What are the opening hours?

Tuesday 8am - 4pm Wednesday 8am - 4pm Thursday 8am - 4pm Friday 8am - 4pm Saturday 9am - 4pm

Therapeak Performance

Home
Australia
Melbourne, VIC
Therapeak Performance

We offer innovative occupational therapy integrating sports, exercises, movement, strength, and conditioning.

"To empower individuals from all walks of life to actively engage in their communities, fostering meaningful relationships and inspiring others through inclusive participation and collaboration." Our approach focuses on enhancing gross and fine motor skills, sensory integration, body awareness, socio-behavioural skills, and cognitive abilities. Through active engagement in sports, exercise, and physical activities, we empower clients to foster meaningful relationships and improve their quality of life. Our goal is to support holistic development, enabling individuals to thrive and actively participate in their communities.

30/11/2025

Today’s session featured a fun little obstacle course using a scooter board, cones and a ball. The child worked on upper body strength, core stability and coordination while moving through the course, which all play an important role in preparing for fine motor tasks like writing, cutting and using both hands together.

Scooter board activities are supported in paediatric therapy because they build postural control, shoulder stability and body awareness. These areas form the foundation for later fine motor development. Adding a ball-shooting challenge brought in quick decision making, visual tracking, hand eye coordination and a bit of healthy competitiveness while the OT caught each ball.

A simple setup with a lot of therapeutic value and plenty of fun.

24/11/2025

Today’s session was all about choice, confidence and sensory exploration. Before we started, we explored what recipe the child wanted to learn and the child chose cucumber and avocado sushi. Since the family prefers rice paper over nori, we made a half and half batch: some rolls with nori and some with rice paper. The rice paper version was definitely more challenging, but the child’s motivation and autonomy made all the difference.

This activity opened up so many opportunities to build skills. The child explored a range of textures like sticky sushi rice, mushy avocado and crunchy cucumber, which supported sensory processing. At the same time the child worked on problem solving, emotional regulation, impulse control, decision making, planning, organising, prioritising and multitasking.

To support the child’s success, we have prepared a visual recipe with simplified steps so the child could follow along at their own pace.

Such a fun, meaningful way to build everyday independence through cooking.

16/11/2025

Today’s session was packed with hands-on learning. We made our funnel completely from scratch. You’ll see in the video that the child drew a circle, cut along the line, taped it together and created the final funnel. Each step supported fine motor skills, bilateral coordination, problem solving and creativity.

Along the way, he asked for help when things got tricky. This was a great moment to support expressive communication and confidence in seeking assistance when needed.

We then used the funnel with a straw to blow a fluffy ball, which also helped us explore energy levels, breath control and body awareness. Turning it into a game added teamwork, turn taking, resilience, following instructions and social interaction.

Simple activity, big functional gains.

22/10/2025

🎥 Day 1: Yesterday at Therapeak I attended training on the Allen Cognitive Level Screen (ACLS‑6) (6th Edition) conducted by Loren Pordage. This version introduces updated tasks and reflects the ongoing evolution of assessment in the Cognitive Disability Model (CDM) originally developed by Claudia K. Allen.

Claudia Allen described cognition as a person’s global ability to function, “everything the person says and does, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.” In other words, cognition isn’t just memory or thinking, it’s how we process information, attend, respond, and act in daily life. According to her model, critical components include:

• Aroused attention (are we alert and responsive?)
• Sustained attention (can we keep focus over time?)
• Information-processing speed (how quickly do we take in, interpret and act?)

This training has been a meaningful investment (yes, the ACLS-6 requires 12 months of preparation!) and I’m excited about applying it at Therapeak. By using this tool, we strengthen our capacity to evaluate and tailor interventions for clients whose cognitive processing, sensorimotor function or functional cognition may be challenged. The goal? To support real-life participation, independence and safe engagement in meaningful activities.

Thanks to Loren Pordage and the ACLS-6 training team for this opportunity 🚀

16/10/2025

☀️ A beautiful sunny day for an Assistive Technology trial!

Today’s OT session was held at Freedom Solutions in Coburg North, where we trialled a disability-adapted e-trike 🚴‍♂️. The showroom provides a safe and spacious environment for clients to trial mobility equipment before using it in the community.

We used the Powered Mobility Device Assessment and Training Tool (PoMoDATT) to guide the session — adapting it for the e-trike to ensure it can be used safely and effectively in community settings.

Before the trial, we assessed range of motion (ROM) of the head and neck, upper and lower extremities, as well as posture and trunk control to ensure the client could maintain stability, visibility, and comfort while riding.

