Blossom Rural

Something new is coming on SUNDAY 🫶🏼👏

But first… what is key word sign? 🤔

Key Word Sign (KWS) is a form of AAC and involves the use of signs, gestures and facial expressions alongside spoken language 🗣️

Research indicates that using KWS facilitates the development of speech, language and communication skills.

We recommend that you consider using KWS as part of a multimodal approach to support your child’s speech, language and communication development 🌸

Running a day behind this week… so here is a Milestone Monday on a Tuesday 🫣🤭

✨ MILESTONE MONDAY 🎨

By 3 years, children can usually identify and name basic colours (e.g. red ❤️, yellow 💛 and blue 💙).

Your child can learn about colours through exploration and play:

🍎 Go to the supermarket with your child and comment on what you can see as you move through the aisles (e.g. “The apples are red.”)

🌻 Go to the park or playground and work together to find different coloured objects (e.g. “Can you find me a flower that is yellow?”)

🖌️ Encourage your child to mix colours using paint, pens, pencils and chalk to see what new colours they can make

➡️📱 Share your masterpiece/s with us via DM or tag us - We’d love to see what you and your child create 🤩

🧘‍♀️ YOGA GROUP with OT Emilee 🙌🏼😎

Our yoga groups runs WEEKLY on a Tuesday afternoon! We have added a page to our website with ALL the details and where you can sign up!

This group is held via ZOOM 💻 so you can log in from anywhere in AUSTRALIA 🥳🫶🏼

Check out the link in our bio or below, to learn more and sign up!

https://www.blossomrural.com.au/group-yoga-with-ot-em-1

🤍✨

BEGIN WITH BLOSSOM ✨🌸 Get to know us and what our clinic is all about, before you commence Speech or OT services 🥰

Are you wondering if Blossom Rural can help your child? 🤔

Unsure if online therapy would work for your child? 💻👩🏼‍💻

Do you need help with your child but you’re not sure where to start? 😎

Well well well, we have just the session for YOU 🙌🏼🩷

A FREE 10-minute chat/check-in with one of our speechies or OTs to chat through our service and see if it’s the right fit for you 🫶🏼

Comment below or send us a DM if you are interested in a brief chat via Zoom and we can send you the link and weekly time availabilities 🥳🥳🥳

*Please note, we cannot give therapy strategies or support in this check in, but we can give general advice about whether our Occupational therapy or speech language pathology services are right for you 🥰🌸

A quick snap of our team today before we jumped into our fortnightly Multi-D Meeting 🌸🫶🏼

We ticked off a lot today!! 🥳🥳🥳 Always a wonderful feeling 👏

So great to refresh things and put our heads together to brainstorm new and more efficient ways of doing our Initial Consults 🤩

Before we complete our Initial Consultations, we ask parents and caregivers to complete our Intake Forms 👩🏼‍💻

These allow for us to prepare for the consult, learn a bit more about your child and guide the conversation ✨

We also made some tweaks to our intake form on our website, to make it easier for referrers (parents/guardians/teachers) to identify goals for therapy 💻

These team meetings are a great time to get together as a team on ZOOM - To upskill, ask questions and share wins 🫶🏼 (Also always some good laughs and conversations 🥰)

🌼 PART 2 ✨ Following on from our previous post about ‘After School Restraint Collapse’… here are some wonderful tips from OT Daisy 🫶🏼

Recap - ‘After-school restraint collapse’ is a very common occurrence for many children.
It is term used for when kids come home after a long day of school or daycare
feeling very overwhelmed, which often escalates to anger, yelling, frustration
and meltdowns 😓😭

To support your child in these moments, it is important to expect these emotions after a big day ✨

🌷 Think of some strategies:

Put your thinking cap on and have a think about what little strategies work for your child.

✨ What do they like? What helps them when they are upset?

