Play & Learn Occupational Therapy

20/03/2026

One of the hardest parts of a diagnosis isn’t actually the diagnosis itself - it’s everything that comes after.
Trying to make sense of what it means day-to-day.
Explaining it to family, educators, and others.
Working out what actually matters (and what doesn’t).

This is the space where many families get stuck - not because they’re not trying, but because no one has really joined the dots for them.

Myf, a colleague of mine has created this course, After the Diagnosis. It’s practical, broken into bite-sized videos, and designed to help families build understanding and confidence - not just for themselves, but for the people around them too.

If you (or a family you know) are in that “what now?” phase, this is worth a look:

Myf Murphy brings over 20 years of experience working alongside children and families, offering thoughtful insight and guidance for parents who are navigating and adjusting to a new diagnosis for their child.

07/03/2026

Play & Learn OT isn't just about therapy sessions.

We've positioned ourselves as western Adelaide's paediatric OT resource hub - which means families, educators, and fellow clinicians all have somewhere to turn when they need support.

What this actually looks like:
→ 30+ fact sheets covering regulation, sensory processing, daily living skills, school readiness, and more
→ Training workshops for educators building inclusive practice
→ Clinical mentoring for paediatric OTs navigating complex cases
→ Flexible family support including groups, online modules, and intensive parent consultations
→ School consultation partnerships that go beyond individual referrals
→ Community-based therapy that meets children in their actual environments

We're not trying to be everything. We're creating a connected ecosystem of support where everyone has access to the understanding and strategies they need - delivered in ways that actually fit into real life.

Over 70 years of combined OT experience backing every resource, workshop, and session.

▷ EMAIL info@playot.com.au
▷ TELEPHONE 0414 687 836
▷ WEBSITE www.playot.com.au

04/03/2026

Educator burnout isn't about not caring enough. It's often about caring deeply while not understanding why nothing seems to work.

When you don't have the brain-body development framework to make sense of what you're seeing, every behaviour feels like a problem to solve, every meltdown feels like a failure, every challenging moment chips away at your confidence.

Our "Confident and Connected Children" workshop shifts this.
Instead of more strategies to try, we give you the understanding underneath the strategies - so you know what's happening, why it's happening, and what might actually help.

Three hours that help you:
→ Decode behaviour through a developmental lens
→ Build regulation in yourself so you can support it in children
→ Create emotional safety that makes learning possible
→ Reduce the overwhelm and reconnect with why you chose this work

This isn't about doing more. It's about understanding what's already happening so you can respond with clarity instead of exhaustion.

On-site delivery available for schools, kindergartens, early learning centres, and OSHC programs across western Adelaide.

▷ EMAIL info@playot.com.au
▷ TELEPHONE 0414 687 836
▷ WEBSITE www.playot.com.au

01/03/2026

We don't have a clinic. And that's intentional.

Play & Learn OT has been working in western Adelaide's homes, schools, childcare centres, and community spaces since 2014.

Why does location matter?
→ Skills learned in natural settings actually transfer to daily life
→ Families don't have to navigate unfamiliar clinical environments when they're already managing enough
→ We see how strategies work (or don't) in the actual spaces where children spend their time
→ Educators can implement support immediately without translation
→ Connection happens more easily when kids feel comfortable

From Glenelg to Pennington and everywhere between, we're already embedded in the western suburbs community. We know the parks, the schools, the rhythms of life here.

That local knowledge matters when you're supporting children to thrive in their everyday environments.

▷ EMAIL info@playot.com.au
▷ TELEPHONE 0414 687 836
▷ WEBSITE www.playot.com.au

26/02/2026

Ever wonder why some kids can't tell when they're hungry, tired, or need the toilet?

That's interoception – the often-overlooked eighth sensory system that helps us tune into our body's internal signals.

Our specialist workshop "Introduction to Interoception" gives educators and support workers practical understanding of:
→ What interoception actually is (beyond the textbook definition)
→ Why it matters for regulation, learning, and daily life
→ How to support children who struggle with body awareness
→ Strategies that fit into your existing classroom or care routines
→ Connection between interoception and emotional awareness

This isn't abstract theory. It's about noticing what's happening in the bodies of the children you work with - and giving them tools to notice too.

Perfect as a follow-up to "Confident and Connected Children" or as a standalone deep dive.

Available for on-site delivery to schools, early learning centres, OSHC programs, and community groups across western Adelaide.

▷ EMAIL info@playot.com.au
▷ TELEPHONE 0414 687 836
▷ WEBSITE www.playot.com.au

24/02/2026

We don't claim to be experts on your child, your classroom, or your clinical situation.

What we do bring is curiosity, decades of combined experience, and a commitment to pondering alongside you.

Our team believes:
→ You're the expert in your own setting - we're here to support, not prescribe
→ Connection and safety come before skills and strategies
→ There's no such thing as a silly question
→ Real support means showing up in your actual environments -homes, schools, community spaces
→ Children learn best when the adults around them feel confident and connected

Whether you're a family navigating daily challenges, an educator managing big emotions in the classroom, or a clinician working through complex cases – we're interested in understanding what's happening for you, not telling you what you should do.

