What an amazing week I had in Sydney with 100 other occupational therapists, learning about Trauma-Informed Care and Sensory Modulation presented by Dr Tina Champagne.
Occupational Therapy Australia pulled out all the stops for this incredible course, from the sunny waterfront setting of Woolloomooloo Pier to the sensory stations and workshops set up around the room.
The enthusiasm and learning within the room were palpable, and I’m excited to share some key takeaways from this experience, both from the professional development sessions and the personal time away from my business, as well as the challenges of travelling with a stroller.
Professional Development
The refresher on all things sensory was amazing.
Learning is a lifelong journey, and revisiting how sensory events are part of everyday life brought a fresh perspective for me.
It was a valuable reminder that there are two major types of sensory processing challenges: sensory modulation challenges and dyspraxic sensory processing challenges (more movement-based). These can occur in isolation or as a combined presentation. This insight prompted me to reflect on our programming and how we can continually strive to improve.
Over the four days, I had the opportunity to experiment with a variety of new sensory tools. This was a fantastic chance to identify potential resources to bring back to the clinic for our clients and families. We often talk about sensory kits and sensory bags for use in different environments, and this course expanded my range of resources to suggest and recommend.
Personal Time
Being away from home and alone pushed me out of my comfort zone. Although I had my wonderful friend Kahli and her family from Stretchy Minds OT with me, we stayed in separate locations.
With her being a young mum, I found myself with a lot of alone time. This solitude turned out to be incredibly special for me. Like many, I’m usually very busy, and the week away offered a rare opportunity to step back and reflect on what is working for me. It highlighted the importance of self-care for parents and carers.
Returning home, I’m prioritising setting aside time for activities that bring me joy, reassured that The Therapy Network can run smoothly without my constant presence. I hope some of you will be inspired to do the same.
Travelling with a Stroller Navigating Sydney
Travelling with a Stroller while navigating was a challenge. The city is hilly and tricky to navigate, especially from our location in Woolloomooloo, which is in a valley requiring stair climbs to get out. Travelling with a sick two-year-old who often slept in her stroller meant finding lifts, reading maps, and being super organised. This was overwhelming at first, but once we figured out where the lifts were, it became easier.
This experience got me thinking about our families. Sydney is a great place to travel with a wheelchair or young family, but navigating it can be tough. Another major learning point was dealing with Sydney’s public transport, where many trains are two-storey, complicating travel with a stroller. Additionally, Uber in Sydney does not have car seats, which ruled out ride-share options for us.
This was a significant learning moment for me, making me consider the challenges our families might face in navigating transport.
Exploring Sydney’s Accessibility Options
Sydney offered a number of free activities, which was fantastic.
I also started checking out their accessible bathroom options while I was there.
Kahli and I visited the art gallery, which was free to enter and had a hoist-accessible bathroom.
We also enjoyed a lovely lunch at the Opera House, which also has lifts and an accessible bathroom. For those interested, I have attached a link to show you the bathroom options we saw.
