Lara Breaker-Rolfe: Occupational Therapy

15/10/2026

💚 A big thank you to Marco from Astris PME! 💚

A huge thank you to Marco from Astris PME for his support during a paediatric assistive technology (AT) assessment yesterday, helping us explore suitable specialised pram options for a young client.

Having access to knowledgeable suppliers who are willing to share their expertise, demonstrate equipment and work collaboratively with occupational therapists makes such a difference when identifying the right equipment for each child.

Choosing a specialised pram is about so much more than the equipment itself. It’s about supporting a child’s comfort, safety, participation and independence, whilst helping families access everyday activities, appointments and community experiences with greater confidence. 💚

Thank you, Marco, and the team at Astris PME, for supporting collaborative, client-centred practice! 👏

🔗 Find out more about Astris PME’s specialised pushchairs: https://www.astris-pme.com.au/collections/pushchairs?page=1

Mobility and disability pushchairs built for comfort, posture support and daily independence. Browse adaptive strollers and seating options.

14/10/2026

Every student learns differently, and sometimes a mainstream school environment or classroom isn’t the right fit for a child's learning.

With AQ School Distance Education your child can learn in a way that works for them. 🫶💻

AQ School Distance Education provides personalised online learning for eligible autistic students in Years 3-10, with daily interaction and support from an interdisciplinary team.

Students benefit from:
✅ Daily online interaction with teaching team & peers.
✅ Flexible, personalised learning & curriculum planning.
✅ Interactive digital learning resources.
✅ Individualised adjustments & learning goals.
✅ Interdisciplinary support from teachers & specialist staff.
✅ Learning that can be supported from home.

Discover another way to do school. 2027 enrolment expressions of interest are now open: https://buff.ly/uN1OPNC

14/10/2026

Support and strategies to help children with disability build their toilet skills and independence

14/10/2026

💚 PROFESSIONAL SUPERVISION FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS — AUSTRALIA-WIDE 💚
Are you an Occupational Therapist looking for professional supervision, a space to reflect on your practice, or support to navigate complex clinical situations?

I’m pleased to offer professional supervision for Occupational Therapists across Australia, delivered remotely to provide flexibility wherever you are based.

With over 23 years of clinical experience across Australia and the UK, specializing in paediatric occupational therapy, advanced sensory integration, and NDIS service delivery, I bring a wealth of practical expertise and insight into the realities of working as an OT. Having founded, grown, and sustained my own multidisciplinary private practice in the UK for over 15 years alongside establishing an Autism diagnostic service, I deeply understand the business, operational, and clinical complexities of independent practice.

Most recently, as a Senior Paediatric OT in Australia, I have provided direct clinical leadership, mentoring, and documentation review for a large team of clinicians, giving me a contemporary, up-to-date understanding of NDIS criteria and best practices.

My supervision sessions can provide a supportive space to:
🌿 Reflect on clinical reasoning, decision-making, and goal-directed therapy programs
🌿 Explore complex cases and develop confidence in your paediatric practice
🌿 Master standardised assessments (such as Vineland-3, PEDI-CAT, SPM-2, Beery-VMI, and ADOS-2)
🌿 Navigate NDIS processes, Functional Capacity Assessments (FCA), and Assistive Technology (AT) recommendations
🌿 Deepen your skills in sensory processing and sensory integration (Ayres SI)
🌿 Confidently apply specialized frameworks like the SOS Approach to Feeding and Therapeutic Listening
🌿 Reflect on professional boundaries, clinical governance, and ethical dilemmas
🌿 Build confidence as a newer graduate, independent practitioner, or private practice owner
🌿 Support your ongoing professional development, documentation compliance, and wellbeing

Whether you’re a new graduate building foundational clinical reasoning, an experienced clinician unpacking complex neurodevelopmental presentations, or a business owner navigating the challenges of private practice, supervision offers a vital opportunity for growth and professional connection.

My approach is collaborative, practical, and strengths-based, designed to help you feel supported, fine-tune your clinical documentation, and continue to thrive as an occupational therapist.
📍 Available Australia-wide via online supervision sessions.
📩 Interested in finding out more? Send me a private message to discuss your supervision needs and arrange an initial conversation.
Because supporting the people who support others matters, too. 💚


Would you like me to generate a matching promotional graphic or banner for this supervision post using your business card colors and professional branding?

14/10/2026

💚 NATIONAL CARERS WEEK | 11–17 OCTOBER 2026 💚

Care for a carer: Making carers visible

This National Carers Week, I want to recognise and celebrate the incredible contribution of Australia's unpaid carers — especially the parents who work tirelessly behind the scenes to support their children. 💚

For many families, caring involves so much more than what we see on the surface.

It can mean:
🌿 Coordinating multiple therapy appointments around school, work and family life.
🌿 Attending assessments, meetings and specialist appointments.
🌿 Navigating the NDIS, funding applications and endless paperwork.
🌿 Practising therapy strategies at home and advocating for their child's needs at school and in the community.
🌿 Managing the emotional load of celebrating progress, navigating setbacks and planning for the future.

And often, all of this happens alongside the everyday demands of parenting, work and caring for other family members.

Behind every child making progress, there is often a parent or carer giving so much of themselves — physically, emotionally and practically.

