CPD EMPOWER: Understanding Pain - A Regulation and Sensory-Informed Approach to Pain in OT
Pain is a feature across countless clinical presentations, yet managing it effectively can be complex. This practical, face-to-face workshop is designed for occupational therapists at all career stages and across diverse practice areas, offering a fresh lens on understanding pain and the self in a complex sensory world. Through the integration of sensory processing, regulation strategies, and Polyvagal Theory you’ll build confidence in applying theory to real-world clinical scenarios. Whether you're refining foundational knowledge or deepening advanced practice, this workshop will expand your therapeutic toolkit.
Program Overview
CPD Empower
This workshop is part of CPD Empower - OTA’s national CPD event series offering in-depth, OT-specific workshops across key areas of practice. Designed for both experienced clinicians and those ready to stretch themselves, each workshop stream delivers high quality immersive learning, expert facilitation, and practical insights you can take straight back into your work. For more information about the full CPD Empower experience, visit https://otaus.com.au/cpd-empower
Workshop Overview
This workshop explores the intersection of pain, sensory processing, and nervous system regulation through an occupational therapy lens. Participants will be introduced to Polyvagal Theory and its application to pain neuroscience, with a focus on how social engagement systems and arousal states influence pain expression. The content bridges theory and practice, covering interoception, exteroception, and sensory modulation strategies to support pain management across acute and chronic conditions. With opportunities to apply these concepts to complex presentations such as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, attendees will leave with practical strategies to support client engagement, expand the window of tolerance, and promote occupational performance.
By the end of this workshop participants will be able to:
- Explain the principles of Polyvagal Theory and sensory processing, including their roles in pain neuroscience and regulation.
- Apply clinical strategies incorporating Polyvagal Theory and sensory modulation to support pain management and occupational performance.
- Analyse nervous system alterations and arousal shifts that influence pain expression and functional engagement.
- Develop comprehensive intervention plans using Occupational Therapy frameworks to address complex pain presentations and expand clients’ window of tolerance.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This session is suitable for OTs at all career stages working in a broad range of practice areas.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
DATE
Thursday 20th November 2025
TIMES
Registration: 8:30am - 9:00am
Workshop: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Networking event ('Power Hour'): 5:00pm - 6:00pm
VENUE
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Southbank, Brisbane
CPD HOURS
Total CPD claimable workshop hours: 6.5 hours
Please allow 48 hours for your CPD Certificate to be loaded in your CPD Tracker after course completion.
All registrants will receive an email with access to their online account after signing up.
REGISTRATION FEES
OTA MEMBER
Early Bird - $575 - register on or before 23rd September 2025
Standard - $640 - register on or after 24th September 2025
NON-MEMBER
Standard: $895 - book by 6th November 2025
Early Bird prices are not available for non-members
(All pricing is inclusive of GST)
*Registrations close 6th November 2025, 11.55pm AEST.
Members must be logged in with username and password in order to register at the member rate.
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INCLUSIONS:
The following are included in your registration:
- Tea & Coffee on arrival
- Daily Catering - Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea (please note any dietary requirements at time of registration)
- ‘Power Hour’ networking event drinks & canapes
DISCLAIMER
All information is correct at the time of publication. OTA reserves the right to alter or delete items from the CPD calendar as required, and takes no responsibility for any errors, omissions, and changes.
All resources including copies of the presentation, along with all supporting documents and links are not for distribution and are the property of the presenter.
An OTA staff member or representative may be photographing this event for use in OTA publications and/or on OTA social media sites. If you do not wish to be photographed, or have your image published, please make this known to the OTA representative at your course or contact OTA on 1300 682 878 or info@otaus.com.au.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Terms and Conditions including OTA’s refund and cancellation policy are available here.
CONTACT US
Please email info@otaus.com.au or phone 1300 682 878.
Presented By
Fiona Thomas
Fiona Thomas is an Occupational Therapist who has specialised in Pain Management working both in public and private settings. Her interest in pain management grew out of working in hand therapy, amputees and industrial musculoskeletal rehabilitation and noticing the variation in pain coping styles between people in pain and the need for a holistic approach to their care. This then led to what could Occupational Therapy offer in this space and how to develop the role of OTs working in Pain Management. She has worked in a variety of roles including as a clinical OT, project coordinator, educator and more recently as the Caulfield Pain Clinic Manager. Fiona has a clinical interest in relating occupational therapy practice to pain management including activity regulation, sensory modulation, interoceptive training, biofeedback and functional capacity assessments as well as applying modern pain science into occupational therapy approaches. Fiona completed a grant funded research project into self-efficacy and function and has been an active presenter at the Australian Pain Society conferences and for Occupational Therapy Australia. Fiona is the Occupational Therapy representative on the Australian Pain Society discipline group and has been part of committees looking at pain education, and more recently with a group of OTs working with OTA to develop the capability framework for OTs working with people with pain and the associated learning modules.
Dr Cate Sinclair
Dr. Cate Sinclair is an occupational therapist, founder and director of Vital Connections Allied Health, and the immediate past Chair of the Pain in Childhood Special Interest Group of the Australian Pain Society (2023-2025). Cate has extensive clinical experience as an occupational therapist. Most recently, as Clinical Team Leader and Clinical Advisory Panel member of Splash Paediatric Therapies, Director of Allied Services and Projects and clinical occupational therapist at Pain Specialists Australia, and Senior Occupational Therapist with the Children’s Pain Management Clinic at the Royal Children’s Hospital. Cate completed a Doctoral Thesis in occupational therapy with The University of Queensland in 2018, investigating adaptive functioning for children and adolescents with persistent pain, and associations with sensory modulation and attachment patterns. Cate has presented her research at national and international conferences and has disseminated her research in peer reviewed publications and books. She regularly provides workshops for occupational therapists to build skills in pain management. In 2024-5, Cate was on the advisory panel to develop the capability framework for OTs working with people with pain and has written content for the associated learning modules with Fiona Thomas.