OT with Children: Principles of Assessment & Intervention
This practical 3-day workshop is designed for early career therapists, as well as more experienced OTs new to working with children. Gain the essential knowledge, tools and confidence to assess, plan and deliver effective, family-centred therapy in diverse paediatric settings.
Program Overview
Stepping into paediatric occupational therapy can feel exciting—but also a little overwhelming. This immersive three-day workshop is designed to equip you with the practical knowledge, clinical reasoning, and confidence needed to thrive in this rewarding area of practice.
You’ll dive into the foundations of development, sensory processing, executive functioning, play, and family-centred care, while gaining hands-on experience with assessment tools, goal setting, and intervention planning.
Through case studies, collaborative activities, and reflective exercises, you’ll learn how to communicate your role clearly to families and professionals, write purposeful reports, and deliver therapy that’s both evidence-based and meaningful. Whether you're a new graduate or a more experienced OT making the shift into paediatrics, this workshop will help you hit the ground running.
By attending this workshop, you will:
- Feel confident in explaining the occupational therapy role to parents, children and other professionals
- Understand key principles of assessment and intervention including family-centred practice, development, sensory processing, executive function and play.
- Understand key assessment areas and assessment methods
- Know how to establish family-centred therapy goals
- Be aware of commonly used treatment approaches
- Know how to plan and provide effective occupational therapy intervention within their own scope of practice
- Feel more confident in writing reports
- Understand how to work within diverse service delivery models and settings.
- Know how to measure outcomes
- Understand how to use evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning and reflection
- Be aware of professional issues including scope of practice, supervision and child protection
- Be able to identify professional development needs
- Have your questions answered and be aware of how to access appropriate support
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
New graduate and early career OTs or more experienced OTs exploring a new practice area.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
DATE
Thursday 9th October to Saturday 11th October 2025 (3 days)
TIMES
Workshop: 9:00am - 5:00pm (AEDT)
VENUE
Melbourne CBD (venue to be confirmed)
CPD HOURS
Total CPD claimable workshop hours: 21
Please allow 48 hours for your CPD Certificate to be loaded in your CPD Tracker after course completion.
All registrants will be provided with access to an online account via an email sent out upon registration.
ACCESS
Participants will be able to access the course materials online in their OTA account for the event and for a further 12 weeks after the event.
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)
- Workshop Materials
REGISTRATION FEES & INCLUSIONS
EARLY BIRD FEES: Register on or before 31st July 2025
OTA Member: $1260
New Graduate Member: $1135
Non-member: $1640
STANDARD FEES: Register from 1st August 2025
OTA Member: $1385
OTA New Graduate Member: $1260
Non-member: $1800
RSVPS close 25th September 2025
Note: All pricing is inclusive of GST
Members must be logged in with username and password in order to register at the member rate.
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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 workshop 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 at info@otaus.com.au
TERMS AND CONDITIONS (T&C)
T&C's are available here
CONTACT US
Please direct all enquiries to info@otaus.com.au or phone 1300 682 878
Presented By
Olivia Jackson
Occupational Therapist - BAppSc (OT) and MHlthSc (OT)
Olivia has a BAppSc (OT) and MHlthSc (OT), both through the University of Sydney. She has over 30 years experience working with children 0-18 years with a wide range of disabilities and diagnoses, within community settings and using a variety of models of service delivery. Olivia has owned and operated her private practice, Occupational Therapy Paediatric Services since 2004 and employs a team of therapists and allied health assistants. She has a particular interest in supporting children and their families with complex needs as well as advocating for the role of therapy in schools Olivia is completing her PhD at The University of Sydney, with her research topic focused on mentorship and its role in paediatric practice in Australia. She regularly mentors and supervises paediatric occupational therapists externally. Olivia has a strong commitment to continuing professional development.
Frances Dobson
Occupational Therapist - MappSc (Occ. Ther.), BAppSc (Occ. Ther.), Dip AppSc (Occ.Ther)
Frances graduated from Cumberland College of Health Sciences (now The University of Sydney) in 1979 and obtained a Master of Health Science (Occupational Therapy) specialising in developmental disabilities through the University of Sydney in 2001. Since 1981 Frances has had the privilege of working as an occupational therapist with children and families in a range of settings and specialist multi-disciplinary teams. These have included services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and families experiencing psycho-social disadvantage. Her particular areas of clinical interest include babies and young children, children with developmental delays, children with autism, and families impacted by trauma. Frances has a strong commitment to collaborative and family-centred practice, and to strengths-based and capacity building approaches. Frances has been active in continuing her own professional development as well as providing education and mentoring to other occupational therapists.