Maybe it’s:
🍉 having a snack
🚰 having a drink
🚽 going to the toilet
🛌 having a lay down in the aircon/in front of the fireplace
⚽️ running around kicking the ball outside

Allowing them to de-stress and decompress for a few moments, before asking them to unpack their bag, do their homework, etc. may prevent a
meltdown ☺️

Daisy has two more wonderful strategies coming to you soon 🥰

Let us know if you would like to know more and I can pass on your questions to OT Dais ✨🫶🏼🤩

INTRODUCING ✨ Begin with Blossom 🌸🤩

We are offering a free 10 minute chat with our OT Erin! She will be online this Wednesday 15 May between 10.30-12pm 🫶🏼

Are you wondering if Blossom Rural can help your child?

Are you unsure if online therapy would work for your child?

Do you need help with your child but you’re not sure where to start?

Comment a 🌸 below or send us a DM if you are interested in a brief chat via Zoom and we can send you the link! 👩🏼‍💻

*Please note, we cannot give therapy strategies or support in this check in, but we can give general advice about whether our Occupational therapy or speech language pathology services are right for you 🥰🌷

🌼 MILESTONE MONDAY ⭐

By 5 years, children can usually use most speech sounds but may have difficulty with ‘s’, ‘r’, ‘l’ and ‘th’ 🗣️

Their speech should be easily understood by everyone around them 🌸

If you have any concerns about how your child is tracking with this milestone, please send us a DM or give us a call 📞

Source: Speech Pathology Australia

Hi everyone!

We currently have availability for new Speech Pathology & OT clients 🌸

We deliver all therapy and assessment via teletherapy (ZOOM) 💻 therefore can see clients from all over Australia!

We are able to see clients who are privately funded, or self/plan managed through the NDIS 😊

The majority of our team are originally from rural and remote areas of Australia and understand first hand the challenges that rural families face when accessing services.

To make a referral, you can visit our website and send us an enquiry!

https://www.blossomrural.com.au/contact

We look forward to hearing from you! 🌸

We have our first group ONLINE TOMORROW 🥳🥳🥳

OT Em is so excited to be meeting some new kiddos and facilitating the YOGA GROUP, all via ZOOM 🩷🫶🏼

The 4-7 year olds are starting at 9am AEST/8:30 ACST tomorrow 🌼🙌🏼

Swipe across to find out what the group will involve!

Would you like to learn more about our 4-7 yo and 8-12 yo Yoga Groups?! Vote below and I’ll send you a DM with more information 🙂

X Em

We still have some available spots in our YOGA group on Friday morning with OT Emilee 🥳

If you are interested in your child joining, the group will be held via ZOOM and is open to 8-12 year olds 🙂

Swipe across to learn more 🌼

KIDS YOGA THERAPY GROUP 🕺🏼🤩

We are now accepting EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST for our school holiday YOGA GROUP 🥰

This group is perfect for rural families, as it will be delivered via ZOOM 🙌🏼 An awesome opportunity for kids to interact during the school holidays with new friends 🫶🏼

Our Occupational Therapist, Emilee, will be running the sessions via ZOOM & based on the interest we receive we will create groups with children around the same age group! 🤩

REGISTER your interest now via DM or by commenting a ❤️ on this post!

Language Development Tips 🌻

🤩 Tip ONE
Following your child’s lead and being at their level (face-to-face) allows you to see the world from their perspective!

🤩 Tip TWO
Offering choices provides a reason and opportunity for your child to communicate

🤩 Tip THREE
By commenting on what you or the child is doing teaches your child new words and models when to use them

Talk with your speech pathologist to find out more tips to support your child’s language development 🩷

We welcomed OT Daisy to our team at the beginning of 2024 🥰 It is so wonderful to have another OT working alongside our Speechies 🩷

Here is a little blurb from Dais!

My name is Daisy and I am an occupational therapist at Blossom Rural! 🤩

I graduated from James Cook University in 2021 and have worked in North West Queensland ever since 😁

I live on a cattle station near Mount Isa, Queensland and love living a country lifestyle 🐮

I am very passionate about paediatric therapy and love the excitement and energy that kids bring! 🥳🤩

I love that there is always so much to strive for, so much to celebrate and that there is often, never a dull moment!

I aim to facilitate informative, family-centred therapy, where we put the ‘fun’ in functional.

