DOT WA Inc.

05/02/2026

PD Announcement! What is appropriate digital technology use – and what are the impacts on child development and health?

Date: Monday 16 February 2026
Time: 6.30pm
Presenter: The Curtin University Healthy Digital Child Team

Australian parents rank screen use as their number one health concern for their children. The digital world is very different to when current parents where children – and many feel ill equipped to help their children develop into adults who can safely and productively use this technology – that is now critical to daily life functioning for most people. Occupational therapists have an important role in assisting families to achieve that goal. This presentation will provide you with the knowledge to assist you in this challenging role.

You will be provided:
An overview of the current public health guidelines for screen use – and how their current focus on time is making it difficult for families, and professionals supporting families to actually help children develop into safe and productive users of technology
A summary of contemporary evidence on risks and benefits of digital technology use
Learnings from ongoing research on the role of professionals working with families and how families would like to be supported.

About the Presenters:
Dr Juliana Zabatiero is a chief investigator of the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, leading a team of early career researchers together with Prof Leon Straker. Our team includes researchers with varied backgrounds, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, exercise science, biomechanics, and public health.

See the DOT newsletter or log into your members section dotwa.org.au for the zoom link details.

We hope to see you there!

05/12/2025

PD Announcement 📣📣Topic: OT and Assistive Technology for Written Expression: Matching Tools to Needs.
Date: Tuesday 9 December 2025Time: 6.30pmPresenter: Jessica Dickson, Occupational Therapist & Principal Consultant at Superyou Therapy
This session explores how occupational therapists can use assistive technology to support students who find handwriting difficult or inaccessible. Frameworks such as HAAT and SETT, along with relevant assessments, will be presented to guide technology choices through feature matching. Examples of assistive technology solutions will be shared, including those suited for students with learning, sensory, and/or physical difficulties. The session will also cover the supports needed for AT success, such as training, set-up, and school staff engagement.
Jessica is an Occupational Therapist with 17 years of experience specializing in assistive technology for individuals with disabilities. With expertise in high-tech AT, including computer and smart device access, environmental controls, and mounting, Jessica is passionate about matching people with the right tools. Jessica also works closely with speech pathologists to support communication access, including AAC solutions such as switch, eye gaze, and touch screen. Now at Superyou Tech, Jessica provides clinical advice as Principal Consultant Assistive Technology.
Please see the DOT(WA) newsletter for your zoom link or log into the members section of dotwa.org.au

12/11/2025

PD Announcement 📣📣Topic: OT and Assistive Technology for Written Expression: Matching Tools to Needs.

Date: Tuesday 9 December 2025Time: 6.30pmPresenter: Jessica Dickson, Occupational Therapist & Principal Consultant at Superyou Therapy

This session explores how occupational therapists can use assistive technology to support students who find handwriting difficult or inaccessible. Frameworks such as HAAT and SETT, along with relevant assessments, will be presented to guide technology choices through feature matching. Examples of assistive technology solutions will be shared, including those suited for students with learning, sensory, and/or physical difficulties. The session will also cover the supports needed for AT success, such as training, set-up, and school staff engagement.

Jessica is an Occupational Therapist with 17 years of experience specializing in assistive technology for individuals with disabilities. With expertise in high-tech AT, including computer and smart device access, environmental controls, and mounting, Jessica is passionate about matching people with the right tools. Jessica also works closely with speech pathologists to support communication access, including AAC solutions such as switch, eye gaze, and touch screen. Now at Superyou Tech, Jessica provides clinical advice as Principal Consultant Assistive Technology.
Please see the DOT(WA) newsletter for your zoom link or log into the members section of dotwa.org.au

29/10/2025

Happy OT Week!
This year’s theme, Occupational Therapy in Action, invites us to highlight the creativity, problem-solving, and compassion at the heart of OT practice.
For your chance to a win a prize - Tag an OT who embodies compassion at the heart of their practice.
Winners will be selected randomly and notified at the end of the week.

28/10/2025

🎉Come alone or come with Paed OT friends, have a drink on us and share in the fun of celebrating OT week!
RSVP to let us know you are joining us by clicking here https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CBC69F6.

