Handwriting, fine motor and coordination

Holding a pencil, cutting with scissors, doing up buttons, opening a lunchbox and catching a ball all take coordination. If your child finds these tasks tiring, frustrating or slow, you are not alone, and you do not need to work it out by yourself. Our Occupational Therapists assess and work on fine motor skills, handwriting and coordination with children and families at our Burleigh Waters and Hope Island clinics on the Gold Coast, and by telehealth.

Phone 07 5559 9888 or email reception@mytherapyspace.com.au.

Why these skills can be hard

Fine motor skills are the small, precise movements of the hands and fingers. We use them for buttons, zips, shoelaces, eating with cutlery, drawing and writing. They depend on many other skills working together: a steady body and shoulders to work from, hand strength, the two hands working as a team (one holds the paper while the other cuts), and the eyes guiding the hands.

Handwriting adds more again. A child needs to hold the pencil comfortably, form each letter, plan where it goes on the line, remember how to spell the word and keep going without tiring. Coordination of the whole body, such as balance, ball skills and getting around the playground, also affects how a child sits, moves and joins in at school.

Every child builds these skills at their own pace. A child whose writing is messy or slow is not “being lazy”. Often one part of the task is harder than it looks, and an Occupational Therapist can help you find which part.

Signs parents notice

These are things families often mention. They are not a checklist and they do not mean something is wrong. If you are unsure, a chat with reception is a good first step.

Hands and everyday tasks

Avoids drawing, colouring, puzzles, playdough or building blocks, or gives up quickly.
Finds it hard to hold a crayon, spoon or fork, or switches hands a lot.
Has trouble with stacking blocks, threading beads or opening containers.
Struggles with buttons, zips, shoes or lunchbox lids at school.
Finds typing, tying shoelaces or using a knife and fork hard.

Pencils, scissors and writing

Holds the pencil very tightly or awkwardly, presses very hard, or says their hand hurts when drawing.
Finds cutting with scissors, copying shapes or writing their name hard.
Handwriting is hard to read, very slow, or gets messier as the task goes on.
Avoids writing tasks, or finishes much less written work than they know.

Body and coordination

Seems clumsier than other children, trips often, or finds climbing and ball games hard.
Tires quickly when sitting at a desk, or slumps and leans on the table.
Finds sport and PE hard.
Feels self-conscious about their writing or coordination in front of others.

Some children and young people with disabilities or developmental differences need more time, different equipment or a different way of doing a task, such as typing or using a pencil grip. That is part of what we plan for together.

When to see your GP first: if your child loses skills they used to have, becomes weaker or clumsier quite suddenly, or has ongoing pain, swelling or stiffness in their hands or joints, please see your GP.

How we help

Sessions are play-based and built around what your child enjoys. Depending on your child’s goals, your therapist may:

use playdough, building blocks, threading, container lids and craft to build hand strength and control;
offer shorter, wider pencils and crayons, or drawing on an easel or the wall, while your child is learning;
practise cutting, letter formation and writing in small, achievable steps;
work on posture, balance and the two hands working together, so writing and dressing are less tiring;
suggest equipment such as a pencil grip, a sloped writing surface or a different chair, or other ways to get ideas onto paper, such as typing;
give you ideas to fit into your everyday routine at home.

Parents are always involved, especially for children under 8. Our approach relies on working with you, so we are probably not the right service if you are looking for drop-off therapy.

Where. At our Burleigh Waters clinic (Treetops Square, 2 Classic Way), our Hope Island clinic (8 Halcyon Way), or by telehealth at home. We also do some school, childcare and home visits where possible and clinically suitable; a travel fee applies. With your permission, your therapist can also write to or talk with your child’s teacher, so home and school can work together; this time is charged at your therapist’s usual rate.

Practice between sessions. Our Therapy Assistants can practise your child’s goals at home, at childcare or out in the community, following a plan written by their Occupational Therapist.

Which therapist your child will see

An Occupational Therapist. Our Occupational Therapists are registered with Ahpra. If your child’s main difficulty is spelling or putting ideas into sentences, a Speech Pathologist may be a good first step, and the two can work together.

