Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How is Covid affecting your services?

We are continuing to operate as flexibly as we can. The safety of the children, teens and families we work with is incredibly important. Each school and kinder have their own policies about visitors on site, and each family will have their own level of comfort with face-to-face appointments. Where possible, we will aim to implement tele-health sessions whilst infection rates are high in the community. We will work together to determine what is possible and what is best for your family which may be face-to-face, tele-health, or a hybrid model of both. If you have concerns, get in touch with us to have a chat.

Where do you work?

We see clients face to face in schools / kindergartens in and around Upwey, Belgrave, Tecoma, and Ferntree Gully after recently re-locating to The Hills from inner-Melbourne. We also offer tele-health services Australia-wide. This service can be particularly helpful if you are after a few consultations or parent coaching, or are on a lengthly waitlist with a local OT service and looking for some support in the interum.

What ages do you work with?

We offer school and kindergarten-based services for children aged 2 - 11 (or until the end of Year 6), with tele-health sessions for high school aged students up to the age of 18. There is some flexibility around this, and is dependent on the child or young person’s individual needs, preferences, and policies around visitors attending local schools. A hybrid model with some face-to-face and some tele-health can also be implemented.

What can an Occupational Therapist (O.T) do to help my child?

OT’s support children to participate in their daily 'occupations' to the best of their ability. For a child, their 'occupations' refer to play, education, social and leisure activities. For a child with ASD this will often mean supporting them with sensory processing difficulties, social skill development, motor skill development, anxiety management, and supporting them / the adults around the child to develop the skills they need to access the curriculum within their educational environment.

We offer a highly individual approach to working with every child. We can begin by looking at your child's developmental history, medical conditions, behaviour, and their coping strategies in their day-to-day life. Together we can identify areas of difficulty and set some specific and measurable goals to get started. Our therapeutic approach is to first form a positive relationship with the child, and utilise their strengths and interests to engage them in building skills and confidence.

How are you different to other OT practices?

We believe that in order for each child to reach their potential, we also need to support the development of their confidence, self-esteem and ability to manage day-to-day tasks. This can include how they solve problems and cope with challenges. The specific areas of concern will of course be the focus, however, the way in which the child or young person perceives themselves and their confidence is always a key factor. We place a high level of importance on the mental health of each young person, and address their ability to manage their anxiety.

What are your fees?

We charge $190 per session. This includes a 45 minute individual session with your child, plus written session notes or a follow up phone call, depending on your needs and preferences. See the Funding section of the website for rebates for which your child may be eligible. Please note that there is a 50% cancellation fee if 24 hours notice is not given. A full copy of our service agreement can be provided on request.

My child does not have a diagnosis, can they still be referred?

Of course! The symptoms and difficulties that the child is experiencing is more important than a diagnosis or label when it comes to Occupational Therapy intervention. By working with your child's individual learning profile and strengths, we can support them with areas in which they are experiencing difficulties. Regardless of whether or not your child has a diagnosis, therapy will be approached in the same way. We will start with an intake session where we discuss all the important aspects of your child's development from birth. This will enable us to gain an understanding of your child's difficulties and strengths now and historically. Together we can identify key goals for your child's therapy. It is often such a difficult time for a family when they are working out how to help their child, so ensuring that you are well supported and have strategies to implement at home is a big focus of our therapeutic approach.

Do I need a referral from a doctor to access OT services?

You do not need a referral to access OT services with Happy Kids Occupational Therapy. Sometimes your child’s Paediatrician, GP, Speech Pathologist or Psychologist may refer you, however self referrals are always accepted. Simply fill in the online form on the Contact Us page to get in touch.