Occupational Therapy for KidsMelbourne
When your child is struggling with an everyday task or skill, it’s not always easy to know if they need extra support or more time to develop. At Tilegne Therapy, our paediatric occupational therapists can help you understand what they’re finding difficult and the factors contributing to it through our occupational therapy services.
We offer personalised, flexible support in multiple languages, with appointments at our Footscray clinic, in your home or in suitable community settings. This helps us shape sessions specifically to each child’s needs, with after-hours and Saturday options available to work around your school and family commitments.
What does an occupational therapist for kids do?
Occupational therapy for kids focuses on helping children learn the skills they need to master everyday tasks, such as those in learning, playing, school routines and self-care. Families may seek OT when these tasks are frequently difficult, frustrating or avoided completely. It can also support children with autism or ADHD, developmental delays or sensory processing differences, with no formal diagnosis required to access support.
Support may focus on goals surrounding:
- Fine and gross motor skills.
- Self-care and daily routines.
- Handwriting and classroom participation.
- Sensory and emotional regulation.
- Play, social skills and independence.
Each session is focused on introducing activities, strategies or adjustments based on your child’s specific needs and goals.
Support For Toddlers, School-Aged Children & Teenagers
As kids grow and develop, it’s likely their occupational therapy (OT) needs and support will change. In the early developmental years as toddlers, it often starts with dressing, using cutlery, toileting and those initial fine motor skills or gross motor skills. Then, as they enter primary and high school, the focus progresses into support around handwriting, following routines, doing homework, participating in class, socialising, personal care and becoming more independent.
Our approach to OT for kids follows this journey, looking at their specific needs to create support that helps them with their challenges at every stage. Each activity used during a therapy session has a clear purpose, aligning with a practical goal to help children at home, school or in the community. As their parent or guardian, you’ll also receive guidance from our OT therapists to use between appointments, helping you support and share in their progress.
Our Approach to Supporting Everyday Skills
Kids can often only put so much into words, so their actions and reactions are very important for children’s occupational therapy. Rather than relying on words or reactions alone, we look at how they start a task, use their hands and body, follow steps, act when something becomes difficult or is unknown and to their surroundings. These observations, along with assessment findings and current paediatric OT evidence, help shape the support we provide for your child’s age, interests and daily life.
In our sessions we may use different techniques based on these factors, including:
Together, these techniques aim to help each child and family feel supported while working towards practical changes at home, school and in the community.
- Using play or their interests to work on a specific skill.
- Changing the setup, instructions or the pace of an activity.
- Practising one part of a task before putting the complete sequence together.
- Gradually increasing the challenge as the required skills are developed.
- Trialling visual prompts, adapted tools or sensory adjustments.
- Working with educators or other health professionals, with consent, when a consistent approach is needed.
- Exploring sensory and emotional regulational strategies for tasks that feel frustrating.
Professional Occupational Therapists
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Tilegne Therapy is a multidisciplinary clinic that offers Speech, OT, Music Therapy and dietetics. We aim to offer a service where our therapists can work together in order to support the goals of each patient.
Our Process
You don’t have to already have all the answers or even a diagnosis for your child before contacting Tilegne Therapy. We work closely with you and your family, guiding you through the process of occupational therapy for kids, starting with what you’ve noticed and the daily activities you believe they need support with.
Complete a Case History Questionnaire
Before an initial assessment, we’ll ask you to provide information about your child’s development, health, routines, strengths, any current support and what’s causing concern.
Attend an Initial Assessment
During the initial assessment, the OT will discuss what you’ve noticed with you and assess the skills involved through observation, conversation and child-friendly activities.
Review the Findings
The occupational therapist will then explain what they observed, factors affecting the activity and any further assessments that may be useful.
Agree on Goals & Sessions
If ongoing support is recommended, we’ll work with you to set practical goals, session frequency and the most suitable appointment format for your family.
Use Strategies Between Appointments
To help practise outside of sessions, we may provide you with activities, adjustments or prompts to use during relevant routines to help support progress.
In-Clinic, Mobile & After-Hours Appointment Options
Some goals may be well suited to a clinic setting, while others may be easier to understand in the environment where the activity usually takes place. Tilegne Thapy offers several appointment options and formats so each session can be planned around your child’s goals and your family circumstances.
Kids OT at Our Footscray Clinic
Our Footscray clinic provides a structured setting for assessments and ongoing therapy, with activities and resources selected based on each child’s unique goals.
Mobile Appointments At Home or in the Community
We offer mobile OT appointments throughout Melbourne’s inner west and western suburbs, including Footscray, Sunshine, Maribyrnong, Williamstown, Seddon, Newport, Altona, Werribee and surrounding areas. Meeting at home or in a suitable community setting can help us observe familiar routines and trial strategies using the space and items already available for more tailored support. Contact our team to confirm availability in your suburb.
After-Hours & Saturday Appointments
For convenience, after-hours and Saturday options may be available to make it easier to coordinate sessions around school, work and family commitments. Contact us to check our current availability.
Why Families Choose Tilegne Therapy for Kids’ OT
You know your child’s routines, likes, dislikes and the challenges they’re facing better than anyone. Our job at Tilegne Therapy is to combine that knowledge with proven therapy practices, shaping support around their unique needs and the priorities that matter to your family. By choosing our OT team, you receive access to:
- Practical guidance to use between appointments.
- In-clinic and mobile appointment options based on their specific needs and location.
- Flexible after-hours and Saturday session options that fit around your school and family commitments.
