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About Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists (OTs) at the Royal Children’s Hospital work with infants, children, adolescents and their families, to make it possible for them to engage in and perform their daily occupations. Daily occupations include the activities that they want to do, need to do or have to do.

Some examples are: playing, getting dressed, school-based tasks (like handwriting) and taking part in community activities.

Children may experience difficulties in their daily activities (occupations) due to conditions they have been born with, an illness or injury. This may affect their independence, health and wellbeing – physically, socially and psychologically. OTs consider a child’s development, their strengths and limitations and how the social and physical environment supports or challenges them.

Occupational therapy focuses on maximising the ability of the child to enhance his or her potential to participate at home, school and in the community. This may involve the development of specific motor and thinking skills, structuring activities or modifying the environment. OTs typically use and encourage activities as the method of providing therapy.

OTs at RCH work with children who have difficulty due to illness or congenital conditions, such as:

• Acquired brain injuries
• Arthritis 
• Burns
• Cerebral palsy
• Chronic pain
• Congenital hand anomalies (including limb deficiency and cerebral palsy)
• Developmental delay
• Epidermolysis bullosa
• Hand and upper limb injuries
• Learning difficulties (including handwriting)  
• Orthopaedic conditions
• Other illnesses or conditions that impact on function

Occupational Therapy services may include:

• Hand therapy and splinting
• Skills training including handwriting and self care
• Neuro-developmental therapy
• Physical and cognitive rehabilitation
• Pain management techniques
• Adapting or prescribing equipment
• Consultation to schools or other therapy services