Paediatric Occupational Therapy Adelaide | OT for Children and Young People
Thrive Health Therapies provides NDIS registered occupational therapy services for children throughout metropolitan Adelaide, at home, in the community, and at our Findon clinic. Our occupational therapists provide individualised, family-centred and neurodiversity affirming care to help children reach their full potential. We aim to empower children and families with skills for everyday activities, sensory integration, and social engagement.
What Is Paediatric Occupational Therapy?
Paediatric occupational therapy is a specialised field that focuses on supporting children and teenagers in developing the essential skills needed for daily life, learning, and play. Paediatric occupational therapists work closely with children who face developmental, physical, emotional, or sensory challenges, offering tailored strategies and interventions to help them overcome these difficulties. Their goal is to enable children to thrive and succeed in various environments, including home, school, and community settings. By addressing challenges in areas such as fine and gross motor skills, sensory processing, self-care, and social participation, paediatric occupational therapists empower children to build independence, confidence, and resilience in their everyday lives.
How Our Paediatric Occupational Therapists Support Children and Adults in Adelaide
Sensory Processing
Sensory Integration helps individuals overcome sensory processing challenges. It involves the brain's ability to organise and interpret sensory information—touch, sight, sound, taste, smell, and movement.
At Thrive Health Therapies, OTs use purposeful play and structured tasks to improve attention, self-regulation, and participation, supporting development and enhancing daily life skills.
Learn more about how we support individuals with sensory processing challenges.
Executive Functioning
Executive functioning refers to the cognitive skills that help organise tasks, manage time, and regulate behaviour. Our OT’s use engaging, purposeful activities to boost cognitive development in children and adults facing challenges in these areas. Tailored interventions help improve focus, information organisation, and problem-solving abilities, supporting academic success and daily functioning.
Learn more about how we support individuals with executive functioning challenges.
Emotional Regulation
Occupational therapists help individuals improve skills in emotional regulation, social interaction, and behaviour management. Using purposeful activities, therapists foster an understanding of emotions, build self-esteem, and enhance positive social engagement. By addressing social-emotional challenges, occupational therapy supports well-being and success across environments, including home, work, and community settings.
Learn more about how we support individuals with emotional regulation challenges.
Self Care Skills
Self-care skills are essential for daily life, covering activities like dressing, grooming, eating, and hygiene. Occupational therapists support children and adults struggling with these tasks due to physical, sensory, or cognitive challenges. Using adaptive techniques and structured exercises, therapists help build independence, boosting confidence and enhancing well-being across environments.
Learn more about how we help individuals develop their self-care skills.
Fine Motor Skills
Occupational therapy supports fine motor skill development, essential for tasks like writing, drawing, and buttoning. Our OTs use engaging, tailored activities to improve hand-eye coordination, finger dexterity, and precision. These techniques enhance academic skills and foster independence in daily activities, such as dressing and feeding.
Learn more about how we help individuals develop their fine motor skills.
Interoception
Interoception is the ability to sense and interpret internal body signals, such as hunger, thirst, or the need to use the bathroom. Occupational therapists help individuals with interoception challenges by developing strategies to improve body awareness, self-regulation, and emotional understanding.
Learn more about how we help individuals with interoception challenges.
Play Skills
Play is essential for childhood development, supporting cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth. Occupational therapists use purposeful play to target specific developmental goals, enhancing a child's creativity, problem-solving, and social skills. Play-based interventions make therapy enjoyable while effectively addressing developmental needs, fostering growth across multiple areas.
Learn more about how we help individuals develop their play skills.
Balance and Coordination
Balance and coordination refer to the ability to maintain stability and move smoothly during activities. Occupational therapists assist individuals with balance and coordination difficulties by using targeted exercises, activities, and strategies to improve motor skills, confidence, and functional independence.
Learn more about how we help individuals develop their balance and coordination.
Gross Motor Skills
Gross motor skills involve the coordination and control of large muscles, essential for activities like walking, running, jumping, and overall movement. Occupational therapists use tailored, engaging activities to enhance gross motor abilities by focusing on balance, strength, and coordination. Addressing these skills promotes physical fitness, independence, and participation in daily life.
Learn more about how we help individuals develop their gross motor skills.
