Services
Leah Picking Occupational Therapy provides evidence based interventions to babies, infants and children.
Leah supports children with moderate to complex disabilities including cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, developmental delay, genetic and chromosomal conditions impacting development, neuromuscular disorders such as spinal muscular atrophy and Duchenne Muscular dystrophy​.
Leah provides a predominantly mobile therapy service. This service model enables therapy to be delivered in a child's own environment at home, childcare, kinder or school.
Leah also provides services in a child-friendly clinic environment in Blackburn North
which she shares with speech pathologist Jen Carlisle. Jen and Leah work collaboratively with other therapists also including physiotherapists.
Occupational therapy intervention to help a child develop:
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fine motor skills
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play skills
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cognitive skills used for everyday activities, learning and play
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self care skills such as eating, bathing, dressing and toileting
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participation in play, recreational or educational activities
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developing independence skills such as cooking, managing money and moving about and engaging in the community.
Work in partnership with families
Leah uses a coaching model and individual goal based intervention to support families in helping their child achieve their goals.
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Building a families skills and those of others working with the child, such as childcare workers or kindergarten staff, ensures the child will have many opportunities across the day to practice their skills.
The aim of this model is to support a child's opportunities to practice skills across everyday - not just during therapy sessions.
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TEAM WORK
Leah works alongside physiotherapists, speech pathologists, early childhood educators and teachers. Collaboration between team members enables best outcomes for children and their families. She is lucky enough to work closely with several therapists in the local area including speech pathologist Jen Carlisle who she shares an office with.
Early intervention
Leah is experienced working with babies and young children with a range of neurodevelopmental difficulties.
She values supporting families through these early years and enabling them to confidently participate in childcare, kinder and school.
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Leah has worked as a key worker/ OT in early intervention and has trained in the Family Partnerships model of practice.
Assistive technology
The provision of assistive technology (specialist equipment) can significantly enhance a child's independence and participation in everyday activities.
Leah has considerable experience in prescribing assistive technology for children of all ages.
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Leah enjoys supporting children and young people to find the right equipment solution to enhance their independence and participation.
Clinical supervision / mentoring
University roles
Leah provides professional clinical supervision to occupational therapists via phone/ email or online.
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Leah has gained considerable experience in clinical supervision roles throughout her career. She currently mentors individuals and groups in private practice.
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Leah is currently a sessional tutor at Latrobe University in the paediatric occupational therapy subject.
2023-25 Leah contributed to a research project at Monash University focusing on supporting families who have a child with a developmental regressive disorder.