When I am not at work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, riding horses and motorbikes and playing with my puppy dog, Lucci 🐶

Introducing our wonderful Allied Health Assistant, Soph 🩵

Soph has been a part of our team since September & is such a bright and bubbly presence during our team meetings! We are so lucky to have her as part of our team ✨

Here is a bit about Soph!

My name is Sophie and I am an Allied Health Assistant at Blossom Rural. I live in Adelaide, South Australia. I am in my final year studying a Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) at the University of South Australia.

I have experience as a disability support worker and respite carer. I love that I can help other people and make a positive difference!

I was drawn to Blossom Rural because I understand the need for this service. I feel passionate and would like to advocate for country kids who may not otherwise be able to access speech pathology and occupational therapy.

In my spare time, I enjoy cooking for my friends and family, reading and playing with my adorable rabbit, Casper 🐰

CHRISTMAS OPENING HOURS 🎄✨

The Blossom Rural Team will be taking a very well-deserved break over the Christmas period 🩷

We will be closed from the 22nd of December 2023 through to the 8th of January 2024 🌸

All scheduled sessions during this period are cancelled, and all sessions will recommence on Monday the 8th of January 2024 🩵

All emails & enquiries will be responded to on our return in the new year 🥰

We wish you a safe & Merry Christmas and we look forward to seeing you all in 2024 ✨

OUR TEAM 🩵 Just missing two very important team members, our beautiful admin Rosie & our wonderful OT Bridgette 🥰

We have had a MASSIVE year ✨ Our team is seriously something else. The most supportive, encouraging and inspiring group, I have ever been apart of 🙌🏼

We all work SO well together. We support each others strengths and if anything challenging ever arises, you can GUARANTEE that the entire team will be behind you - checking in, asking how you are, providing support, being a listening ear, sending gifts .. the list goes on!

We are colleagues but we are also great mates and I’m very grateful to be surrounded by these women 🌸 We share so many laughs, wins and cheer one another on, so beautifully.

Most of us have never met in person!! Which we often reflect upon. Having built such strong friendships via a teletherapy role is pretty special 💐

Each and every one of our team, are so passionate about their roles and absolutely excel in everything they do. No challenge is ever too big. They are committed to their clients, and love working alongside your children 🥰

What. A. Team. 🙌🏼

Thank you for the best year yet, beautiful team 🩷 It’s been a blast! Now to kick back and enjoy some time off… 2023 has been a BIG one 🙌🏼🥂🍾

Books are a great gift to give at Christmas 🙌🏼🎄

Here are a few ideas from Speech Pathology Australia’s Book of the Year 🥰

What books do you love reading with your children? Let us know in the comments 📚

Speechie Kate’s Elf being a bit cheeky this morning and climbing her Christmas Tree 😂🎄🎅🏼

What has your elf been up too, over the last few days!? We would love to hear some funny ones in the comments!! 🩷

Also… how are we in December 🫣

We are looking for New Graduate or Early Career Speechies, to join our team in 2024 🥰

For more information, or to submit your resume, please email us! We would love to organise a ZOOM call to meet you and chat 🥳

Happy Occupational Therapy Day!! 🩵

A massive THANK YOU to our wonderful OT Erin who has been on our team for almost 2 years 🩷 She’s the life of the party and always sharing a great meme in the group chat!

Aside from this, she is a FANTASTIC OT and we are so grateful to have her assisting so many of our clients.

We also have another OT on our team, who we will need to introduce to you - Bridgitte! She has stepped in to assist with therapy planning and resource making 🤩 We are so grateful for all her work and her amazing reels for Instagram!!! 💙

So thank you OTs, we are so grateful to have you on our team 🩷🥳

Uni placements can be a very exciting time… after all, you’re almost finished your uni journey!!

These placements can also be a stressful and exhausting time!

Our lovely speechie Ness has put together her favourite tips for self-care during your placement 💗

If you are currently finishing your placement/uni journey and looking for new graduate roles for 2024, please reach out!!!

