Bunbury Occupational Therapy
Bunbury Occupational Therapy
is now...
We assess and treat children 4 - 18 years in the following areas: sensory processing
Sensory Processing and Modulation Difficulties
Fine Motor and Eye-Hand Coordination Skills
What It Is Fine motor skills involve the small, precise movements of the hands and fingers used for tasks like drawing, buttoning, cutting, and using tools. Eye-hand coordination is the ability to guide hand movements based on what the eyes see — like threading a bead, catching a ball, or placing a puzzle piece. Why It Matters When fine motor and eye-hand coordination are weak, children may avoid activities that involve writing, craft, or self-care. They might hold tools awkwardly, tire quickly, or become frustrated by tasks that others seem to manage easily. How I Help as an OT I assess the many building blocks behind hand function — including strength, endurance, finger control, and coordination — and identify what’s holding your child back. In telehealth OT, I coach families through fun, purposeful activities that develop these skills using everyday objects at home. The goal is to build confident, capable hands that can take on daily challenges with ease.
Posture and Endurance
What It Is Postural control is a child’s ability to hold their body upright and steady, whether sitting at a desk, climbing on equipment, or standing in line. Endurance is their ability to maintain that posture or activity over time without tiring or losing focus. Why It Matters Poor posture and low endurance can make it hard for children to sit still, concentrate, or keep up with peers. They may slump at the table, lean on their hands, or need frequent movement breaks just to stay engaged — especially during school tasks or group activities. How I Help as an OT I assess the underlying systems that support posture and stamina, including core strength, balance, and sensory input from the body and movement systems. In telehealth OT, I coach families through simple, practical movement routines that can be done at home to boost postural strength and physical resilience — so children can participate more fully in both learning and play.
Gross Motor and Coordination Skills
Self-regulation
Special interest:
Ayres Sensory Integration
Executive functioning
What It Is Gross motor skills are the bigger movements children use to sit upright, walk, run, climb, and balance. These movements rely on coordination between the core, limbs, and sensory systems, and are essential for physical confidence and stamina. Why It Matters Children with weak gross motor skills may struggle with posture, fatigue easily, trip often, or avoid playground and sports activities. Over time, this can affect self-esteem, classroom participation, and even fine motor control. How I Help as an OT I look at how your child moves, balances, and coordinates their body, including how they use both sides together and how well they control movement sequences. In telehealth OT, I guide families through dynamic, play-based activities that build strength, balance, endurance, and motor planning — all tailored to your home environment. The result is improved coordination, confidence, and readiness for learning and play.
What It Is Self-regulation is a child’s ability to manage their emotions, energy, and behaviour in response to what’s happening around them. It includes staying calm when upset, switching gears between activities, and handling big feelings without becoming overwhelmed. Why It Matters When self-regulation is hard, children may seem constantly “on edge,” shut down quickly, or move from calm to meltdown without warning. This affects friendships, learning, play, and everyday routines — and can leave both the child and their family feeling exhausted. How I Help as an OT In occupational therapy, I help identify the underlying causes behind regulation struggles — whether it’s sensory overload, body awareness difficulties, or challenges with emotional control. Through engaging, telehealth-based sessions, I support children and coach parents with practical, sensory-informed strategies that help build lasting regulation skills across real-life situations at home, school, or in the community.
What It Is Executive functioning is a set of brain-based skills that help children plan, organise, remember, shift attention, and manage time and emotions. These skills act like the brain’s “manager,” helping kids complete tasks, follow routines, and handle everyday challenges. Why It Matters When executive functioning is underdeveloped, children may forget instructions, lose belongings, become easily overwhelmed, or struggle to get started on tasks. These difficulties often affect school performance, independence, and emotional well-being. How I Help as an OT I work with families to uncover how executive skill challenges are showing up in daily life. Through telehealth OT, I guide children and parents in building practical strategies — like setting up simple routines, using visual supports, or breaking tasks into manageable steps — all tailored to your home and lifestyle. The goal is to boost independence, reduce frustration, and support success across school and home life.