- Sessions available in Malay, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi, Nepalese and Spanish, helping your family communicate in a language that feels more natural, making it easier to build a connection, understand guidance and participate in sessions.
- Speech pathology, dietetics and music therapy within the same clinic, making it easier to coordinate appointments and work towards shared goals when multiple services are being accessed. Information can be shared between practitioners with your consent.
- Medicare, NDIS and private health payment pathways for eligible families, which may help reduce out-of-pocket costs and make support more accessible.
Simply let us know any language, communication, sensory or scheduling preferences when you make an enquiry so our team can consider them when discussing the available options.
Referrals, Funding & Fees
Your child does not need a GP referral to be able to access private occupational therapy. However, a referral or care plan may be needed to access any eligible Medicare rebates.
NDIS funding and private health rebates may also be available to access occupational therapy for children, although it depends on their plan, eligibility and your level of cover.
Our children’s occupational therapy fees vary depending on the appointment type, length and location. Contact our Melbourne team to confirm the expected costs and to discuss your intended funding pathway before booking.
Our Melbourne Clinic
Tilegne Therapy has a clinic in Footscray, where we offer in-person appointments. We also have appointments available for telehealth and mobile occupational therapy across Melbourne.
Meet Our Melbourne Occupational Therapy Team
Upeksha Don
Occupational Therapist | BSc Nutrition and Food Science and MOT
Upeksha is a passionate Occupational Therapist who graduated from Monash University with a Master's in Occupational Therapy Practice. She is passionate about supporting and empowering clients to achieve their personal goals and build independence in everyday activities. Upeksha takes a neuro-affirming approach to therapy and brings a broad range of experiences, including inpatient rehabilitation and aged care. Upeksha is fluent in Sinhala.
Shirley Au
Occupational Therapist BOT
Shirley is a practising Occupational Therapist and a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy graduate from ACU. Since beginning her career as a Therapy Assistant in 2020, she has gained experience supporting children and adults with disabilities, including autism, Down syndrome, and a range of mental health conditions. Shirley values celebrating the small steps and achievements in everyday tasks, believing that recognising these moments helps clients build confidence, independence, and a sense of accomplishment.
Shasvine Viknesh
Occupational Therapist | BOT, MOT
As an OT, Shasvine turns everyday challenges clients face — from sensory processing to fine motor skills — into opportunities for success and fun whilst respecting their needs and emotions. Shasvine is a huge advocate for clients and their rights to basic needs. She has a neuroaffirming approach and ensures clients have their safe space during sessions, which makes them enjoy their time participating in therapy activities. Being a multilingual therapist, Shasvine is also fluent in Malay and Tamil.
Esmaraee Aref
Occupational Therapist | BOT
Esmaraee is a highly motivated and enthusiastic therapist who completed his Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at Deakin University. He has gained invaluable experience in various therapeutic techniques, including exercises, adaptive equipment, and environmental modification and worked with clients of all ages, from paediatric to geriatric, with a wide range of conditions, including but not limited to: physical disabilities, mental health disorders, developmental delays, and chronic illnesses. He is dedicated to helping clients achieve their goals and reach their maximum level of independence.
Occupational Therapy for Kids FAQ
What signs might indicate my child may need OT?
Every child is different, however, some of the most common signs a child may need occupational therapy include:
- Trouble with self-care tasks, such as dressing or eating.
- Developmental delays in physical coordination.
- Messy or slow handwriting.
- Extreme reactions to sensory inputs, such as when exposed to loud noises or clothing tags.
In general, if kids are having significant struggles with daily routines, fine or gross motor skills, or sensory processing, it may be worthwhile booking an initial consultation with a children’s OT.
Does my child need to have a diagnosis to access occupational therapy?
No. Children can access occupational therapy without a formal diagnosis. Our occupational therapists in Melbourne tailor each session and strategy to best support their individual needs and challenges.
Does my child need a GP referral?
No. You can book a private appointment with our paediatric occupational therapists without a GP referral. However, a referral or care plan may be required if you plan to claim an eligible Medicare rebate.
Will I be involved in my child’s occupational therapy?
Yes and we encourage you to be. As a parent or carer, you can provide important information about your kid’s routines, responses and progress outside of appointments. Your OT may also give you practical strategies to use during specific activities at home or in the community.
Can occupational therapy help with school activities?
Yes. Schooling is one of the many areas in which occupational therapists can support children. It can be used to help with handwriting, organising their belongings, following routines, transitioning between tasks, participating in lessons and finding classroom tools specific to their needs.
How often will my child need to attend occupational therapy?
It depends on their goals, assessment findings and recommended support. How many sessions we believe would best suit your child and the options available for in-clinic and mobile OT visits will be discussed with you before we start ongoing appointments.
Do you provide occupational therapy for autistic children?
Yes. Tilegne Therapy provides occupational therapy support autistic children and their families with personalised, practical strategies based on their individual goals related to everyday activities, routines, sensory experiences, motor skills and participation.
Can Medicare, the NDIS or private health insurance cover OT for kids?
Medicare rebates, NDIS funding and private health rebates may be available for eligible children. The access requirements can vary. Speak with our team at Tilegne Therapy, your GP, insurer or NDIS contact to confirm eligibility and any payment support that may be available.
Ready to book? Talk to Tilegne
Every family has a different reason for considering OT. Booking an initial consultation can help you uncover what’s making certain tasks difficult and where practical changes may help. Tell us why you're looking for support, where you’re based and the appointment format you prefer, and we’ll get back to you with the next steps.
