The OT Mentor

22/05/2026

I'm super excited about this. I'm looking forward to planning and reflecting on my session the next few months.

Meet the Presenter: Debbie Hopper

Debbie brings over 20 years of experience working across paediatric occupational therapy, supporting children, families and educators to better understand and respond to behaviour.

Her work focuses on helping children with anxiety, sensory processing differences and learning challenges to thrive, with a strong emphasis on making sense of behaviour in a practical, real-world way.

Across her career, Debbie has worked in community paediatrics, private practice, sole clinician roles, and mobile services across homes and schools. She has also led a sensory resources business, managed clinic-based teams, and brings experience across adolescent and adult mental health.

Debbie is also an author of multiple books and an international conference speaker, bringing both clinical depth and practical insight to her work.

At POTCA 2026, Debbie will be facilitating a focussed session and we can’t wait to be apart of it!

19–20 November
Brisbane + Online

www.potca.com.au

You can find Deb here:
Life Skills 4 Kids
https://www.lifeskills4kids.com.au/about-us/debbie-hopper/

16/05/2026

Happy World Dog Day to our unofficial therapy dog Daisy!
Dogs make the world a better place—whether they’re working alongside us as therapy and assistance dogs or simply offering unconditional love at home. 🐶💛
Here’s to all the good boys and girls out there making life brighter

15/05/2026

𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗧𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁.

If you're a paediatric OT feeling overwhelmed, isolated, or just looking for practical support and community, you're not alone. The landscape is changing rapidly, and it’s more important than ever to stay connected and informed.

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 theotmentor.com 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗯 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿—𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗢𝗧, 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗼’𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 ‘𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱' 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘂𝗽?

✅𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: Deb has over 29 years’ experience in mental health and paediatrics, and she understands the daily challenges OTs face.

✅𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴: Whether you're looking to grow your confidence, simplify complex cases, or navigate business hurdles, Deb's practical, down-to-earth approach will help you thrive.

✅𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The Kids OT POD membership offers access to a supportive network of paediatric OTs, regular group supervision, and over 7 years of clinical training on demand.

✅𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘂𝗽-𝘁𝗼-𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: Get the latest on NDIS changes, best practices, and strategies that actually work in real-life settings.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲.
Sign up for the newsletter and be part of a community that understands, supports, and empowers you—no matter where you are in your OT journey.

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15/05/2026

It's so sad to see the local faces of the potential NDIS cuts.

She built a life she loves. Now NDIS cuts could take it all away. https://tinyurl.com/4v4zarn6

14/05/2026

Families come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing remains the same—love and support make all the difference. 💛

On , we celebrate the role families play in a child’s development. Whether it’s helping with therapy exercises, encouraging independence, or simply being there, family support is everything.

Tag a family member who makes a difference in your life! 💙

09/05/2026

Mums play so many roles—teacher, advocate, cheerleader, and often, therapist too! 💖 As paediatric OTs, we see firsthand the love and dedication mums put into supporting their children’s growth.

To all the incredible mothers out there—thank you for all you do. 💐 Happy Mother’s Day!"_

02/05/2026

Laughter is the best therapy! 😆 On , we celebrate the power of joy and play.

In paediatric OT, laughter isn’t just fun—it’s a sign that a child feels safe, engaged, and connected. Whether it’s a silly game, a shared joke, or a moment of pure joy, laughter helps build relationships and confidence.

What’s the last thing that made you laugh out loud?

30/04/2026

Love isn’t just a feeling—it’s in the way we support, encourage, and care for each other. 💛 On , we celebrate kindness, connection, and the small acts that make a big difference.

For the children we work with, love can look like patience, understanding, and celebrating every little win. Let’s spread more of that today! 💕

What’s one small act of kindness you’ve seen (or done) recently?"

30/04/2026

OTs, If you had 5 mins with me, What would you ask me?

28/04/2026

Guide dogs aren’t just companions—they’re life-changers. 🦮 On , we celebrate the incredible dogs who provide independence, confidence, and support to people with vision impairment and additional needs.

As paediatric OTs, we see how important accessibility and inclusion are in daily life. Guide dogs (and other assistance dogs) help bridge those gaps in the most beautiful way. 💛

Let’s hear it for these amazing four-legged heroes! Tag someone who loves or works with guide dogs. 🐕