Occupational Therapy for Children
Improve your child’s confidence and abilities.
North Richmond Community Health’s paediatric occupational therapist works with children and their families to develop skills and abilities that improve the child’s ability to take part in activities they want or need to do.
We offer:
- Assessment and therapy for children from birth – 12 years of age
- Home programs to support the work done in therapy sessions
- Home, school and kindergarten visits as appropriate
- Group programs in school holidays
Our services are:
- free to residents of Yarra
- culturally sensitive
- available in languages other than English
- focused on the goals that are important to you and your child
- compatible with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Arranging Occupational Therapy services
Parents or carers can engage a Paediatric Occupational Therapist for their child directly. The following professionals can also make a referral for our services:
- Paediatrician
- Maternal and Child Health Nurse
- General Practitioner
- Kindergarten Teacher
- Preschool Field Officer
- other professionals involved in the child’s care.
Eligibility
Children will typically be eligible for services if they demonstrate difficulties in one or more of the following areas:
- fine motor skills
- gross motor skills
- self-care skills
- play skills
- development of drawing, writing and other school readiness skills
- independence in home, kindergarten or school environments.
You may also access Paediatric Occupational Therapy at North Richmond Community Health if your child has an NDIS plan. Click here to see the eligibility requirements.
Interpreters
Telephone and on-site interpreters can be arranged in any language at no cost to you.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
The NDIS can also help pay for services for young children who need help with their health and development. If your child gets this help while they are under six years old, it could mean they need less help later.Find out how we can help your child under the NDIS scheme here.
North Richmond Community Health’s Occupational Therapy service is supported by the Victorian Government.
Contact information
If you’re a client
If you have a query about our nutrition and dietetics service for children:
Phone
(03) 9418 9800
If you’re a health practitioner
Send this completed referral form to our Intake service.
Phone
(03) 9418 9965
E-mail
intake@nrch.com.au
Send referral letter from your clinician to Intake at:
North Richmond Community Health 23 Lennox St Richmond, VIC 312
Working Staff
Sarah Olaussen
Occupational Therapist
Sarah joined the team at North Richmond Community Health in December 2018. Sarah brings over 12 years of experience from working in early childhood intervention, private practice, and school settings. She has also worked in health care clinics in developing countries. Sarah has special interests in working with children and their families to support the child’s participation in everyday activities such as play, sensory and emotional regulation, fine motor activities (e.g. drawing, writing), and self-care activities (getting dressed, toileting, feeding).
Sarah has completed her Masters of Public Health, where she conducted research about culturally appropriate health care among families. Sarah has presented this research at conferences nationally and internationally. Sarah employs holistic, family-centered, and strengths based approaches to care, by working collaboratively with the child’s family and team towards relevant goals.
Mai Schlooz
Occupational Therapist
Mai joined the Child Health and Development Team in March 2020. Mai has her Masters in Occupational Therapy Practice and has worked in Early Childhood Intervention Services across Melbourne before starting at North Richmond Community Health.
Mai aims to support children and their families to participate in meaningful occupation and work towards their goals through a strength-based approach. Mai enjoys collaborating with a child’s support network to implement evidence-based strategies to support learning and engagement in daily life that are both realistic for the family and fun for the child.
Mai enjoys working in the community in both individual and group based settings to work towards building a child’s independence. Mai has a particular interest in areas such as emotional regulation, motor skill development and behaviour.
Leonardo Gnavi
Occupational Therapist
Leo has been practicing as an Occupational Therapist for more than 10 years. He has supervised a number of occupational therapy and physiotherapy students in Australia and overseas.
Leo is passionate about providing services to children and families in a creative and playful way. He is skilled in assessment of movement and sensory challenges for children with complex movement disorders. Leo is able to complete home and environmental assessments to prescribe appropriate equipment. He is able to support clients accessing funding through the NDIS and has experience liaising with NDIS planners, writing reviews, sourcing funding and delivering therapy services.
Leo has an interest in movement disorders, vison impairment and assistive technology.