About Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy department vision
The RCH values of Excellence, Integrity, Unity, Respect are the foundation for the Occupational Therapy Department Practice.
We are aiming through innovative service provision, teamwork, research/quality activities and family centred care to provide the best service we can to our patients and families.
The Occupational Therapy Department at the Royal Children’s Hospital provides specific assessment and interventions to children with a range of medical conditions to:
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Maximize the child’s potential for building/recovering skills to enable participation in their daily occupations of self care, play/leisure and productivity (preschool, school and work)
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Prevent future limitations in the child’s ability to participate in their daily occupations
Occupational Therapists are experts in identifying and modifying factors at the level of the child/family, environment and occupation to promote engagement and participation in daily life.
During this process, the focus is:
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The child/adolescent/family who are doing the task/ occupation
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The environment that the child and family’s occupations take place (eg home, childcare/preschool/school, play/leisure)
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The occupation itself (eg self care, play/leisure, or work tasks)
Occupational therapy service
Inpatients
Specific inpatient wards have dedicated Occupational Therapy staff. Please refer to the ward whiteboard for the name and pager number of your Occupational Therapist.
For wards where there is not a dedicated Occupational Therapist, please phone ext 59300. Occupational Therapy is located on Level 1 of the East Building in Allied Health opposite the Green lifts.
The Allied Health Referral form is now in use.
Outpatients
The RCH Occupational Therapy Department provides outpatient service through specialised outpatient clinics.
Outside the specialist clinics there is a very limited outpatient service that is provided. Referrals that will be considered are:
- For a discrete Occupational Therapy assessment/intervention, related to a recent inpatient stay.
- For provision of assessment to provide consultation/support for the parents and local service providers for children who have a rare and medically complex condition or have a recent significant change in functional status.
Please note that we do not provide an Occupational Therapy service to provide assessments/documentation for funding for additional services at school. The school is responsible for the coordination of the funding application and use of private Occupational Therapy services may be required to complete the necessary assessment/documentation.
