Melbourne Occupational Therapy Associates

Gen (our wonderful practice manager) and I just had an incredibly relaxing experience floating at Urban Float. Thanks Tahy and your team for the opportunity and we are looking forward to explore some opportunities together.

Urban Float: Premier Wellness Center in Ringwood, Australia Discover a haven of well-being at Urban Float, the premier Wellness Center in Ringwood, Australia. Immerse yourself in transformative therapies, including floatation, sauna, and more.

Sensory recipes with just two ingredients from Craft-at-Home Family

A great opportunity to learn more as allied health therapist or teacher about neuroplasticity and polyvagal theory - and it's a live course - sit and talk with real people rather than your screen!!!

Power of Neuroplasticity and Polyvagal Theory Embark on a transformative journey with our cutting-edge course, focusing on the powerful applications of neuroplasticity and Polyvagal Theory. Our course bridges groundbreaking neuroscience with real-world clinical practice, providing strategies to positively influence brain adaptability and mental...

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MOVEMENT CAN INCREASE LEARNING IN CHILDREN

Movement in children can help increase memory, retention, language, attention, emotion and decision making. It is important that all children are physically active every day.

https://www.lifespanfitness.com/blogs/news/movement-and-learning-brain-breaks

Great detail here about the benefits of including climbing in therapy and home program activities - particularly if there is concern around the integration of primitive reflex patterns.

​Scaling Heights: Integrating Primitive Reflexes Through Rock-Climbing Activities When primitive reflexes are not properly integrated, it can negatively impact occupational performance and behavior of children. So many of my clients exhibit difficulty with handwriting—hand-eye coordination—due to an asymmetrical tonic neck reflex (ATNR) that has not been properly integrated. ...

'Risky play' changed Fathuma's life. Experts say it could help solve a new generational crisis

A century ago, a Danish architect noticed kids avoiding his parks. His solution? The risky playground Experts say emerging research shows a link between risky play and less psychological distress in adolescent years. Could this be part of the solution to the current teen mental health crisis?

Our lovely clinic neighbours Asha Yoga in Croydon have just announced their next round of kids yoga classes. They are offering a group for 4-6 year olds and another for 7-10 year olds weekly starting July 30th. A great opportunity for kids to start developing this life long supportive regulation skill.

Asha Yoga Studio Croydon | Yoga Retreat Bali | Yoga classes Near Me NEW TO ASHA YOGA? START HEREYour Inner SanctuaryWHAT DOES YOURBODY NEED TODAY?Asha Yoga is inspired by the mind body connection, and the impact of mindful movement, breath and imagination. Book a ClassA place to take some time out to nourish your mind, body and spirit, to de-stress and create someth...

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See all the ways you can help kids in the classroom who struggle with slow processing skills: https://ilslearningcorner.com/2017-02-classroom-modifications-students-struggle-slow-processing-speed/

CALM DOWN TOOLS FOR KIDS

How to help kids with brain breaks, proprioception and calming techniques.

https://www.andnextcomesl.com/2016/12/calm-down-kit-for-older-kids.html

Understanding how trauma impacts us is critically important. There are a whole spectrum of experiences that can be traumatizing and can adversely impact our autonomic nervous system and contribute to mental health disorders such as PTSD, chronic anxiety, and depression.

There are three main trauma types we may experience that can be broken down into three core groups:

• Shock traumas - for example, accidents, assaults and natural disasters.
• Developmental or relational trauma - when we experience chronic adversity, abuse, neglect, and lack of safety while growing up.
• Other experiences - many other experiences can be traumatizing, including chronic stress, medical procedures and ‘Adverse Community Environments’ like poverty, discrimination, and violence.

To learn more about trauma and PVT, see this animated video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH5JQDAqA8E&t=42s

A great opportunity for a sensory processing focused camping and intensive intervention experience.

Mark it in your diaries, Camper Applications for Camp Jabiru 2023 will open Saturday 22nd October 2022 at 10am. Camp Dates: 17th - 21st April 2023 🗓 🏕 Applications will be available via our website https://www.sensorygym.com.au/camper-application.html

Reminder that questions aren't connections ....💞

Exactly.

Thanks to KidsConnect Psychology ❤️

End Financial Year Sale!

Enjoy 15% off storewide including sale items until 30 June 2022

I CAN Network Ltd’s Autistic-led groups are a great way to connect with peers with similar interests.

Great documentary and lots to learn with Kim decoding.

Free online opportunity alert! The award-winning documentary Tashi and the Monk is a timeless source of inspiration. Illustrating life at the Jhamtse Gatsal Children’s Community in the remote Himalayas, this cinematic resource produced by Andrew Hinton and Johnny Burke has now been translated into 11 languages and continues to warm hearts around the world.

Specifically designed to help spread the messages from the documentary, Decoding Tashi and the Monk is being led by Kim. Using holistic clinical reasoning, Kim will provide analysis of what is happening and why the strategies demonstrated are worth sharing. In attendance will also be Lobsang Phuntsok and Vasudha Wanchoo (where it will be very early in the morning for them at Jhamtse Gatsal).

More info and to register for free for Decoding Tashi and the Monk, visit https://www.kimbarthel.ca/event/decoding-tatm. The event page also contains a link to the documentary, and the webinar recording will also become available to participants who register.

