients’ individual musculoskeletal, postural, balance, or movement concerns and support your child with their movement and postural skills. These garments help enhance postural control and activate the somatosensory system. This results in improved trunk control and better use of the arms for functional tasks. Theratogs are designed to be comfortable and flexible, allowing your child to move freely while receiving the support they need to thrive.
Pre & Post Botox interventions
We work closely with the rehabilitation teams at the children’s hospitals to provide pre-and post-botox care, which can include measuring ranges, stretching, serial casting, and strengthening programs. Our close networks mean we can liaise directly with specialists to assist in future planning for your child’s rehabilitation needs.
Pre & Post surgery rehabilitation
We offer customised rehabilitation programs designed to prepare children for surgery and facilitate a quicker, more effective recovery. We have established close partnerships with Children’s hospitals and other local hospitals to offer pre and post-rehabilitation services for children undergoing surgery. Our close partnerships stem from our passion for seeing the success of our clients achieve exceptional outcomes, which has earned us recognition and trust within the medical community. Through this connection, we can provide comprehensive support to children and their families, ensuring continuity of care and optimal recovery outcomes.
LusioMATE
We offer the LusioMATE system to elevate rehabilitation experiences for children with movement goals. This innovative tool immerses children in motivating online gaming experiences that target movement goals and enhance motor skills. LusioMATE transforms therapy sessions into engaging experiences customised to each child’s rehabilitation journey.
Join us at South West Kids Clinic!
Enquire today and let the adventure begin!
Frequently asked questions
What ages do you work with?
We provide Occupational Therapy for children from infancy through adolescence, tailoring our approach to each age group’s specific developmental needs.
How often will my child need Paediatric Occupational Therapy?
The frequency of therapy sessions is determined based on your child’s needs and the goals established during the assessment phase. Some of our kids are seen very infrequently based on the required intervention type. Some are seen only for equipment, and others are seen for intensive intervention several times weekly.
How involved should I be during the Paediatric Occupational Therapy sessions?
Very involved! We encourage parents to be involved and observe sessions, as this helps them understand the therapy process and reinforces techniques used during sessions at home.
What can I do to help my child at home?
Our therapists will provide specific activities and strategies you can implement at home to complement the therapy in sessions. Consistent practice at home is critical to effective progress.
How long will my child need to continue Paediatric Occupational Therapy?
The duration of therapy varies depending on the child’s response to treatment, the nature of their challenges, and their developmental goals. Progress is continuously monitored and discussed with you throughout the treatment process.