If your child also finds reading, spelling or talking hard, our Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists work under one roof and can plan together; some families book joint sessions with both. See Occupational Therapy for everything our OTs work on.

What a first visit looks like

Send a referral through our contact form, call 07 5559 9888 or come in and see reception. You do not need a letter from a GP.
We send you an intake form about your child, what support they may need, and their strengths and interests.
Our Directors read it and match your child with a therapist suited to their needs. Some families have an intake meeting with a Director first to set goals together. Depending on waitlists, your child is booked in or placed on the waiting list.

Your first appointment. The first Occupational Therapy appointment is a little longer, so your therapist can get to know your child: 60 minutes face to face, plus time afterwards for notes, follow up and therapy planning. Prices are on Therapist Fees.

A fine motor assessment. Many families start with an assessment, so you and your therapist can see what is making a task hard and where to begin. Depending on your child’s needs, it may include:

talking with you about your child, what they enjoy, what they find hard, and your goals;
watching your child draw, write, cut, build, play and move;
a parent checklist or questionnaire;
a standardised assessment, which compares your child’s skills with those of other children of the same age.

Your therapist explains what they found and talks with you about next steps. You know your child well, so your goals shape the plan. If you need a written report, for example for school, tell us at the start: reports are written outside the session and charged at your therapist’s usual rate.

What it costs and how funding can help

Fees. The first Occupational Therapy appointment is $290.70 (60 minutes face to face, plus 30 minutes for notes, follow up and therapy planning). After that, a standard session is $209.95 (65 minutes billed: 50 minutes face to face, plus 15 minutes for planning, preparation, notes and session summaries). A written report, for example for school, is a separate fee.

Therapy Assistants. $56.16 per hour when your child’s therapist supervises directly, or $86.79 per hour when the Therapy Assistant works on their own with your child at home, childcare or in the community (Therapy Assistant Fees).

NDIS. If therapy is in your child’s NDIS plan, the cost may be covered by the plan. We see self-managed and plan-managed clients, not NDIA-managed plans.

Medicare. With a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan, Medicare pays back approximately $63.40 per session (as of 1 July 2026) for up to 5 sessions a calendar year. Your GP decides whether your child is eligible. You can claim eligible rebates on the spot at reception.

Private health. With extras cover that includes therapy, you may be eligible for a rebate. The amount depends on your cover, so check with your fund.

For a worked example and an estimate calculator, see What will I pay?. NDIS, Medicare or private health explains each option.

Group programs that fit

This term (Term 4 2026) our current group is the Prep Readiness Group, for children getting ready to start school: see Getting ready for Prep. Our summer school holiday programs are being finalised. See Workshops and Groups for what is on, or call 07 5559 9888 or email reception@mytherapyspace.com.au to register interest.

Questions families ask

Can an Occupational Therapist assess my child’s fine motor skills?

Yes. A fine motor assessment looks at how your child uses their hands for everyday tasks such as drawing, writing, cutting, dressing and eating. It may include talking with you, watching your child play and work, a parent checklist and a standardised assessment. Your therapist then explains what they found and plans next steps with you.

Should I see an Occupational Therapist or a physiotherapist for coordination?

It depends on what is hard. Occupational Therapists look at how coordination affects everyday tasks, such as handwriting, dressing, using cutlery and joining in at play. Physiotherapists focus on movement of the whole body, such as walking, running, balance and strength. See Occupational therapist or physio? If you are not sure where to start, call reception and we can talk it through.

Do I need a referral or a diagnosis?

No. You do not need a diagnosis or a referral to start therapy with us: you can refer your child yourself, and most families do. A referral, such as a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan, is only needed if you want to claim a Medicare rebate. See Funding.

Can we use NDIS, Medicare or private health?

We see NDIS clients who are self-managed or plan-managed. Medicare rebates may apply with a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan, and eligible rebates can be claimed on the spot at reception. Families with private health extras cover may be able to claim a rebate. For a worked example, see What will I pay?

We provide services to all children 0-18 years, with some support also available to young adults with disabilities. More answers: FAQ.

Talk to our team

Burleigh Waters and Hope Island, 8.30 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. Phone 07 5559 9888 or email reception@mytherapyspace.com.au.