Paediatric Occupational Therapy
Helping Kids Build Confidence Every Day
If mornings are tense, school feels hard, or everyday moments like getting dressed or leaving the house often end in tears or meltdowns, you are not alone and you are not failing your child.
Paediatric occupational therapy (OT) helps you understand what’s really going on and what actually helps, without labels, blame, pressure, or long-term commitments. This first step is about clarity and making daily life calmer, not judging parenting or escalating problems.
Most families arrive here after months of coping, adjusting, and hoping things will improve. You might be noticing daily meltdowns over small things, big emotional reactions around routines or transitions, sensory overwhelm with noise or clothing, or school feedback about attention, behaviour, or handwriting. You may feel like you’re walking on eggshells to avoid setting your child off, dreading school drop-off, or worrying that your child’s confidence is slipping. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone — and it doesn’t mean you’ve missed something or failed to act sooner. It often means your child’s nervous system is working harder than others.
Help your child feel calmer, more confident and cope better at home and school with specialised paediatric occupational therapy that focuses on function, regulation and real-life change.
Takes just a minute. A team member will confirm your booking and next steps.
How Occupational Therapy Helps with Big Feelings
Paediatric Occupational Therapy (OT) supports children who are finding everyday life harder than it should be — whether that’s big emotions, school challenges, sensory overwhelm or struggles with routines. OT helps children:
Regulate emotions and cope with overwhelm
Build attention, focus, and confidence at school
Improve fine motor skills (like handwriting and pencil grip)
Develop independence with daily routines (dressing, lunch, hygiene)
Understand and manage sensory sensitivities
This isn’t about “fixing” your child — it’s about giving them practical tools, insight and support for success in daily life.
Why Families Choose Us
Many parents come to us after being told “they’ll grow out of it,” that it’s “just behaviour,” or that they need to be firmer — or after trying to wait it out, follow online advice, or use school strategies that didn’t quite fit. What they find instead is a calmer, clearer understanding of their child, with less blame and more insight into what’s really going on. We provide practical strategies that fit real family life and focus on helping children feel safe, regulated, and capable, not on controlling behaviour or simply “fixing problems.” When helpful, we also work collaboratively with teachers, GPs and NDIS coordinators so everyone supporting your child is aligned.
What they tell us feels different here is:
Clear, non-judgmental explanations
Practical strategies that work at home and school
A focus on confidence and capability
Collaborative care with teachers, GPs, and coordinators when needed
Our sessions are play-based, personalised, and grounded in what your child actually needs - not generic programs or rigid behaviour charts.
Who This Is For
Many families connect with paediatric OT when they notice:
Mornings or routines that end in meltdowns
School demands that feel overwhelming
Sensory reactions to noise, movement, or clothing
Growing anxiety around everyday tasks
Difficulty with fine motor tasks (like writing or cutting)
Emotional overwhelm during transitions
If that sounds familiar, you are not alone — and it doesn’t mean you’re failing your child or that they have “missed” something. Occupational therapy is about building strengths and understanding behaviour through a developmental and sensory lens.
What happens in the First Appointment
Parents often tell us the biggest relief is finally understanding why things are hard.
In your child’s first session, we:
Spend time and listen to your concerns and what daily life looks like
Complete a play-based assessment with your child
Explore patterns in emotions, sensory triggers or motor skills
Explain what’s going on in clear, non-judgmental, everyday language
Provide 2–3 practical strategies you can start using right away at home or school
Even if you choose not to continue beyond this first session, you’ll walk away with clarity and tools that help.
What’s driving your child’s struggles
What actually helps to reduce their intensity and frequency
Whether ongoing therapy would be useful or not
Even if you choose not to continue, the session stands on its own.
Important to Know Before You Book
Many parents hesitate because they’re worried about what booking means. So let’s be clear.
You don’t need a
diagnosis or referral
We don’t label children
There are no lock-in therapy packages
You’re always in control
of next steps
NDIS, Medicare & Private Appointments
We accept:
NDIS (self-managed and plan-managed)
Medicare EPC referrals (with GP referral)
Private bookings
We keep a limited number of appointments each month for families who want to start sooner rather than sit on a long waitlist.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. We support children and teens aged 3–18.
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Yes — we offer after-school and some evening appointments.
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No. You can book directly with us.
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Yes. With your consent, we often collaborate with teachers so strategies are consistent at home and school.
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That’s okay — many parents start with the same question. The first session helps clarify whether OT is right for your child and what kind of support will make the biggest difference.
Location
Visit Us at 3 Convenient Ballarat Locations
24 Doveton Street South, Ballarat Central
20 Drummond Street North, Ballarat Central
1020 Howitt Street, Wendouree
Telehealth
Available for some components of the process