I’m Olivia. I’m an Occupational Therapist originally from New Zealand. I started my career working in Older Persons Rehabilitation but decided to make a big change and pursue my true passion working in paediatrics.
I have been working as an Occupational Therapist for 3 years. While working in Older Persons Health is not the typical starting block for a paediatric OT, it has given me many transferable skills I can use with my kiddos and their families, such as assessment of cognitive and physical abilities, activity analysis, client and family centred care, and quality communication.
I have always felt a pull towards paediatrics, which was cemented by my time during study on clinical placement and volunteering. During clinical placement in a school setting, I gained experience running group and individual sessions focusing on emotional regulation, social skills and motor skills. I also volunteered at Sense Rugby, helping facilitate play-based groups for children with sensory processing issues and developmental delays.
I have a play-based and family centred approach and am passionate about being a neuro-affirming clinician. My practice is informed by sensory integration and Poly-vagal Theory. I want my job to be about helping children develop skills, overcome challenges and recognise their strengths so that they can really thrive in life. I also love a challenge where I get to use creative problem-solving skills.
My favourite game to play with my kiddos is getting them to lie on top of a peanut or exercise ball and giving a supporting hand to roll them onto the crash mat. There are lots of different ways we can change the speed or the position we crash in depending on the kiddo, but there’s always giggles to be had. It’s a great way to give them sensory input and build a connection.
Outside of work, I love all types of arts and crafts, with watercolour painting being my favourite. As a child I loved going on summer family camping trips near Wanaka in New Zealand, and I grew up watching The Little Mermaid every day for weeks!
