Sally McNamara- Occupational Therapist for Kids

02/10/2024

https://www.instagram.com/p/DAm7PVVvsuw/?igsh=MTBjczFjNTl0cGZnbQ==

11/10/2023

https://www.facebook.com/100064083573665/posts/705707431575370/

NEW OT AT SMLkids!

Hi, everyone!

Sally here, from SMLkids 👋

I am very excited to announce that a new OT will be joining SMLkids, Ashleigh Nightingale!

Ashleigh is a local to the Alpine Shire and has recently made the transition from adult occupational therapy to paediatric occupational therapy.

Ashleigh will be offering motor skill-based occupational therapy services to children and teenagers in the Alpine Shire region who have NDIS funding (either plan managed or self-managed).

Motor skills include things like balance, eye-hand coordination, crossing the midline, strength, and controlled use of the hands and fingers. Activities like throwing and catching a ball, hopping, climbing, skipping, bike-riding, manipulating small objects, using scissors, drawing and handwriting all require a range of different motor skills.

If your child has any motor skill goals as part of their NDIS funding, and is funded for occupational therapy, please don’t hesitate to contact me at SMLkids if you are interested in enquiring about occupational therapy with Ashleigh. Limited places are available.

Phone/text: 0422 584 776
Email: info@smlkids.com.au

Sally McNamara
Director and paediatric occupational therapist

Note: Mobile services only (e.g. provided in a community or educational setting)

07/08/2023

https://www.facebook.com/100064083573665/posts/670000158479431/?mibextid=cr9u03

IMPORTANT NOTICE: For those of you who are not aware, I have been experiencing some physical health problems over the past 6 months. As a consequence, it became too difficult to continue my clinic-based sessions and I made the decision to close the SMLkids clinic a few months ago. I am no longer taking new clients, however will continue with a smaller amount of mobile therapy services for exisiting clients.

I am still available for professional development and playground/sensory garden design consultation.

I apologise for the inconvenience that this may cause and want to thank everyone who has been understanding and supportive.

Sally 🌼

27/02/2023

Do you want to know more about how to support pencil control and handwriting in a child, or children that you know?

‘Supporting pencil control and handwriting’ is a 90-minute, pre-recorded short course for parents and professionals. Presented by Sally McNamara, a paediatric occupational therapist with over 16 years experience, this course covers the following topics:

* Developmental stages of pencil control and handwriting

* Indications of poor pencil control and handwriting

* Dysgraphia, dyslexia and dyscalculia and how they relate to handwriting difficulties

* Why pencil control and handwriting are still so important in the 21st century

* OT recommendations to support improvements in handwriting and pencil control

* Compensatory strategies for people with handwriting difficulties

The course is only $69 for the first viewer, plus $15 for each additional viewer (viewing at the same time).

Please note that SMLkids also has two other courses available: ‘Understanding and supporting motor development’ ($79 + $20) and ‘Understanding sensory processing and supporting sensory regulation’ ($49 + $10)

Please email sally at info@smlkids.com.au if you have any questions, or would like to enrol in any course 🙂

09/01/2023

Online pre-recorded short courses for parents and professionals!

If you’re interested in learning more about sensory processing or motor development then SMLkids has the short courses for you.

“Understanding sensory processing and supporting sensory regulation” is a 70-minute re-recorded short course that costs $49 to view (plus $10 for any additional viewer). There are two versions of this course; one for parents and one for professionals.

“Understanding and supporting motor development in children” is a 110-minute pre-recorded short course that costs $79 to view (plus $20 for each additional viewer).

A new course, “Supporting pencil control and handwriting” will be released very soon, so keep your eyes peeled or contact SMLkids to me notified when it is available.

All courses have been created and recorded by Sally McNamara- paediatric occupational therapist.

Contact Sally at info@smlkids.com.au to register for a course, or for general enquiries 🙂

Note: NDIS may cover the cost of the courses for parents of children with NDIS funding, so please contact your support coordinator if this may apply to you.

28/08/2022

https://fb.watch/fbB3XNczdX/

12/08/2022

Do you know a child who has difficulty learning new motor skills? Maybe they find gross or fine motor activities more difficult than their peers? If you're a parent, care-giver, educator or health professional who wants to know more about motor development and how to support motor skills, then this is the course for you!

SMLkids provides paediatric occupational therapy for children aged 0-18 years in Myrtleford and via a mobile service available in the surrounding towns.

11/08/2022

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChG36pog5kc/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

SMLkids shared a post on Instagram: "🍃This is why nature-based play is so good for kids 🍃 I was watching my son from the kitchen window as he played outside recently and just had to take a video. Yes, he is hammering in a large, thick nail- which is risky. Yes, he even slipped a little and hur...

09/05/2022

NEW SMLKIDS ONLINE SHORT COURSE: “UNDERSTANDING SENSORY PROCESSING AND SUPPORTING SENSORY REGULATION”

In response to ongoing demand, I am very excited to be able to offer a new pre-recorded short course: “Understanding sensory processing and supporting sensory regulation”. Two versions of the course are available; one for professionals (educators, health professionals etc) and one for parents and care-givers.

The 70-minute course focuses on:
• The 8 senses
• Commonly used sensory terms and concepts (including sensory processing, sensory regulation, sensory modulation, habituation, sensory discrimination and sensory defensiveness)
• The connection between sensory processing, development and learning
• Sensory processing differences
• Whether Sensory Processing Disorder is a recognised diagnosis
• Different sensory presentations
• How to support sensory needs, sensory regulation and positive behaviours
• The role of the occupational therapist (OT)
• Helpful resources for supporting sensory regulation

The introductory cost of the course is just $49 for individuals. Partners or groups of people wishing to view the course at the same time only need to pay $49 for the first person, plus $10 for any additional person. Viewing the course separately will require individual payments. Some parents/care-givers may be able to use their child’s NDIS funds to cover the cost of the course, however this will depend on the child’s individual plan (please consult with NDIS before enrolling in the course).

For those who are interested, please email Sally at info@smlkids.com.au and state the course you would like to view. The code for ‘Professionals’ is ‘SPP’, while the code for ‘Parents/Caregivers’ is ‘SPC’. Please ensure that you clearly state the number of people who will be viewing the course at the same time. An invoice will then be sent for payment and once payment has been made, the link will be provided to view the course. This link is then valid for 7 days only (but can be extended in certain circumstances).

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Keep an eye out for more courses in upcoming weeks!

Sally McNamara (Lewis)
Occupational Therapist
SMLkids

27/08/2021