DOT WA Inc.

14/08/2025

📣Professional Development Alert - Culturally Safe Practices Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and their Families: Learnings from the Bullwinkel Scholarship Aboriginal Child Development Trip
Date: 2nd September 2025
Time: 6:30pm

We are very excited to announce that Mel Robinson, Director Aboriginal Health Strategy, Child and Adolescent Health Service, will be presenting to the DOT(WA) community.
Mel is the recipient of the inaugural Lt Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel Scholarship from the Australian College of Nursing. As part of her scholarship funding she has travelled to Winnepeg, Canada, Sydney and Melbourne to expand her knowledge around Aboriginal child development and best practice to overcome disparity in inequity in child health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in WA.
Her presentation provides an overview of the key lessons she has learnt and how they link into her work at the Child and Adolescent Health Service.
Mel is an Aboriginal woman with connections to Gidja and Ngarinyin Aboriginal people of the Kimberley. Mel has achieved a Post Graduate Diploma of Nursing and a Masters in Nursing Research.
Please see the dotwa members section on our website or refer to the newsletter for the zoom details.

06/07/2025

⭐Professional Development Alert - Pain through the Ages - The OT role across the life span

Date: Tuesday 22nd July 2025
Time: 6.30pm
Presenter: Julia Kingsley - Senior Occupational Therapist Pain Management Department SCGH/OPH
Julia is a Senior Occupational therapist at the Department of Pain Management OPH/SCGH. She has extensive experience in chronic pain management across all age ranges and in multiple health settings, including Singapore and the UK.
She did her initial training in Pain Management at INPUT pain unit, St Thomas’s Hospital, London, and has worked at the Complex Pain Service at Perth Children’s Hospital. She has a particular interest in topics including service delivery models, transitions from youth to adult pain services and the relationship between objectively measured activity behaviours and self-reports of physical capacity.

This presentation explores the role of OT and the Allied Health team in managing chronic pain across the lifespan. It highlights key differences and explores the impact of pain on function, self-management and quality of life across the lifespan.
This presentation will not be recorder so be sure to tune in on Tuesday 22nd July.

Please see the DOTWA newsletter or visit the members section of dotwa.org.au for your zoom link to attend. We hope to see you all there!

23/04/2025

Reminder Registration for Kelly Mahler closes this Friday!
Don’t miss your chance to be part of Kelly Mahler’s workshop:
“Interoception – The 8th Sense: The Science of How We Each Uniquely Feel”.
DOT(WA) has extended the final date for registrations WITHOUT her Interoceptive Curriculum to Friday, 25th April at 5:00 PM (Perth, Australia time).
Register now via our website to secure your spot!

Current Events DOT(WA) regularly hosts training events with local, national and international presenters. Some of these training events are specifically for occupational therapists and others are open to a range of professionals. Upcoming events will be advertised here on the website, via Facebook a...

07/04/2025

📢 Kelly Mahler PD Registration!

Don’t miss your chance to be part of Kelly Mahler’s workshop:
“Interoception – The 8th Sense: The Science of How We Each Uniquely Feel”.

Registrations close THIS FRIDAY, 11th of April, for tickets WITH her Interoceptive Curriculum, so get in now if you haven't already secured your ticket.

DOT(WA) has extended the final date for registrations WITHOUT her Interoceptive Curriculum to Friday, 25th April at 5:00 PM (Perth, Australia time).

Register now via our website to secure your spot!

Current Events DOT(WA) regularly hosts training events with local, national and international presenters. Some of these training events are specifically for occupational therapists and others are open to a range of professionals. Upcoming events will be advertised here on the website, via Facebook a...

27/03/2025

⭐Professional Development Alert: Paediatric Generalised Joint Hypermobility – A Clinical Update

Date: Tuesday 6th May 2025
Time: 6.30pm
Presenter: Alison Morris - Senior Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist
Perth Children’s Hospital
Alison has been a Senior Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist at Perth Children’s Hospital for over 15 years. She currently runs an extended scope physiotherapy clinic within the Rheumatology Department, providing initial assessments to children referred with concerns regarding hypermobility or non-inflammatory musculoskeletal pain. Other clinical interest areas include management of children with bleeding disorders and adolescent sporting injuries. Alison has a background in Sports Physiotherapist and has previously travelled with State and National sporting teams across a wide range of sports including water polo, swimming, track and field and rugby.

This presentation will discuss the differences between children and adults and overview the 2023 diagnostic framework for Paediatric Generalised Joint Hypermobility. Alison will review the assessment tools used, including a demonstration of the Beighton scale and the pitfalls to avoid during assessment. Management principles will be discussed, specifically addressing the role of the occupational therapist. Finally Alison will briefly explore the latest research on the links between hypermobility and neurodiversity.'

Stay tuned for the Zoom details.

05/03/2025

DOT(WA) is excited to be hosting Kelly Mahler across a 2-day online training event “Interoception – The 8th Sense: The Science of How We Each Uniquely Feel”.
The training will include the option for attendees to purchase The Interoceptive Curriculum at a discounted rate.

Dates: Wednesday 28th May 2025 & Monday 2nd June 2025 (This is a workshop presented over two days)
Time: 5:00pm- 8:00pm AWST (Wednesday & Monday)
Mode: This is a virtual interactive workshop via Zoom, featuring face-to-face discussion with Kelly Mahler across two workshop dates. The interactive format of the workshop enables participants to experience Kelly’s presentation in real time, ask questions, and consolidate their learning with Kelly’s guidance.