The trial included:
✅ Driving in a straight line and figure 8
✅ Riding on a quiet industrial road
✅ Going uphill and downhill
✅ Testing brakes and control
✅ Practising awareness, reaction time, and responding safely to cars and the environment

This approach helps ensure the e-trike is the right fit for the client’s physical abilities and promotes safe, confident, and independent participation in the community 🌟

13/10/2025

🔧 Assistive Technology = Independence 🖥️

Assistive technology (AT) includes tools that help people participate in everyday life. It can be something simple, like a pencil grip or visual timer, or more advanced, like communication devices and mobility aids.

💡 Example: A child who struggles to write may use a tablet with voice-to-text to complete schoolwork. This gives them the chance to learn and show their ideas without being limited by handwriting difficulties.

The right AT is chosen based on the person’s goals—not just their diagnosis. It’s about finding tools that empower independence, confidence, and participation. 🌟

06/10/2025

🏃‍♀️ The Power of Movement 🏃‍♂️

Movement is more than exercise—it fuels brain development, focus, and emotional regulation. For kids, moving their bodies helps them learn, explore, and build independence.

💡 Example: A child who struggles to concentrate on homework may benefit from 10 minutes of jumping, stretching, or climbing before sitting down. Movement “wakes up” the brain and prepares it for learning.

Encouraging daily movement—whether through play, sports, or simple activities like walking the dog—helps children grow stronger, more focused, and more confident. 🌟

02/10/2025

🎲 Play is Therapy🎨

Play isn’t just fun—it’s how children learn, grow, and make sense of the world. Through play, kids develop problem-solving, social skills, motor coordination, and creativity. It’s their natural way of practising for real life.

💡 Example: Building with blocks isn’t just about stacking—it teaches planning, patience, hand-eye coordination, and even teamwork when playing with friends.

Supporting children’s development through play helps build confidence, independence, and a love of learning. 🌟

25/09/2025

🌈 Sensory Processing & Child Development 🌈

Sensory processing is how the brain organises and responds to information from the senses—touch, sound, movement, sight, taste, and smell. For children, this system helps them explore, learn, and feel safe in their environment.

When sensory processing is challenging, children may react strongly (covering ears at loud noises) or seek extra input (constantly moving or touching everything).

💡 Example: A child who avoids messy play like paint may first enjoy exploring dry textures like rice or beans before moving to wetter textures. This step-by-step approach helps build comfort and confidence.

Supporting sensory needs is key to helping children regulate emotions, focus, and fully participate in everyday activities. 🌟

18/09/2025

✨ Executive Functioning & Child Development ✨

Executive functioning is like the brain’s “manager.” It helps children plan, organise, remember, and control their actions. These skills are crucial for learning, problem-solving, and handling emotions.

When executive functioning is still developing, kids might struggle with things like following multi-step instructions, finishing homework, or staying focused.

💡 Example: Using a visual checklist at home can help a child break down tasks like “get dressed → pack bag → put on shoes,” making mornings smoother and building independence.

Supporting executive functioning early sets the foundation for success in school and everyday life. 🌱

11/09/2025

Who knew a little paper frog 🐸 could help build so many important skills?

In this OT session, origami was used to support a 7-year-old’s development. Folding paper into a frog might seem simple, but it’s actually a complex task that challenges:

✅ Problem solving and analysing steps
✅ Following instructions and directionality (left, right, up, down)
✅ Turning and folding shapes in sequence
✅ Visual-motor integration (hand–eye coordination)
✅ Fine motor skills and finger manipulation
✅ Attention, focus, and persistence

Activities like origami encourage children to slow down, plan, and practice resilience when steps get tricky. Beyond making a fun frog that “jumps,” this activity builds the foundations for everyday skills like writing, using tools, organising schoolwork, and being independent in daily tasks.

Small challenges in play can lead to big growth in life 🌟.

02/09/2025

💡 Efficient Bed Transfers for Lower Back Pain

In this video, Adam from RehabHire (Assistive Technology Specialist) demonstrates safe and efficient ways to get in and out of bed when living with lower back pain.

👉 Getting out of bed:

1. Raise the backrest close to upright
2. Swivel towards the edge of the bed
3. Adjust the height if the bed is too far from the floor
4. Tilt the leg section down to bring legs closer to the ground
5. Swing legs over the side, using the backrest for stability and support

👉 Getting into bed:

1. Adjust the bed height to make sitting easier
2. Sit down safely with support
3. Reverse the steps to move back into bed

✅ Benefits: Learning these strategies helps reduce strain on the lower back, improve safety during transfers, and increase independence with daily routines. With the right assistive technology and techniques, clients can protect their body, manage pain better, and feel more confident at home.

Address

Greater Melbourne
Melbourne, VIC
3000

Opening Hours

Tuesday	8am - 4pm
Wednesday	8am - 4pm
Thursday	8am - 4pm
Friday	8am - 4pm
Saturday	9am - 4pm

Telephone

+61479056229

Website

http://therapeakperformance.com.au/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Therapeak Performance posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Therapeak Performance:

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Melbourne?