Occupational therapy provides assessment, treatment and consultation services to children and families. Occupational therapists work with children of all ages and consider needs within everyday situations and settings including:
Occupational therapists support the child and his/her family to develop skills and confidence in areas such as:
If you are uncertain what your child may benefit from, you can first book a parent only session with the Occupational Therapist to discuss which services would best suit you and your child’s needs.
Current services being offered through the Mater Health and Wellness Clinic include:
Occupational Therapists trained in infant massage offer parents the opportunity to learn infant massage in a group environment. Infant massage has been proven to facilitate bonding, improve the healthy development of infants and provide support to parents in a social and non-threatening atmosphere.
Occupational therapists provide assessment and therapy for infants and young children who are experiencing difficulty achieving skills that are expected for their stage of development. Families can access a variety of service options, including:
Following assessment you will be offered the opportunity to come back and meet with the occupational therapist to determine which services would best suit you and your child’s needs.
Occupational therapists provide assessment and therapy for school-aged children who are experiencing difficulties at school. Families can access a variety of service options, including:
Following assessment you will be offered the opportunity to come back and meet with the occupational therapist to determine which services would best suit you and your child’s needs.
Occupational therapists offer intervention for children who experience difficulty achieving independence with toileting. Toileting programs can be offered as individual or group programs and involve:
For children experiencing difficulties with toileting we require that children are first seen by a medical officer to ensure there is no medical issue preventing the child from achieving their milestones.
Occupational Therapists offer assessment and intervention to children and families where factors such as self organisation, coping, and / or attention are impacting on their functioning.
Children and families are assisted to:
In addition parents/carers are assisted to:
Referrals are received from doctors, families or other therapists. Questionnaires will be sent to all families prior to the first appointment being made to assist us to be able to provide families with the best service for your child and family.
We recommend that children are first seen by a medical officer to ensure there is no medical issue preventing the child from achieving their milestones.
These are painful and frustrating conditions often experienced by women during pregnancy and as new mothers. Pain, tingling and numbness in the wrists and thumbs can be debilitating, impacting on sleep and the management of everyday tasks.
We offer the following services:
A medical referral sent to the MH&WC is required for these conditions
An arthritic condition can have a profound impact on a person's ability to maintain the demands of their usual lifestyle. Referral to an Occupational Therapist will allow access to a range of options to assist with these changes.
After analysis of the impact of the condition on each individual an Occupational Therapist may recommend a range of strategies as appropriate to the person. These may include support (splints), exercise, alternative techniques for doing specific activities, assistive devices or stress management strategies. The priority in intervention is empowering the individual to self manage and positively adapt to their condition.
Occupational Therapists aim to assist their clients to achieve stress reduction and improve occupational performance through evidence based and practical interventions.
Clients are assisted to:
Specific medical conditions and procedures involved during the treatment phase can trigger unhelpful stress reactions.
The experience of cancer is a great challenge to the usual coping strategies of most people and can significantly impact on quality of life. Relaxation therapy, guided imagery, supportive and cognitive behavioural interventions as well as education have level 1 evidence of being beneficial for physical and psychological distress.
Occupational Therapists are able to offer practical support to patients experiencing difficulties in the following areas.
Most people with cancer experience symptoms of anxiety with evidence suggesting that 12%-30% experience clinically significant anxiety problems. Heightened anxiety at the first chemotherapy treatment can lead to increased nausea and vomiting. In some cases, patient anxiety or a history of needle phobia, adds to the difficulty of cannulation for both patient and nurse at the chemotherapy treatment. Anxiety management strategies and support during cannulation have helped many patients to feel more comfortable having chemotherapy so they can feel more confident and comfortable returning for their second treatment.
Evidence based interventions for anxiety:
Studies of patients with various types of cancer show that those who have undergone chemotherapy, adjuvant therapy or radiation therapy are at an increased risk of depression. One of the triggers for depression can be fatigue which is a commonly experienced distressing side effect of treatment. Severe fatigue impacts on daily function Evidence based interventions include:
For the person suffering from respiratory problems such as severe asthma or emphysema (COPD), learning ways to better manage stress through activity pacing in daily tasks and daily relaxation practise, can improve their independence level and self esteem.
Occupational Therapists can provide practical stress management support in the early weeks post heart attack with a focus on realistic return to activity (goal setting) and relaxation training.
Strategies for managing stress will differ according to the individual nature of the person experiencing the stress and the situation that is triggering the stress.
Mater Health and Wellness Clinic: Quality wellness programs
designed for individuals.