Workshop description: Interoception is the hottest topic in neuroscience, highlighting the importance of tuning into body signals and understanding the messages they convey. How connected are you to your inner self? How connected are your clients? Research reveals that interoceptive awareness is the foundation for regulation and engagement in daily occupations like toileting and feeding. This emerging science has inspired a move toward more affirming and meaningful support.
Join us for a journey inward as we explore the lived experience and science of interoception. This course will present an evidence-based framework for fostering interoceptive connection, focusing on strategies to nurture the three key aspects of interoceptive awareness: body, emotion, and action. We will also discuss practical ways parents and professionals can implement these strategies across home, school, and clinical settings to support learners of diverse ages and learning styles.

For more details please visit our website

Current Events DOT(WA) regularly hosts training events with local, national and international presenters. Some of these training events are specifically for occupational therapists and others are open to a range of professionals. Upcoming events will be advertised here on the website, via Facebook a...

24/02/2025

⭐Professional Development Alert - Selective Mutism!

Topic: Selective Mutism in Children
Date: Wednesday 26th February 2025
Time: 6.30pm
Presenter: Danielle Cottam Speech Pathologist and Director of Selective Mutism Western Australia.
This presentation will cover what Selective Mutism is, how it typically presents, strategies that can be used in therapy sessions and an explanation of the different types of treatment.
Members can find the zoom link in the newsletter or via the members log in at dotwa.org.au. We hope to see you all there 🥳

21/01/2025

Welcome back everyone to 2025! We hope you had a restful and relaxing festive period. We are excited to step into 2025 with you all.

Topic: Selective Mutism in Children
Date: Wednesday 26th February 2025
Time: 6.30pm
Presenter: Danielle Cottam Speech Pathologist and Director of Selective Mutism Western Australia.

This presentation will cover what Selective Mutism is, how it typically presents, strategies that can be used in therapy sessions and an explanation of the different types of treatment.
Members can find the zoom link in the newsletter or via the members log in at dotwa.org.au

20/11/2024

⭐PD Alert
Topic: Pathological Demand Avoidance, an Atypical Profile of Autism
Date: Monday 2nd December 2024
Time: 6.30pm
Presenter: Heidi Brandis, Occupational Therapist

Heidi Brandis, Occupational Therapist, will be presenting an introduction to PDA (Extreme Demand Avoidance or Persistent Drive for Autonomy). Described as an anxiety-based need for autonomy, with a heightened stress/threat response, resulting in extreme avoidance of and resistance to, the everyday tasks of life, PDA has recently been recognised in Australia (March 2024), when it was included in the National Guidelines for Assessment & Diagnosis of Autism.

The presentation will include an introduction to PDA, including the features of this complex profile, the OT role in supporting PDA and a brief description of the P.A.S.S Model for approaching and supporting PDAers more effectively.

About the Presenter: Heidi is mum to a 23-year-old neurodivergent young adult & 17-year-old neurotypical young adult. She had been a self-employed Occupational Therapist & Ergonomist for 12 years when PDA arrived in her life and turned it upside down!

Heidi has been a volunteer supporting families of autistic and PDA children and young adults for over 15 years. She is the author of 4 editions of the WA Autism Parent Handbook, has run multiple autism parent support groups and founded and runs both the PDA Perth WA Parent Community & Support Group & the PDA Perth WA Interest Group for Educators & Health Professionals. Heidi is a member of the recently formed WA Department of Education Disability & Inclusion Committee.

Heidi opened PDA Training Australia in May 2024, where she is running interactive small group workshops for parents; tailored training for groups of educators/health professionals/parents (online and face-to-face); and delivering conference presentations.

Please log onto dotwa.org.au members section or refer to the newsletter for your zoom link.

28/10/2024

⭐PD Alert - Join us tonight!
Topic: Review of Best Practice in Early Childhood Intervention Project
Date: Monday 28th October 2024
Time: 6.30pm

Denise Luscombe, PRECI (Professionals and Researchers in ECI) chair, will provide an update on the independent review of Best Practice in Early Childhood Intervention funded by the Department of Social Services and the implications this will have for practice.

About the Presenter: Denise is a paediatric physiotherapist by background. She is a founding Director of PRECI and its inaugural Chair. Denise has worked in the ECI field for over 35 years and is particularly interested in the implementation of high-quality services to children and their families. She provides training and consultation to services on practices such as coaching, RBI and collaborative teamwork.

Please refer to https://dotwa.org.au/ members section or your newsletter for the zoom link. We hope to see you all there.

Supporting WA Occupational Therapists Working With Children l Become a Member  For Members i For Families & Professionals U Find an OT What’s Happening? OCTOBER DOT(WA) PD Topic: Review of Best Practice in Early Childhood Intervention ProjectDate: Monday 28th October 2024Time: 6.30pm Denise Lus...

23/10/2024

⭐📣DOT(WA) 2024 Award for Excellence in Paediatric Occupational Therapy

This Award recognises outstanding contribution in the field of paediatric occupational therapy in WA. This could be demonstrated by excellence in any of the following areas (they only need to show excellence in one of these areas):
- Clinical Practice
- Service Development or Innovation
- Mentorship/ Supervision
- Leadership
- Research
- Furthering the Profession and/or Paediatric OT

Award nominations are open to DOT(WA) members who practice and/or reside in Western Australia. You can nominate someone via this link-
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DOTWA2024AWARDFOREXCELLENCEINPAEDIATRICOCCUPATIONALTHERAPY
The successful nominee/s will be determined by 3 members of the Executive Committee, with the Award presented at the upcoming AGM. Nominations close on Wednesday the 23rd of October 2024.
If you have any questions regarding someone's membership status or about nominating someone, please email dotwa@outlook.com.
Past winners can be viewed here- https://dotwa.org.au/about-dotwa/award-for-excellence/

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23/10/2024

OT's make so much POSSIBLE but is it not just impossible sometimes, to sum up what OT's do 😅
To be in the running to win a $100 vochure, comment below with the ways you help explain the wonderful work you do. Happy OT Week!