As a paediatric community-based occupational therapist, I recognise that supporting a child means recognising the family around them, too.

My role is not simply to work towards a child's therapy goals. It is also to listen to families, understand their priorities, provide practical strategies that fit into everyday life, and work collaboratively with parents, schools and other professionals.

Therapy should support family life, not add unnecessary pressure to it. 💚

This National Carers Week, let's remember to ask carers how they are doing, acknowledge the work that often goes unseen, and recognise that carers deserve understanding, support and opportunities to look after their own wellbeing, too.

To every parent and carer supporting a child with additional needs: I see you, I recognise your efforts, and I celebrate the difference you make every single day.

You don't have to do everything perfectly to be making an enormous difference. 💚

💬 Tag a carer who deserves a little extra appreciation this week, or leave them a message to remind them that they are seen and valued.

09/10/2026

💚 World Mental Health Day | 10 October 💚

Small steps can make a big difference.

Today is a reminder of the importance of mental health and emotional wellbeing for every child, every family and every community.

As a paediatric occupational therapist, I recognise that mental health and wellbeing are closely connected to our ability to participate in everyday life — from managing big emotions and navigating sensory challenges to building relationships, developing independence and feeling a sense of belonging.

Every child deserves to feel understood, supported and valued. Sometimes, the smallest changes in our everyday environments and routines can make a meaningful difference.

💚 Let’s continue to create spaces where children and families feel safe, supported and empowered to thrive.

Stronger minds. Brighter futures.

07/10/2026

🎒 SCHOOL READINESS IS ABOUT SO MUCH MORE THAN KNOWING YOUR ABCs
When we think about getting a child ready for school, we often think about letters, numbers, colours and shapes.

But there are so many other skills that help children feel confident and successful at school.

Can your child:

👟 Manage their shoes and clothing?
🎒 Open their lunchbox and school bag?
✂️ Use scissors and pencils?
🧴 Manage the toilet and hand washing independently?
🪑 Sit and participate in an activity?
👂 Listen and follow instructions?
🔄 Move between activities?
💬 Ask for help when they need it?
🤝 Participate alongside other children?
😊 Manage frustration when something doesn't go their way?

These are all important occupational skills that support participation at school.

And school readiness doesn't have to mean expecting every child to reach the same milestone at exactly the same time.

It means understanding where your child is now, what they find difficult and what support will help them become more independent and confident.

As a Paediatric OT, I can work with children and families on the practical skills needed for everyday life — whether your child is preparing to start school or is already finding aspects of school challenging.

💙 Sometimes a few targeted strategies can make a surprisingly big difference to a child's confidence.

And for parents, having someone who can break down why something is difficult and show you practical ways to support your child can make things feel much more manageable too.

If your child is struggling with independence, school participation, fine motor skills, routines or everyday activities, I'd love to help.

📩 I currently have availability for both NDIS and private clients.

Feel free to send me a private message to chat about your child's needs.

07/10/2026

💙 WHEN “JUST GET IT DONE” ISN’T THAT SIMPLE — SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH ADHD

“Why haven't you put your shoes on yet?”

“Please pack your school bag.”

“How many times do I have to ask?”

If these conversations happen regularly in your home, you are certainly not alone.

Children with ADHD can know what they need to do but still struggle to actually get started, stay focused, organise themselves or move from one task to another.

This isn't necessarily about not listening or not trying.

It can be related to executive functioning — the mental skills we use to plan, organise, initiate, remember, regulate and complete tasks.

For some children, everyday routines can feel surprisingly difficult.

As a Paediatric OT, I can help children develop practical strategies for things such as:

✨ Getting started on tasks
✨ Following routines
✨ Organising belongings
✨ Managing time
✨ Remembering instructions
✨ Transitioning between activities
✨ Managing emotions and frustration
✨ Completing homework and school tasks
✨ Developing independence with everyday activities

Sometimes a child doesn't need another reminder.

They need a different strategy.

And sometimes parents don't need another list of things to do — they need someone to help them understand why their child is struggling and what might actually work.

💙 My aim is to help children build skills and confidence while helping families find strategies that are realistic for everyday life.

If your child has ADHD or struggles with attention, organisation, emotional regulation or getting things done, Occupational Therapy may be able to help.

📩 I currently have availability for NDIS and private clients. Feel free to send me a message to discuss your child's needs.

06/10/2026

How cool! 😎

06/10/2026

October is also sensory awareness month!

🧡 How sensory-aware are you?

October is Sensory Awareness Month — the perfect time to pause and think about how sensory processing shapes everything from eating and getting dressed to learning, working, moving and connecting with others.

We all experience the sensory world differently. But for some people, sensory differences can make everyday life much more challenging.

👀 So what can we do to better understand those differences?

The October issue of EmphaSIze is packed with useful insights, articles and resources to help deepen your understanding of all things sensory - and build your sensory awareness.

📖 Read the latest issue here: https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/pages/news-emphasize-october-2026-celebrating-sensory-awareness-month?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sie

And there’s still time to join us for the FREE Sensory Inclusion Summit next Tuesday! 🎉
💻 Online
📅 Tuesday 13 October
⏰ Presentations available until 20 October

Book your free place 👇

Let’s make sensory awareness part of the everyday conversation. 🧡