Occupational Therapy
Children’s Occupational Therapy on the Gold Coast, at our Burleigh Waters and Hope Island clinics and by telehealth. We provide services to all children 0-18 years, with some support also available to young adults with disabilities.
Phone 07 5559 9888
Occupational Therapy is aimed at ensuring anyone can do what they want to do, need to do, or are expected to do. For children, that often means helping them socialise, learn, and play. The following is a list of areas in which our dedicated Occupational Therapists can help your child thrive.
- Fine motor – Fine motor skills encompass a huge range of qualities from dexterity and strength to hand-eye coordination. Developing strong fine motor skills can help your child build handwriting, allow them to dress themselves, use buttons, zippers, laces, and express their creative thinking.
- Self-care skills – Your Occupational Therapist can help your child learn to care for themselves, their bodies, and personal health and hygiene. This might include showering, bath times, dressing themselves, feeding themselves with cutlery, toileting, tooth brushing, and more.
- Gross motor – Using playground equipment can require not only physical capabilities but cognitive skills such as motor planning or problem solving. Gross motor skills help us play and therefore, facilitate the development of our children’s physical health and social engagement.
- School Skills – Starting school comes with its own set of skill-related challenges. For some children, this may be the first time they have used scissors, sat on a chair for a prolonged time, or worked within group settings. Your Occupational Therapist can help your child prepare for their new school adventure through the development of these skills.
- Play – Through play, children get to explore different environments, have new sensory experiences, engage socially with others, practice their problem-solving and other cognitive skills while expanding their imaginations and keeping their bodies active and healthy. For some children, play is not an innate skill; this may cause them to be frustrated, anxious, or disengaged. Your OT can help your child develop these skills and introduce them to the magical world of play.
- Emotional regulation – Some children find big feelings hard to understand and manage. Your Occupational Therapist can help your child notice how their body feels and learn calming and alerting strategies that work at home and at school.
- Sensory processing – Children take in and respond to sound, touch, movement and taste differently. Your Occupational Therapist can help you understand your child’s sensory preferences and build them a sensory diet that fits their day.
Where we see your child
- At our Burleigh Waters clinic in Treetops Square, 2 Classic Way.
- At our Hope Island clinic, 8 Halcyon Way.
- By telehealth, at home.
- Our Therapy Assistants can also practise your child’s goals at home, at childcare or out in the community, following a plan from their Occupational Therapist.
Getting started
- 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; most families refer their child themselves.
- 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 the therapist best suited to their needs. Some families have an intake meeting with a Director first to set goals together.
Depending on waitlists, a first appointment can be as soon as the next day.
Fees and funding
See Therapist Fees and Funding. We see clients with self-managed or plan-managed NDIS plans. Medicare rebates may apply with a GP or specialist referral, and eligible Medicare rebates can be claimed on the spot at reception. Families with private health extras cover may be able to claim a rebate; the Funding page explains each.
For a worked example, see What will I pay?
Our team
Our Occupational Therapists are registered with Ahpra (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency).
Questions families ask
What does a children’s Occupational Therapist do?
Occupational Therapy helps children do what they want to do, need to do, or are expected to do: play, learn, look after themselves and join in with others.
What ages do you see?
We provide services to all children 0-18 years, with some support also available to young adults with disabilities.
Can you help my child get ready for Prep?
Yes. We work on the skills school asks for, such as using scissors, sitting for longer and working in a group. See also Getting ready for Prep.
Do I need a referral from a doctor?
No. You can refer your child yourself through our contact form, by phone or at reception; most families do. A GP or specialist referral is only needed for a Medicare rebate; see Funding.
Do you offer telehealth?
Yes, Occupational Therapy is available by telehealth as well as at both clinics.