Frequently Asked Questions

Occupational Therapists are health professionals helping people of all ages to better perform the everyday activities (or occupations) that they need to, want to, or are expected to perform.

For children this means playing, learning, and being part of a family and friendships.

Occupational Therapy can assist your child to develop or strengthen the skills that support learning, playing and relationships at school and at home. Our experienced therapists are specially trained to work with children with additional needs including children with a diagnosis of Learning Difficulties, ADD/ADHD, Aspergers Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Chromosomal Disorders, Dyspraxia or Sensory Processing Disorders.

HoPALoNG offers assessment and intervention at our centres or your child’s school or home. Occupational therapy is most effective when the activities are meaningful. Our therapists provide individualised programs to meet the needs and interests of your child.  We can also order therapeutic equipment to assist your child at school or home.

HoPALoNG runs group programs in the school holidays. We also offer training and consultancy to preschools and schools.

Children are often referred to Occupational Therapy for help with;

Handwriting: The most common reason for referral to OT’s. The amount of class time spent mastering the complex skill of handwriting has decreased whilst the demands of writing have increased! We use FUN, effective ways to teach handwriting using all of the body’s senses.

Prewriting and school readiness: Give your child the best possible start to their schooling. Develop underlying skills to handwriting including drawing, tracing and copying lines as well as using a mature and functional pencil grip.

Attention and concentration:  If a child is easily distracted or fidgety they cannot learn effectively. OT’s guide children to discover their “body engine”, helping them to be calm and alert so they can be focused.

Fine and gross motor skills: Fine motor skills make up 40-60% of the primary school student’s day. Scissors, pencil activities, shoelaces, counters…the list goes on! Supporting fine motor skills and enabling mastery of balls, playground equipment, correct sitting posture are the bodies gross motor muscles. OT’s help children develop the body awareness, strength, coordination and physical endurance they need throughout the day.

Social, Play and emotional skills: to be able to confidently approach other children and adults, establish friendships with others, sharing, taking turns, listens to instructions and able to separate from parents

Self-care skills: removing and putting on jumpers, doing up zips and buttons, able to look after belongings, open lunchboxes, drink bottle and sandwiches

Confidence and motivation for learning: One of the first outcomes of OT is an increase in confidence and motivation to “have a go” at activities which were previously “too hard”.

Visual-spatial learning skills: Being able to use a variety of learning styles helps us to learn easily. Visual-spatial learning is an essential aspect of literacy and numeracy skills. OT’s can help children to process visual information more effectively.

Being organised: “What do I need to do? How am I going to do it? How much time do I have?” OT’s help children to develop the thinking processes and supports they need to enable more independent working.

Sensory processing: Learning requires the meaningful interpretation of information from the environment (vision, hearing, touch, smell and taste) as well as from within the body (movement and internal body awareness). Most of us take this for granted! Sensory processing difficulties can hamper social and academic performance and cause emotional stress. OT’s can help children feel comfortable “in their skin”.

Technology to assist learning: Low-tech devices (pencil grips and angled-writing boards) and high-tech equipment (adapted computers) are increasingly used in schools. OT’s can help you find the right tool for your child, teach them how to use it and help make it work in class.

If your child is experiencing difficulty in any of the above areas or if you have any concerns about your child’s playing, learning or relationships please contact us.

Please call 1800 809 552 to speak to one of our therapists to discuss your concerns and to make an appointment. Once an appointment is booked in, you will be emailed or posted a confirmation kit including confirmation letter, parent and teacher questionnaire, as well as any additional information on rebates or programs you may be interested in.

An assessment is the first opportunity for your Occupational Therapist to meet you and your child. The aim of the assessment session is to collect information about your child’s performance in the areas of concern you have identified.

A typical occupational therapy assessment at HoPALoNG takes up to 90 minutes. During the assessment the therapist will talk to you and engage with your child using play based games. Your child will then be guided through age appropriate activities which will highlight their strengths and any difficulties. Activities include clinical observations, play based activities and standardised assessments which have been developed from best practice and typical child development from around the world.

A written summary report of the results and any recommendations will be provided to you within 2 weeks of the assessment. Following assessments completed at the centre, a 30 minute Parent Interview is included to allow you and your therapist to discuss the results in detail. This allows you the opportunity to ask any questions about the assessment, results or recommendations.

An intervention session is where the Occupational Therapist skilfully guides your child through age appropriate therapeutic activities to enhance your child’s skill level, confidence and eventually their success. Intervention sessions can be conducted at school, home or at one of the HoPALoNG Centres.

An intervention session is typically 45 minutes long.

An assessment or intervention can be completed at your child’s school or preschool. When you speak to a therapist to book in an appointment discuss with them your preference for school based therapy. The therapist will then contact the school to get permission and will schedule a time with your child’s teacher. You will be informed of that time and a confirmation kit will be sent out to you. A teacher can also request a visit for a student or for training. Once permission is gained from the parent and the school, a visit can be booked.

Depending on the location to our centre and our travel policy there may be an additional fee for school based therapy.

Yes. You can order pencil grips, scissors, jumbo pencils, crayons and textas, writing boards, movement cushions and scooter boards. Contact us to discuss your needs and to request an equipment order form.

The cost for HoPALoNG services depend on session type and length and if there is any travel involved. Please contact us to discuss you and your child’s needs.

HoPALoNG therapists are registered with most private health funds and Medicare for you to access a rebate. Different rebates exist with different private health funds so it is best to speak to your fund directly.

Speak to your GP to see if your child is eligible to access rebates through the:

• Primary Enhanced Care Plan
• Medicare Benefits Schedule for Occupational Therapy
• Mental Health Care Plan
  
• Helping Children with Autism Plan
• FaHCSIA
  

HoPALoNG Croydon and Peakhurst operate 6 days a week, Monday through to Saturday. Assessment and intervention times are subject to availability.

HoPALoNG has two centres, one in Peakhurst (34 Pindari Road) and one in Croydon (127 Croydon Road). See maps on our contact page.

As a growing business we are often looking for dynamic and motivated therapists to join our team. Hopalong also offers student placements to university students throughout the year. Please forward you CV and letter of interest to help@hopalong.com.au or call 1800 809 552 and speak with Tahnee.