Jacqui Barfoot Professional Development

13/07/2025

How do we support strong developmental outcomes and nurture parent confidence in early childhood intervention?

Research tells us that supporting an attuned parent-child relationship is one of the most powerful levers we have. But the busyness of everyday practice, and the pressures we often experience, can make this feel hard to focus on in sessions.

At the recent Occupational Therapy Australia National Conference, I had so many energising conversations with clinicians about how to embed a relational focus in everyday therapy - even in shorter term supports, with complex families, and within system constraints.

If you’re a practitioner looking for practical, evidence-informed ways to do just that, I’d love you to join me for Connect Play Learn this November.

🗓 Brisbane: 6 and 7 November 2025
📍 Face-to-face training | Victoria Park Golf Course

🗓 Adelaide: 13 and14 November 2025
📍 Face-to-face training | Glenelg Surf Club

🎯 Tools, reflection, and strategies to strengthen parent–child interactions
🌱 Based on the PAIR Model and current implementation research
🔗 Learn more or register: jacquibarfoot.com/training

Spots are limited for both locations.

01/07/2025

🌱 Connect Play Learn – Upcoming Training Opportunities! 🌱

I’ve got a few different opportunities coming to join me for Connect Play Learn: a 2-day, evidence-based training grounded in relational practice and the PAIR Model. It's ideal for those working with young children with developmental difficulties and their families, who want to strengthen parent-child interactions as part of their everyday practice.

📍 Upcoming Dates and Locations:
🔹 30–31 October – Sydney in partnership with OT Australia (face to face)
🔹 6–7 November – Brisbane (in-person)
🔹 13–14 November – Adelaide (in-person)
🔹 20–21 November – Live Online (open to everyone)

👩‍🏫 What’s covered:
• Practical strategies to embed a relational focus in everyday sessions
• Tools to support parent-child interaction and mutual competence
• Reflective case discussions and real-life application
• Evidence and theory behind the PAIR Model

If you'd like more info or to register jacquibarfoot.com/training or email jacqui.barfoot@gmail.com

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30/06/2025

Last week was huge!
I had the absolute pleasure of presenting two sessions at the Occupational Therapy Australia National Conference:

🟡 An oral presentation on an exploratory study with the Benevolent Society, where we tested goal attainment following training and implementation of the PAIR Model.

🟡 A workshop with Sheridan Prior on supporting parents to strengthen young children’s emotional regulation.

I had so many rich conversations about both topics, and loved the chance to connect with other clinicians and researchers doing incredible work.

Thank you OTA for the opportunity to present, collaborate, and learn. And how exciting that the OT Exchange Conference is coming to Brisbane next year!

29/06/2025

Huge thank you to Ivy for helping me on my Connect Play Learn Stall at the National OT Conference in Adelaide!

29/06/2025

A huge thank you to Ivy for being the ultimate sidekick at the National Occupational Therapy Australia Conference in Adelaide this week!

Ivy spent three full days helping me at my Connect Play Learn stall. Her enthusiasm, initiative, and eye for detail were invaluable.

It was such a joy to share this experience with her, and I’m so grateful for the energy and perspective she brought. Watch this space, I have a feeling this won’t be her last conference!

Thank you Laine Chilman for letting me have your daughter's wonderful company and keen advice!

29/06/2025

29/06/2025

Exciting to see my feature article in the Winter edition of OTA Connections Magazine!

Mutual Competence in Occupational Therapy: Power, partnership and parallel process

In this article, I reflect on how we can build authentic partnerships with people we work with, where strengths are recognised on both sides.

This piece draws from my clinical practice and research. I hope it sparks deeper conversations about what it means to work relationally in early childhood.

Big thanks Occupational Therapy Australia for the opportunity to contribute. I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve had a chance to read it!

17/06/2025

Check out my feature article in the Winter Edition of the OTA Connections Magazine! Would love to hear your thoughts! 😀

(It's a bit hard to read as a screen shot! Apologies for that!)

10/06/2025

🚨 Upcoming Connect Play Learn Trainings - Choose the Format That Works for You!

I’m excited to be offering multiple live training opportunities for Connect Play Learn - a practical, evidence-informed program that helps allied health professionals embed relational approaches in early intervention using the PAIR Model.

Here’s what’s coming up:

💻 LIVE Online – July 23 and 24
Limited spots remaining – early bird closes 16 May!

📍 LIVE in Brisbane – 6 & 7 November
2-day face-to-face training with full workbook and resource access

💻 LIVE Online – November 20 and 21
Interactive, small group format with optional reflective supervision

📍 LIVE in Sydney – 30 & 31 October (via OTA)
Book directly through OT Australia

📍 Adelaide & second Melbourne training – coming soon!

🖱️ More info or register: jacquibarfoot.com/training/

Let’s strengthen connection, co-regulation, and developmental outcomes, through relational practice that truly supports children and their families.

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02/06/2025

Calling all therapists working with families of neurodiverse children...

Do you know a parent of a child aged 0-10 years with developmental difficulties who could benefit from support in their parenting?

We're currently recruiting for PACT Online - a parent support program. This is a research opportunity: families participate at no cost, and their feedback helps us improve supports for parents raising a child with developmental difficulties.

As part of the research team, I have the privilege of working directly with families participating in this program. PACT Online offers:
✔️ Practical strategies for everyday life
✔️ A space to reflect, connect, and feel supported
✔️ Flexibility through online access and telehealth sessions

25/05/2025

What does a truly relational approach look like in everyday sessions?

In the Connect Play Learn training, I'll share ways of:

✅ Supporting both the child and their parent in a therapy session

✅ Building play skills, co-regulation and connection

✅ Staying aligned with national best practice guidelines

Join me for this live online — early bird now open!

🔗 Find out more or register: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1393704

Happy to answer any questions! 😊

11/05/2025

🌐 Now Available: Live Online Training – Connect Play Learn 🌐

I'm excited to offer a new live online option for Connect Play Learn: a practical, evidence-informed training in relational early intervention, now accessible from anywhere.

This small-group format (capped at 15 participants) is designed for allied health professionals who want to strengthen parent-child connection and use the PAIR Model to guide responsive, meaningful practice.

🧠 Learn how to:
✔ Actively engage parents in sessions
✔ Support co-regulation, connection, and shared joy
✔ Use the PAIR Model to guide clinical reasoning
✔ Apply relational principles flexibly across settings

📅 Early bird registrations are open until June 30th 2025.

Spots are limited, so don’t miss your chance to join us.