Occupational therapy focuses on helping children develop the skills needed to participate fully in their everyday activities. In the preschool context, Novita's occupational therapists work with children to build skills in areas of fine motor skills, coordination, self-care, sensory processing, and social interaction. Occupational therapists primarily work within the physical health and wellbeing domain by improving gross and fine motor skills, such as using scissors, holding a pencil, and dressing independently. They also focus on the social competence and emotional maturity domains, helping children regulate their emotions, navigate social interactions, and develop the self-confidence needed for school readiness. For more information on this support, please visit https://www.novita.org.au

Expected outcomes for this support are:

• Improvements in child’s motor skills, sensory processing, emotional regulation, self-care, social skills, academic performance and independence in daily tasks.
• Enhanced educator ability to implement strategies to support communication and articulation.
• Enhanced abilities of family members to implement strategies that support communication practices at home.

Through group activities and whole of environment support, occupational therapists address sensory processing challenges and work on skills like self-regulation, attention, and functional tasks (like feeding, dressing). By collaborating with parents and educators, Novita's occupational therapists will collaborate with you and families to provide relevant strategies to support development in daily activities, laying a foundation for children to thrive in academic and social environments. These sessions are available online or in-person.

This support is delivered for $214.90 per hour for an occupational therapist. If travel is required, it will be charged at $214.90 per hour. A discounted rate may apply for half and full day services. Regional and remote location will incur a price loading rate on top of the above rates.