Understand what's getting in the way at school.
Sometimes the best place to work that out is at school.
School-based occupational therapy across Melbourne's eastern suburbs, working with students, teachers and the environment around them — not just the student in isolation.
Start with what you're noticing.
You don't need to know whether something is an OT issue before getting in touch.
The starting point can simply be: “Something isn't working here. Can you help us understand why?”
I can observe what's happening where the difficulty occurs, work directly with the student where useful, and collaborate with teachers and wellbeing staff on practical changes that can actually be used during the school day.
Sometimes the student isn't the only thing that needs to change.
Individual intervention can be useful. But sometimes the better question is what can change around the student.
That might mean changing a task, routine, classroom expectation, prompt, environment or the way support is provided.
OT that fits around school — rather than creating another program for schools to manage.
OBSERVE
See what's actually happening in the classroom, playground or other relevant environment.
WORK DIRECTLY
Individual or small-group sessions when direct intervention is useful.
COLLABORATE
Problem-solve with teachers, wellbeing staff and the people already supporting the student.
PUT IT BACK INTO EVERYDAY SCHOOL LIFE
Turn what we learn into strategies, supports and opportunities that can actually be used when I'm not there.
The aim isn't to create dependence on the therapist. It's to leave the student and the people around them with something useful.
One therapist. Multiple students. One block of time.
A block of time can be used flexibly — observing one student, working directly with another, running a small group, or consulting with teachers about what could help.
The school gets access to OT where it's most useful, rather than every student having to fit the same therapy model.
Have something bigger in mind?
Not every useful piece of OT work fits neatly into an individual therapy session.
Authentic Me can also work with schools on broader projects around participation, accessibility and making support work better in everyday school life.
If there's a problem you're trying to solve, tell me about it.
School-funded or individually funded?
School-funded: A school can engage Authentic Me directly for a regular OT block or other agreed work.
Individually funded: A parent or participant can arrange occupational therapy at school during the school day, subject to school agreement.