The transition from child to young adult brings much change and a few challenges for many individuals and their families. A cognitive or atypical neurodevelopmental disability (intellectual disability, ASD, acquired brain injury) comes with the addition of social communication difficulties, sensory differences and increased anxiety which can add further complexity to assisting individuals learn about the key changes that take place during puberty. Children with an atypical neurodevelopmental disability may need a more individualised plan of support to adjust to the changes that happen in puberty. Health professionals can provide support to individual’s and their families/carers in planning for and navigating these conversations.

Poor handwriting and fine motor skill development is often a primary reason for referral to Occupational Therapy, with many factors affecting a student’s handwriting performance. Through the extensive use of case studies, this two-day workshop will assist occupational therapists to explore ways they can work more effectively to assist emergent writers and those in later years with handwriting challenges.

Self- regulation is a learned, developmental skill and is a key building block which underpins a child’s ability to mature emotionally, cognitively and socially. It directly influences a child’s occupational performance in self-care, academic and social participation. Increasingly, occupational therapists are asked to provide an understanding of challenges to self-regulation experienced by children and offer suggestions for strategies which may enhance their participation across the tasks they want and need to do.

This workshop is suitable for occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, continence advisors, child health nurses and school health nurses. Although this workshop is a stand-alone module, participants would benefit from having attended a Learning to Conquer the Wees & Poos (Basics and Beyond) workshop prior to registering for this workshop.

This online module is suitable for occupational therapists/speech pathologist who have attended a Developing Pretend Play Skills in Children Assessment and intervention workshop; and consider pretend play skills intervention as part of their professional “tool kit” and are wanting to further enhance their knowledge and skills in this area. 

This interactive workshop will provide clinicians already familiar with OPC, an opportunity to practice and develop their coaching skills. In small and large group practices, and with a standardised patient, participants will  self-assess and be provided feedback on their alignment with OPC fidelity measures.

Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC) is an intervention which is family- and occupation-centred, enablement-focused and research informed. OPC involves working alongside parents to achieve parents’ goals for themselves, their children and/or their families.