Occupational Therapy Services

Occupational Therapy aims to maximise a person’s capacity/potential to independently participate in their normal daily activities, despite the presence of impairment.

What problems does Occupational Therapy help with?

Therapy intervention begins with an assessment process where needs and difficulties are identified in three main areas of daily activity, or “occupation”.

Self-Care – includes personal care activities such as bathing, hygiene, feeding and dressing and functional mobility.
Work & Productivity – includes play, school activities, homework and paid and unpaid work.
Play & Leisure – includes both quiet and active recreational activities and socialisation.

How does Occupational Therapy help?

Remedial intervention – aims to minimise the level of impairment, by establishing and strengthening the skills needed to perform the activity. Foundational skills include muscle strength, postural control, coordination, problem solving, spatial awareness and sensory processing.
Adaptive strategies – aim to minimise the impact of permanent disability. Includes use of equipment or environmental modification to promote independence and safety.

How are services provided?

• Individual or group therapy sessions
• Education programs for clients / carers
• Assessment, information and advice regarding adaptive equipment or aids
• Assessment, information and advice regarding environmental modifications
• Development and implementation of programs or strategies in the clients’ normal daily environment to allow for practice and generalisation of skills
• Development of intervention programs in collaboration with the client, parent, teachers and carers

Australian Association of
Occupational Therapists