OT Work

It is about time that I write about my work here- the reason I came in the first place!

I am working at Fremantle Child Development Center, which is a community-based center.  There are three primary facilities where a team of OTs, PTs, Speechies, pediatricians, social workers, dietitians, and clinical psychologists work.  Child Developmental Services is a government-funded agency that serves children with non-specific developmental delays.  Services are free-of-charge for families, however there are extensive waitlists to receive services (4 weeks to a year depending on severity).  Children who have diagnosed disabilities, such as autism or cerebral palsy, receive services through other government-funded agencies.      

The center has 7 OTs; two who work full time and five who work part time.  They serve children age 0 to 16, but generally under age 9.  The children they work with face a variety of concerns including sensory processing disorders, self-regulation difficulties, attention/concentration difficulties, fine motor delays, coordination difficulties, delayed play skills, and visual perceptual difficulties.

My supervisor, Amelda, has worked at the center for over 10 years.  She specializes is early intervention and works with children age 1-4.  This semester we are running multiple groups, attempting to reduce waitlists for therapy.  The groups focus on parent education and involvement with their child’s development.  We are running two pre-kindy groups (age 3-4), a toddler group (age 2-3), a kindy group (age 4-5), and a playgroup with a special education/speech teacher.  We will also have individual sessions that include home and community visits.

I have really enjoyed work so far and am excited to get to know the kids and parents better.  All the therapists are wonderful and I am already learning so much!