Toileting
Occupational therapists support toileting by addressing physical, sensory, and cognitive challenges. They provide strategies like motor skill development, sensory regulation, and routine adaptations to promote independence, confidence, and success in toileting tasks.
Learn more about how we help individuals with toileting challenges.
Challenging Behaviour
Our occupational therapists support individuals with challenging behaviour by identifying underlying sensory, emotional, or environmental triggers. They develop personalised strategies, including sensory regulation, social skill development, and routine adaptations, to promote positive behaviours and improve participation in daily activities.
Learn more about how we help individuals with challenging behaviour.
Upper Limb Therapy
Upper Limb Therapy involves rehabilitation of the hand and upper limb, often following a stroke or brain injury. Our occupational therapists will work with you to maintain or improve function in your upper limb to enhance your independence in your home and community.
Learn more about upper limb therapy.
Occupational Therapy Assessments and Reports
At Thrive Health Therapies, we offer a wide range of evidence-based assessments and reports to support individuals with diverse needs. These include:
Progress Reports: We provide detailed reports on progress at the end of a therapy period.
Functional Capacity Assessments: Evaluate how individuals perform daily tasks and identify support needs for independent living.
Learn more about our NDIS Functional Capacity Assessments to support occupational therapy goals.
Sensory Assessments: Help individuals better process and respond to sensory stimuli.
Learn more about our sensory assessments to support sensory processing and occupational therapy goals.
Sensory Diets: Help individuals regulate their sensory input, improve focus, and enhance daily functioning.
Learn more about sensory diets to support sensory processing goals.
Assistive Technology Assessments: Prescribe and train individuals in the use of devices such as wheelchairs, mobility aids, and communication tools.
Learn more about assistive technology assessments.
Home Modification Assessments: Recommend changes that improve safety, accessibility, and independence for individuals within their living environments.
Learn more about home modification assessments.
Psychosocial Functional Capacity Assessments
FCA & Supported Independent Living (SIL) Assessments:
FCA & Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Assessments
Cognitive Assessments: Evaluate skills like memory, attention, problem-solving, and planning.
Manual Handling Assessments: Ensure safe techniques and equipment use, reducing the risk of injury and promoting effective support for individuals with mobility or care needs.
Who Do Our Paediatric Occupational Therapists Support?
At Thrive Health Therapies, our occupational therapists treat a wide range of conditions that affect children and teenagers, including (but not limited to):
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder / Attention deficit disorder
Cerebral Palsy
Developmental coordination disorder
Developmental delay
Down syndrome
Dyspraxia
Fragile X Syndrome
Genetic disorders
Learning difficulties
Low muscle tone
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)
Rhetts Syndrome
Sensory processing disorder
How We Deliver Children’s Occupational Therapy Services in Adelaide
Thrive Health Therapies is dedicated to providing accessible and flexible care for families throughout metropolitan Adelaide. We offer:
Community-Based Therapy: Our team conducts in-home, school, and kindergarten visits throughout metropolitan Adelaide, ensuring children receive care in familiar environments. Learn more about our service areas.
Clinic-Based Therapy: Our Findon clinic offers a specially designed space for children, with fun and engaging equipment and resources to support diverse therapy needs.
Telehealth Services: We also offer comprehensive telehealth services, providing clients with convenient, video-based therapy consultations for those who may have difficulty travelling to our clinic or prefer the convenience of remote support.
Funding Options for Paediatric Occupational Therapy
We accept a variety of funding options, making paediatric occupational therapy accessible for everyone:
Private Health Insurance
Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plans (GP Team Care Arrangements)
Why Families Choose Thrive Health Therapies for Children’s Occupational Therapy in Adelaide
No wait time: We can start working with children and teenagers straight away!
Experienced Clinicians: Our occupational therapists are senior clinicians with years of experience working with a wide range of presentations.
Extensive Coverage in the community: We serve a large geographical area, providing physiotherapy across all of metropolitan Adelaide from Gawler to Aldinga. We see clients at home, in their school or kindergarten, or at a location convenient to them.
Clinic space: Our fully accessible clinic in Findon has been specially designed to be appropriate for a wide range of presentations & disabilities.
Individualised care: Every client receives a personalised therapy plan based on their unique needs and goals.
Neuroaffirming Practice: We provide compassionate and affirming services to support and empower neurodiverse individuals.
