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How can we make it easier for families to tell us a strategy isn’t working? “How did you go with the activities?” can unintentionally feel like a progress check parents need to pass. We might instead ask: “What did you notice when you tried it?” “Was there a chance to try it?” “What would make this more manageable?” These conversations give us useful information about the fit of our recommendations - and room to change them together. What language do you use to help families feel comfortable sharing the tricky parts?
How can we help parents feel comfortable following their child’s lead? We often encourage child-led play, but “just follow their lead” can feel vague for parents. Modelling it together can make the idea more practical: notice what interests the child, wait, copy an action or offer a comment without asking a question. Then invite the parent to try, with space to find their own way of connecting. There’s no need to make every interaction a teaching moment. How do you help parents feel confident joining their child’s play?
One routine can be a useful starting point When families raise several concerns, it can be tempting to offer several strategies. But where do they start? Ask: “Which part of the day would you most like to feel easier?” Explore that routine together - what happens before the difficult moment, what the child might be finding hard and what already helps. Agree on one manageable change, then check in and adjust. What questions help you understand a family’s routines beyond what you see in the clinic?
When families don’t have room for more activities.. “We just haven’t had time.” When a family shares this, it’s a useful opportunity to revisit whether the plan fits their everyday life. Try asking: “What felt manageable, and what was hard to fit in?” Together, you might choose one priority, simplify a strategy or build it into a routine they already have. Sometimes the family needs us to reduce the demands of the plan. How do you adapt your recommendations when families are stretched?
Unpopular opinion to start: most "movement" content in allied health is actually just exercise content wearing a movement-science label. Loading progressions, sets and reps, rehab protocols. Useful, but that's exercise science, not movement science. They're not the same question. I'm Dr. Calum Downie, biomechanics research background (balance, falls prevention), years in clinical education, now coaching practitioners on the movement side specifically. Not staying in one lane here: loading, movement quality, rehab-to-performance…
Unpopular opinion to start: most "movement" content in allied health is actually just exercise content wearing a movement-science label. Loading progressions, sets and reps, rehab protocols. Useful, but that's exercise science, not movement science. They're not the same question. I'm Dr. Calum Downie, biomechanics research background (balance, falls prevention), years in clinical education, now coaching practitioners on the movement side specifically. Not staying in one lane here: loading, movement quality, rehab-to-performance handoffs, the evidence gaps that don't get talked about enough. So: when did you last actually assess a movement pattern, versus just prescribing a program and assuming the pattern would sort itself out? Learn more at docmotus.com
It’s graduate recruitment season, and many soon-to-be allied health professionals are comparing their first job offers. Salary matters, but your first role is about much more than the number at the top of the ad. Who will supervise you? What happens when you need help? How quickly will your caseload build? Is there time to learn? What does collaboration actually look like? Are the expectations realistic for a new graduate? I've written a little piece about the questions worth asking when comparing graduate roles. A higher salary can…
It’s graduate recruitment season, and many soon-to-be allied health professionals are comparing their first job offers. Salary matters, but your first role is about much more than the number at the top of the ad. Who will supervise you? What happens when you need help? How quickly will your caseload build? Is there time to learn? What does collaboration actually look like? Are the expectations realistic for a new graduate? I've written a little piece about the questions worth asking when comparing graduate roles. A higher salary can absolutely be part of a great offer. It just shouldn’t be mistaken for the whole offer. Graduating this year, or know someone who is? This is worth a read. https://www.eatspeaklearn.com.au/more-than-a-salary-what-to-look-for-in-your-first-allied-health-role/
People underestimate optometry. Even other optometrists. We can do more than check eye health and letter charts. I'm Simoné Fanoy, an accredited behavioural optometrist, neuro-optometrist, and vision therapist. Nine years in, and I still love my job. My interest is personal. Childhood concussions shaped how I learned and behaved in class. So, I genuinely understand what my patients experience. There are many complaints that tell me someone's eyes and brain aren't working together: Slow reading, poor comprehension, poor…
People underestimate optometry. Even other optometrists. We can do more than check eye health and letter charts. I'm Simoné Fanoy, an accredited behavioural optometrist, neuro-optometrist, and vision therapist. Nine years in, and I still love my job. My interest is personal. Childhood concussions shaped how I learned and behaved in class. So, I genuinely understand what my patients experience. There are many complaints that tell me someone's eyes and brain aren't working together: Slow reading, poor comprehension, poor balance, misjudging distances, overwhelm in traffic or busy spaces... And it's my job to figure out why these symptoms occur. But I also rely on other allied health professionals to get the best results for my patients. Looking forward to collaborating with other professionals on this platform.
