We know that families often need extra support to help their child practice new skills at home or out in the community. That’s why we’re so excited to have some wonderful Therapy Assistants as part of our team!
Our Therapy Assistants work closely with our therapists to support your child in their everyday environments—whether at home, childcare, or in the community. They will help your child work on their therapy goals through fun, engaging activities that fit naturally into your family’s routine. Employed by My Therapy Space, they are a valuable part of our team, providing extra hands-on support to help your child grow and thrive.
Benefits of a Therapy Assistant for families
- They can work within each child’s natural environments
- They are more cost effective than a therapist
- They may have capacity to provide more hours than a therapist
- They can continue to work on goals if a client has a break from direct therapy
- They can assist families to incorporate therapy strategies in your own environment
- They can help support children to be included in their community/school/kindy
- Regular follow-ups with a TA between professional therapy sessions provide continuity, which is essential for reinforcing skills and accelerating progress.
- They will write notes and provide information to therapists as well as provide input into goal setting
When to consider requesting a therapy assistant to join your child’s team
- When the child needs increased support
- When you identify that you could benefit from help in following through with therapy ideas at home
- When the child responds best in their home environment
- When the therapy recommendations are not realistic for your particular family to follow through on ( stress/time pressures/disability)
- When the child needs a consistent worker who works on multiple goals from different therapists
- When the child’s NDIS package cannot afford the number of therapy sessions identified in their IFSP
What Will a Therapy Assistant Session Look Like for Your Child?
Each session with a Therapy Assistant will vary depending on your child’s individual needs and the type of therapy they are receiving. However, a typical session might include:
- A visit to kindy to support your child in the classroom. This could be helping them to play with friends, helping them to join in to the craft activities, or supporting them in the playground.
- A visit to home to work on functional skills including unpacking their school bag, making a snack, interacting together and extending language on the trampoline or in pretend play.
- A visit to the playground to support your child with their motor skills and play skills
- A visit to the shops to support your child with ordering food, planning and making lists, then grocery shopping
The key aspect of these sessions is that they are designed to be fun and engaging, while still providing the therapeutic benefits your child needs. The TA will create a positive environment to ensure your child feels supported throughout their journey.
We are very lucky at My Therapy Space to have a team of very skilled Therapy Assistants who love working with children and have supported children to make great gains towards achieving their goals. Contact reception@mytherapyspace.com.au if you would like to hear more about our Therapy Assistant program.