What It Is Ayres Sensory Integration® is a framework that looks at how the brain receives, organises, and uses sensory information from the body and the environment to support learning, movement, and behaviour. It’s named after Dr. A. Jean Ayres, the pioneering occupational therapist and neuroscientist who discovered that when sensory signals don’t get organised properly, it can affect every part of a child’s life — from motor skills and emotional responses to attention and social success. A key part of this framework is motor planning, also known as praxis — the ability to think of an idea, plan out how to do it, and carry it through with the body. It’s what allows a child to figure out how to climb a new structure, get dressed in a hurry, or learn a new sport. When motor planning is difficult, children may seem clumsy, avoid challenges, or freeze when unsure of what to do next. Why It Matters When a child’s sensory systems aren’t working smoothly together — especially touch, body awareness, and movement — everyday tasks can feel confusing, overwhelming, or frustrating. They might bump into things, misjudge force, struggle to get started on tasks, or have trouble adapting their body to new situations. These children are often bright and capable but feel “stuck” in how they move or respond. How I Help as an OT As an occupational therapist trained in sensory integration principles, I assess how your child’s sensory systems work together — including how their brain plans and organises movement. I then use fun, movement-rich telehealth activities that build those foundational connections. Whether it’s jumping, crashing, climbing, or problem-solving with the body, I guide parents in using everyday play to develop better motor planning, sensory organisation, and adaptive responses — all right where the challenges show up most: at home.
Visual Perception
What It Is Visual perception is how the brain interprets and makes sense of what the eyes see — especially two-dimensional information like shapes, letters, numbers, and symbols. It helps us recognise patterns, compare objects, and understand how things fit together on a page or in space. Why It Matters If a child has difficulty with visual perception, they may confuse letters like b and d, reverse numbers, struggle with puzzles, or have a hard time copying from the board. These challenges can make schoolwork frustrating and impact both confidence and learning progress. How I Help as an OT As an occupational therapist, I assess how your child’s brain processes visual information and how this affects their ability to complete age-appropriate tasks. In telehealth sessions, I guide playful, targeted activities that strengthen visual discrimination, spatial understanding, and pattern recognition — all essential for confident reading, writing, and everyday problem-solving.
Special interest:
Handwriting
What It Is Handwriting is a highly complex skill that draws on fine motor control, visual perception, body awareness, motor planning, and attention. It’s more than just putting letters on a page — it’s a full-body task involving both the brain and the body working together. Why It Matters (Even in a Digital Age) Even though children use devices more than ever, handwriting remains essential. It strengthens memory, supports reading development, and builds neural pathways for learning. Children are still expected to write fluently in class, complete timed tasks, and express ideas clearly on paper — especially during exams. When handwriting is effortful or illegible, it can limit a child’s ability to show what they know, even if they understand the content. In some cases, this may be due to motor dysgraphia — a neurological handwriting disorder that affects how letters are physically produced, even when the child’s thinking and ideas are strong. How I Help as an OT I look beneath the surface to understand why handwriting is difficult — whether it’s posture, pencil grip, pressure control, spacing, or visual processing. In telehealth OT, I tailor support to your child’s needs and use fun, skill-building activities that improve writing endurance, clarity, and confidence — all in your child’s natural learning environment.
What It Is Sensory processing is the brain’s ability to take in information from the body and environment — things like sounds, touch, movement, or even gravity — and make sense of it. Sensory modulation is how the brain filters and regulates that input so children can stay calm, alert, and responsive. Why It Matters When sensory processing isn’t working well, a child may overreact or underreact to everyday things — like clothing tags, noise in the classroom, or someone brushing past them. This can make it hard to focus, follow routines, manage emotions, or feel comfortable in their own body. How I Help as an OT As an occupational therapist, I work to understand how your child’s nervous system responds to sensory input. I use sensory integration-informed strategies to help them feel more organised, regulated, and in control of their body. Through playful, purposeful telehealth sessions, I guide parents and children to build routines and responses that support calm, focused behaviour at home, school, and in the community.