Multi-Disciplinary Approach: We offer a wide range of allied health services under one roof, allowing for a holistic approach to your health.
NDIS Registered: We are proudly registered with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
LGBTQIA+ friendly: We celebrate, value and include people of all backgrounds, genders, and sexualities, Our Findon clinic is a welcoming, safe and inclusive space for all LGBTQIA+ people and families.
FAQs About Paediatric Occupational Therapy in Adelaide
If you can’t find an answer to your question, please contact our friendly team on 0474 248 081 or email enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com.
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Paediatric occupational therapy helps children develop essential skills for daily activities, learning, and play. Focusing on children facing developmental, physical, or sensory challenges, therapists create individualized programs to improve fine and gross motor skills, sensory processing, self-care, and social-emotional skills. Through engaging activities, children build confidence, independence, and skills for school, home, and community life. Occupational therapy supports children with conditions like autism, ADHD, and sensory processing issues, enabling them to thrive and participate more fully in their world.
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Thrive Health Therapies supports children and teens with developmental and learning disorders (e.g., ASD, ADHD), sensory processing issues, physical and motor impairments, and emotional or behavioural challenges. Our team provides tailored therapy to enhance self-regulation, social skills, coordination, and emotional well-being, helping children build essential skills for improved daily functioning and personal growth.
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Thrive Health Therapies provides allied health services in Adelaide to all ages, from newborns to seniors! Our therapists have experience in a wide range of conditions and diagnosis, ensuring we can help you find a therapist who is the right fit for you.
For paediatric clients we accept referrals from a wide range of funding sources, including the NDIS, Chronic Disease Management (previously known as EPC) and private clients. Learn more about our accepted funding sources.
As a NDIS registered provider we are also able to accept participants who have chosen to have their funds managed by NDIA.
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If you are funded through Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) or Chronic Disease Management (CDM) we need the appropriate referral documentation from your GP.
For all other funding sources you can refer yourself or your child directly via our online referral form, or reach out to us on 0474 248 081, via our online enquiry form or at enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com.
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Referring is easy! You can find our paediatric referral forms here and our adult referral forms here.
If you have any questions prior to referring please reach out to us on 0474 248 081, via our online enquiry form or at enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com.
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We support adults and children with:
Psychosocial Disability
Intellectual Disability
Autism
Global Developmental Delay
Spinal Cord Injury
Acquired Brain Injury
Multiple Sclerosis
Stroke
Cerebral Palsy
Amputation
Parkinson's Disease
Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Motor Neurone Disease
Genetic Conditions
Vision or Hearing Impairment
Amputees
Other Physical/Intellectual Impairments
And more! Feel free to enquire here.
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No! We can start working with new clients right away.
Once we have received a referral form with all of your details, we are able to book an Initial Assessment as soon as possible, depending on your availability.
You can find our paediatric referral forms here and our adult referral forms here.
If you have any questions prior to referring please reach out to us on 0474 248 081, via our online enquiry form or at or at enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com.
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Yes! As a registered NDIS provider, Thrive Health Therapies meets rigorous NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators. We are passionately committed to upholding the NDIS Practice Standards, providing high-quality and safe supports and services for NDIS participants.
As a NDIS registered provider, we are also able to offer services to participants whose funds are managed by the NDIA.
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As a registered NDIS provider, interpreter services are available free of charge for NDIS participants. Please inform us if you require this service, and we will arrange this for you.
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We accept referrals from a wide range of funding sources, including the NDIS, home care packages, Department of Veterans Affairs, Chronic Disease Management (previously known as EPC) and private clients. Learn more about our accepted funding sources.
As a NDIS registered provider we are also able to accept participants who have chosen to have their funds managed by NDIA.
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Prices vary between services. Our therapists work with you to ensure you get the best program of services within your budget allocation.
Please contact us for a personalised quote.
Your Trusted NDIS Registered Provider in Adelaide
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides funding for individuals with permanent and significant disabilities. As a registered NDIS provider in Adelaide, Thrive Health Therapies meets rigorous NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators. We are passionately committed to upholding the NDIS Practice Standards, providing high-quality and safe supports and services for NDIS participants.
As a NDIS registered provider, we offer services to participants whose funds are managed by the NDIA.
Get started with Paediatric Occupational Therapy today!
Referral Form
Fill out our easy online referral form and we’ll be in touch!