Hi, I’m Kate! I’m a paediatric OT, sensory integration nerd and I believe every behaviour tells a story—and our role is to become curious enough to understand it. I’ve spent 15+ years working with children—from special education in South Africa to private practice and NDIS work through my Brisbane businesses, Upside Down Therapy and SensoryU. I’m ASI-certified, trained in the SenseUp Approach and endlessly curious about sensory processing, PDA, autism, ADHD, feeding, toileting and all the beautifully complex ways children’s bodies and…
Hi, I’m Kate! I’m a paediatric OT, sensory integration nerd and I believe every behaviour tells a story—and our role is to become curious enough to understand it. I’ve spent 15+ years working with children—from special education in South Africa to private practice and NDIS work through my Brisbane businesses, Upside Down Therapy and SensoryU. I’m ASI-certified, trained in the SenseUp Approach and endlessly curious about sensory processing, PDA, autism, ADHD, feeding, toileting and all the beautifully complex ways children’s bodies and brains work. At the Hub, I’ll be sharing training on sensory processing, regulation, therapy spaces, offering supervision for paediatric OTs at every career stage, and having honest conversations about what neuro-affirming practice actually looks like day to day. What sensory question do parents or colleagues keep asking you? Share it below—it might shape my first training! 👇
Build an Audience That Grows Itself is a FREE short course on The Hub, showing you step-by-step how to: ✔️ Grow a community that trusts your expertise ✔️ How to structure your content ✔️ How to price your offerings ✔️ How to choose the right content formats ✔️ Find collaborators worth approaching. Templates and worksheets are included, so you'll finish the course with a practical plan you can start on straight away. Plus, included is a 90-day publishing plan that compounds your discoverability every time you publish. Your expertise is…
Build an Audience That Grows Itself is a FREE short course on The Hub, showing you step-by-step how to: ✔️ Grow a community that trusts your expertise ✔️ How to structure your content ✔️ How to price your offerings ✔️ How to choose the right content formats ✔️ Find collaborators worth approaching. Templates and worksheets are included, so you'll finish the course with a practical plan you can start on straight away. Plus, included is a 90-day publishing plan that compounds your discoverability every time you publish. Your expertise is worth sharing! Enroll and get started today. 📚 Build an Audience That Grows Itself How high-value free content builds the audience for your paid work. Build an Audience That Grows Itself
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The NDIS is changing, and while there is understandable concern about what that means for participants, families and providers, I also think it creates an opportunity for allied health businesses to rethink what comes next. For many clinics, the challenge has historically been finding enough clinicians to meet demand. That may be changing. We may need to get better at creating services people actively choose to access, whether funded through the NDIS, Medicare, private health, schools, insurers or other organisations. That could mean new…
The NDIS is changing, and while there is understandable concern about what that means for participants, families and providers, I also think it creates an opportunity for allied health businesses to rethink what comes next. For many clinics, the challenge has historically been finding enough clinicians to meet demand. That may be changing. We may need to get better at creating services people actively choose to access, whether funded through the NDIS, Medicare, private health, schools, insurers or other organisations. That could mean new partnerships, more targeted service models, training, groups, intensives or different ways of supporting families. Discussion question: What opportunities do you see for allied health clinics to pivot or redesign their services as the NDIS landscape changes?
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