WHAT IS INTEROCEPTION? (graphic + resource links)

Many Autistic & other neurodivergent people have difficulty with interoceptive awareness -- identifying and interpreting our body's internal signals. This can impact many important aspects of life, including emotional regulation, self-care, cognition and more.

This infographic by Occupational Therapist Kelly Mahler helps explain our very important '8th sense'.

For a deeper dive, including ways to strengthen interoception in yourself or young person, please see:

▪️ Extensive materials from the Department of Education - South Australia (tinyurl.com/v2f6t8j), including the excellent, free 'Ready To Learn Interoception Kit' developed by Dr Emma Goodall & team (download here: tinyurl.com/4bytmewe)

▪️ YouTube channel Healthy Possibilities, videos for teaching interoception (tinyurl.com/wz674rb3)

▪️ A suite of resources, including free webinars, from Positive Partnerships (tinyurl.com/r5krmpz4)

▪️ 'Interoception and Regulation: Teaching Skills of Body Awareness and Supporting Connection with Others', a newly published book by Emma Goodall & Charlotte Brownlow. Available from various online providers (details: tinyurl.com/29fx9584)

▪️ A free, downloadable version of this infographic and other resources can be found here: www.kelly-mahler.com/printable-resources/

▪️ More support & free information can be found at the Facebook group Interoception: The Eighth Sensory System

A helpful guide to Autism and meltdowns.

AUTISM & MELTDOWNS: A GUIDE

(A respectful, Autistic-crafted tip sheet from Bendigo Autistic Advocacy and Support Service - downloadable version linked below)

TEXT: Autistic brains experience the world differently. Autistic experiences are real and valid.

Sensory processing differences can mean some sounds, textures, tastes and sensations may be intolerable or painful. It can mean differences in movement, balance and different skills develop at a different pace.

Meltdowns are an involuntary response to overload from sensory stimuli, overwhelm/exhaustion/anxiety, change or an accumulation or combination of these.

Autistic people cannot control a meltdown.

~ Facts and Tips ~

It is important to respect and gently support a person in meltdown.
Do not judge and please do not ever punish or impose consequences.

Ensure safety of the person and yourself
Give space
Remove others from area
Subtle supervision from distance
**Intervene only if imminent danger** (e.g. traffic)

DO NOT TOUCH/RESTRAIN

Only hold person if known to be effective for them and only by someone known well

Respect cues
If speaking to, being close by, eye contact or touching someone increases distress or signs of distress, avoid these wherever possible

Reduce eye contact
Reduce speech
Reduce volume
Positive, calming tone

Reduce environmental stimuli
Where possible, reduce noise, bright lights
Remove triggers

Recovery time
drink and snacks, space and unlimited access to calming/favourite activity is crucial

Ensure environments/activities are inclusive and accessible.

>> Download tip sheet here: https://tinyurl.com/5n6vzudm

Pixar's 'Loop' gives an autistic lead character a powerful voice In Pixar's newest short "Loop," all a boy and girl have to do is get in a canoe, paddle around a city lake, and get back. But there's a catch. He talks a lot...

A great free resource on meltdowns from Allison Davies.

A meltdown is never, ever, ever a choice. It’s not a behavioural problem.

No one *ever* CHOOSES a meltdown.

But you know what? After the meltdown is finished, OMFG it’s one of the best feelings in the world!

In my own experience the pre meltdown feels include: suffocating, drowning, unable to breath, unable to talk, aching body, fury, fatigue, cold, numb, shutdown, completely shocked that everyone can’t see I’m not ok and totally floored as to why everyone isn’t stopping their entire world to help me…

And post meltdown feels include: freedom, feelings of being alive, having memories/thoughts again, muscles that can relax/unfurl, a remembering of safety, a sense of future, feeling my body again, humanness, coziness, ready to be hugged, able to eat, able to talk, ready to receive.

Can you even IMAGINE how elating it is to have those post feels after having those pre feels for days/weeks/months?!?

It’s literally life.

So, even though meltdowns are hard, and even though we prefer not to have them, and our aim is to lengthen the amount of time in between our meltdowns…

Let’s just pause for a moment of gratitude at what the meltdown can release from our bodies, and smile at the post meltdown possibilities.

Shining a light on meltdowns is so much easier than hating on them # # #

The Meltdown Series 👇🏼

https://www.allisondavies.com.au/meltdown-series

Due to such a high level of demand for our services, we currently seeking two additional therapists -

Paediatric Occupational Therapist - clinic and community based work. Flexible hours and employment options.

Occupational Therapist (Medicolegal) - casual position completing medicolegal independent expert witness work.

More details available via https://www.seek.com.au/jobs?advertiserid=56082375.

Please feel free to tag, share and help spread the word so we can continue to support children and their families.

We are on the search for an enthusiastic Occupational Therapist to join our trauma informed practice team at MOTA. You will be provided with the opportunity to work within a tight-knit team, be supported by a highly experienced Occupational therapist and follow your passions and interests in meeting community need. Full details at https://www.seek.com.au/job/55752329

I am so saddened by this news. I loved working with Gen decades ago on Camp Avanti. So many families and therapists have been so supported by her music and her training programs. My love goes out her family and friends.

https://www.facebook.com/111831388849216/posts/5339652542733715/

“Is it sensory or is it behavior?” — Powerfully You Occupational Therapists are often asked that question to rule out sensory sensitivities or sensory integration challenges as an underlying cause for a behavior that can’t be explained. On the surface, it is a compassionate question. It allows for the individual differences that come along with sen...