We would love to chat with you 🥰

Mealtimes can be a stressful part of the day!! 🍓🍋🍏🍒🍉🍕

So, our wonderful speechie Ness has put together some pointers over on our blog!

Check it out via our website - www.blossomrural.com.au ✌🏼

therapy

1 year at Blossom Rural for our lovely Speechie Ness 🩵✨🪩

A few words from Ness 🤍

One whole year of working alongside the most beautiful families, and colleagues.

It brings me so much joy in life to see the smiling faces on the screen in front of me, and to see your children kicking their communication and feeding goals.

I am grateful to work alongside the most passionate and strong women, with the shared dream of making therapy accessible to all children and it brings me joy every single day. Thank you 🩷

Meet our fantastic OT Holly 🥰 Holly joined our team on Monday, alongside Meg! 😄

We are all feeling very excited to have another OT, on board 🥳

Holly will be meeting some of her families from Thursday this week 🤩

Hollys interest areas include:

👉🏼 Sensory Processing
👉🏼 Emotional Regulation
👉🏼 Teaching clients about how their body works
👉🏼 Activities of daily living

Welcome to Blossom Rural Holly 💗 We are so excited!

Head over to our Instagram to watch a short clip from Meg & Holly!

Welcome to our lovely Speechie, Meg! We are so lucky to have Meg join our team 🥳

Meg has a love for helping clients with goals related to:
🤩 Paediatric Feeding
🤩 Early Language
🤩 AAC

A big welcome to Meg 🥰 We all can’t wait to work alongside you and achieve great outcomes for our beautiful families 🤍

Watch out for our next introduction, coming later today 🥳

Looking for a new role, in a position where you will feel supported and celebrated!? 🥰

Swipe across to learn more about our Speechie and OT positions 🌸🤍

If you have any questions about our roles, please contact me (Em Baxter) via email! I look forward to chatting with you 🤩

Please submit your resume via [email protected], or contact us to see if we are the right fit for you ✨

Applications close 19th June 2023 🌸

It’s the week of One Year celebrations at Blossom Rural 🌸

Today we are celebrating our amazing Occupational Therapist!

Erin joined our team ONE year ago today 💗

Having Erin as part of our team has been an absolute dream.

She is our go-to woman for any questions or concerns and we are soooo lucky to have her expertise ✨

Thank you for an amazing year Erin 🥰 xx

We are celebrating our lovely Speechie Kate today, as ONE YEAR ago, she started with us at Blossom Rural 💗🥂✨

We are so lucky to have the beautiful Kate on our team. She has a heart of gold and is an absolutely wonderful speechie, colleague and friend 💗

Kate was our very first Blossom Rural team member so today is a momentous occasion! 🌸

One year later & there are now seven of us 🤩🌻 😱

And as you saw yesterday.. we are currently on the hunt for our next Speechie to join the team!

If you or someone you know is looking for a change, please get in touch! We would love to chat with you ✨

SPEECHIES! We would love to chat to you 🥰🌸

We are looking for a bright & cheery Speech Pathologist to join our team 🌻

🌸 This role is a work from home position via teletherapy 👩🏼‍💻

🌸 We are open to part time or full time positions but ideally need you for at least 3 days per week (just so you don’t miss all of our weekly catch ups!) 🤩

🌸 New grads are encouraged to apply: we have a program all set up and ready to implement, if you are newly graduated 🥰

🌸 Above award salary

🌸 Supervision from our experienced speechies, who absolutely love assisting with any questions 💗

🌸 Multiple ZOOM check-ins each week during our Internal PD sessions, team meetings, speechie team chats & Huddle sessions PLUS constant support through our slack channels and via phone call 📞

🌸 Access to our Blossom Rural Hub: to ensure a smooth transition and easy access to onboarding tasks and our jumpshot videos 🙌🏼

To find out more about the role, please email Emily Baxter at Blossom Rural.

✨ [email protected]

We look forward to hearing from you!! 💗🌸✨🙌🏼🤩🌻

Blossom Rural Blossom Rural is an accessible Speech Pathology & OT service, delivered via teletherapy 👩🏼‍💻