That's the difference between consultation and collaboration.

▷ EMAIL info@playot.com.au
▷ TELEPHONE 0414 687 836
▷ WEBSITE www.playot.com.au

19/02/2026

Learning about child development shouldn't mean wading through textbooks or waiting for the next appointment.

Our online modules give families self-paced access to the same understanding we bring to our clinical work - just delivered in bite-sized, practical ways.

Upcoming topics include:
→ Sensory processing (what's actually happening and what helps)
→ Interoception (tuning into body signals)
→ Co-regulation (supporting your child's emotional world)
→ Daily living skills, sleep, mealtimes, and more

These aren't generic parenting tips. They're grounded in occupational therapy principles, delivered without the jargon, and designed to give you confidence in supporting your child's unique developmental journey.

Part of our three-pronged family support approach alongside small group workshops and intensive consultation sessions.

▷ EMAIL info@playot.com.au
▷ TELEPHONE 0414 687 836
▷ WEBSITE www.playot.com.au

19/02/2026

Not every child needs ongoing therapy. Sometimes what's needed is targeted support at just the right moment.

Our Intensive Parent Consultation model offers families flexible options when:
Your child is transitioning to high school and needs specific strategies
Therapy has been happening at school but challenges are showing up at home
Your child has "disengaged" from regular sessions but still needs occasional check-ins
You want practical strategies without committing to a full therapy schedule

These aren't about fitting you into our system. They're about meeting you exactly where you are and giving you what you actually need - whether that's once, occasionally, or as things shift.

Part of our growing family support stream that also includes small group sessions and online modules.

Because support should adapt to life, not the other way around.

▷ EMAIL info@playot.com.au
▷ TELEPHONE 0414 687 836
▷ WEBSITE www.playot.com.au

17/02/2026

What if schools didn't have to wait for referrals to access OT support?

Our school consultation model is about embedded partnerships - not just showing up for individual kids.

This looks like:
→ On-site presence supporting whole teaching teams
→ Helping educators understand what's happening beneath behaviours
→ Co-creating strategies that fit into actual classroom life
→ Supporting plan development without the bureaucracy overwhelm
→ Building school-wide capability so support extends beyond one child

We're already working alongside several schools in western Adelaide, and there's scope to expand these partnerships.

When OT support becomes part of the school fabric rather than an external add-on, everyone benefits - teachers feel more confident, kids feel more understood, and families see consistency across settings.

Keen to explore what this could look like at your school?

▷ EMAIL info@playot.com.au
▷ TELEPHONE 0414 687 836
▷ WEBSITE www.playot.com.au

15/02/2026

Paediatric OT work is complex. You shouldn't have to figure it out alone.

Our clinical mentoring isn't about rigid supervision schedules or checking boxes. It's tailored, one-hour blocks delivered when you actually need support - not when the calendar says you should.

What makes this different:
→ Flexible CPD-compliant sessions that meet requirements without the rigidity
→ Focused on what's relevant right now in your practice
→ Real clinical reasoning exploration, not just case management
→ Permission to ponder, wonder, and get curious without judgment
→ Scope to provide written reports so your learning counts toward professional development

Whether you're navigating sensory processing questions, relationship-based practice, or just need someone to think alongside you about a tricky case - we're here.

Because thriving in paediatric OT means having support when you need it, not just when it's scheduled.

▷ EMAIL info@playot.com.au
▷ TELEPHONE 0414 687 836
▷ WEBSITE www.playot.com.au

12/02/2026

When educators understand the brain-body connection, everything shifts.

Our 3-hour foundation workshop "Confident and Connected Children" gives you practical strategies grounded in how development actually works - not what we wish it looked like.

What you'll explore:
> Brain-body development and how it shapes behaviour and learning
> The power of relationships and emotional safety
> Regulation tools that work for kids and adults
> How to lead, follow, and work alongside children
> Building motivation and setting everyone up for success

This isn't about adding more to your plate. It's about understanding what's already happening so you can respond with confidence instead of overwhelm.

Perfect for educators, support workers, and anyone working alongside children in western Adelaide and beyond.

▷ EMAIL info@playot.com.au
▷ TELEPHONE 0414 687 836
▷ WEBSITE www.playot.com.au

20/01/2026

This one is coming up on the 28th January for paeds OTs - I'd love to see you there! Register via Verve OT Learning

Many children experience big shifts in regulation, energy or emotion that can seem sudden or hard to predict. When internal body signals are unclear, children may struggle to recognise hunger, fatigue, discomfort or emotional changes until they feel overwhelming.

Interoception is often the missing piece.

This week’s Workshop of the Week introduces interoception and explores how body awareness shapes regulation, participation and everyday function.

This is a brand new session to Verve OT Learning which supports clinicians to move beyond surface level responses and understand what is happening inside the body.

90 minute online workshop 👶 Paediatric focus 🎓 Practical and evidence informed

Sign up today: https://www.verveotlearning.com.au/live-introduction-to-interoception