Small boutique Occupational Therapy Practice based in Upwey, Victoria founded by independent therapist, Tara Caldarola. All therapy services are provided using an outreach model, which means providing therapy in the child or young person’s home, school or kindergarten environment. Support in the development of each child's skills in the following areas:- Self-regulation: the ability to regulate emotional responses to day-to-day challenges- Anxiety management- Self-esteem and confidence- Social skills- Motor skill development- Self-care tasks: dressing, eating, getting ready for school, etc.- Self-organisation and time management.

Susanne Nelson and Associates (SNAA) is an Occupational Therapy service for children aged 2-16 years of age. SNAA provides therapy for children either in their family home, their kindergarten or school setting. SNAA Occupational Therapists are trained to treat children holistically, addressing their cognitive, emotional and physical needs through functional, interest, meaningful and activity based treatment. They are also focused on assessing the child’s environment to ascertain whatmodifications are needed to better support participation. Occupational Therapy can help children to develop the skills needed to:- Play with toys / activities / other children appropriately- Regulate their activity / attention / emotional levels- Become more independent in their self care skills- Feel confident, safe and happy in their environments- Reach their full potential in their developmentSNAA utilises a “family centred practice” framework, and incorporates their interests of cognitive behavioural/affective training, anxiety management, social skills and sensory modulation when working with children and their families.

Northern School for Autism (NSA) is a specialist school for children with ASD located in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. The school is committed to the implementation of best practice in teaching and learning for students with ASD. The community of NSA believes that to succeed in the world, students need to develop the capacity to: Manage themselves as individuals, and in relation to others; Understand the world in which they live; Act effectively in that world; and make a positive contribution to their world. NSA implements a structured teaching approach that is informed by current research and evidence based practice (TEACCH ™). The educational programs build on students’ strengths and skills, within a supportive environment, that accommodates the particular impairments associated with ASD in particular: communication, executive functioning, self-regulation, sensory needs, repetitive behaviour, restricted interests and imagination, and inter-personal/social skills.NSA caters for students aged 5 - 19, split across two campuses. The majority of my time at NSA was spent at the senior campus located in Lalor, for students aged 11 - 19. My caseload consisted of the whole campus as I was the sole Occupational Therapist at that time. This was around 40 students. All students had a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, and other commonly co-occurring diagnoses were: ADHD, Anxiety disorders, OCD, Global developmental delay and Intellectual Disabilities (ranging from mild to severe). The campus at Lalor serviced a diverse cultural and socio-economic area within Melbourne, and this meant cultural-sensitive practice was imperative to the inclusion of all students and their families within the community.

Sunshine Adult Acute Psychiatric Unit (SAAPU) is part of North Western Mental Health under the umbrella of Melbourne Health. Melbourne Health is one of Australia’s leading public healthcare providers. SAAPU provides inpatient services for adults with diagnoses such as: schizophrenia, first episode psychosis, bipolar disorder, severe personality disorder, severe depression or anxiety disorder. The role included:• Completing individual assessments of the activities of daily living in the acute hospital unit, home and community environments.• Conducting anxiety management, psychoeducation, living skills and leisure sessions both individually and in group sessions on the inpatient ward.•Creating and implementing a sensory modulation program, as part of a multidisciplinary team in the newly opened intensive care area, with a particular focus on assisting consumers / patients to self-regulate their sensory preferences in a low stimulus environment.• Significantly increased the number and range of therapeutic groups that were run on the ward each week, whilst independently implementing the group therapy program.• Working in a collaborative team environment, extending my occupational therapy role where necessary to ensure that the team functioned well.• Supervising and mentoring of a final year occupational therapy student for an eight week professional placement.• Engaging in the graduate professional development training program, including additional CPD: Sensory Modulation and Trauma Informed Care run by Tina Champagne, through Occupational Therapy Australia; and formal assessment training of the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile Training with Pearson Education.