20/10/2025

📣Professional Development Alert - 27/10/25

Topic: Strengths-based supervision for supervisors and supervisees.

This session will introduce practical frameworks and skills for delivering and accessing helpful, constructive clinical supervision. Participants will explore strengths-based supervision and feedback models in OT, and apply this to their own approach to supervision. The session provides an overview designed to strengthen confidence and connection in your supervision conversations.

Louella is an Occupational Therapist and qualified Professional Coach deeply interested in supporting allied health professionals to experience flourishing careers. This has led her to acquire skills in supervision, coaching, leadership and management which she applies in designing individual and group learning experiences across these topics.

Date: 27/10/25
Time: 6:30pm

Please refer to DOT(WA) newsletter or log into the members section of DOT(WA) for your zoom link. If you would like to become a member please visit dotwa.org.au
We look forward to seeing you there!

Supporting WA Occupational Therapists Working With Children l Become a Member  For Members i For Families & Professionals U Find an OT What’s Happening? DOT(WA) Bi-Monthly PD OCTOBER 2025 Topic: : Strengths-based supervision for supervisors and supervisees. Date: Monday 27 October 2025Time: 6.3...

11/10/2025

🥳🎉SAVE THE DATE - DOT(WA) Sundowner

DOT(WA) invites members to celebrate OT Week with our Sundowner on Wednesday the 29th of October, 6pm. We are just finalizing the location, and will share details as soon as we have everything locked in (think central, with parking). Food will be provided, as well as a room full of your fellow paed OTs, eager to chat. As the end of the year draws close, we would love to see as many people as possible to help celebrate the fabulous work we do. Everyone is welcome!

We will also be announcing the winner of the DOT(WA) Award for Excellence in Paediatric Occupational Therapy at the Sundowner. So don’t forget to nominate someone deserving before nominations close, and come along to see who wins the award. More details to follow. We look forward to seeing all of the wonderful DOT(WA) community!

10/10/2025

📣Professional Development Alert - 27/10/25

Topic: Strengths-based supervision for supervisors and supervisees.

This session will introduce practical frameworks and skills for delivering and accessing helpful, constructive clinical supervision. Participants will explore strengths-based supervision and feedback models in OT, and apply this to their own approach to supervision. The session provides an overview designed to strengthen confidence and connection in your supervision conversations.

Louella is an Occupational Therapist and qualified Professional Coach deeply interested in supporting allied health professionals to experience flourishing careers. This has led her to acquire skills in supervision, coaching, leadership and management which she applies in designing individual and group learning experiences across these topics.

Date: 27/10/25
Time: 6:30pm

Please refer to DOT(WA) newsletter or log into the members section of DOT(WA) for your zoom link. If you would like to become a member please visit dotwa.org.au
We look forward to seeing you there!

14/08/2025

📣Professional Development Alert - Culturally Safe Practices Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and their Families: Learnings from the Bullwinkel Scholarship Aboriginal Child Development Trip
Date: 2nd September 2025
Time: 6:30pm

We are very excited to announce that Mel Robinson, Director Aboriginal Health Strategy, Child and Adolescent Health Service, will be presenting to the DOT(WA) community.
Mel is the recipient of the inaugural Lt Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel Scholarship from the Australian College of Nursing. As part of her scholarship funding she has travelled to Winnepeg, Canada, Sydney and Melbourne to expand her knowledge around Aboriginal child development and best practice to overcome disparity in inequity in child health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in WA.
Her presentation provides an overview of the key lessons she has learnt and how they link into her work at the Child and Adolescent Health Service.
Mel is an Aboriginal woman with connections to Gidja and Ngarinyin Aboriginal people of the Kimberley. Mel has achieved a Post Graduate Diploma of Nursing and a Masters in Nursing Research.
Please see the dotwa members section on our website or refer to the newsletter for the zoom details.

06/07/2025

⭐Professional Development Alert - Pain through the Ages - The OT role across the life span

Date: Tuesday 22nd July 2025
Time: 6.30pm
Presenter: Julia Kingsley - Senior Occupational Therapist Pain Management Department SCGH/OPH
Julia is a Senior Occupational therapist at the Department of Pain Management OPH/SCGH. She has extensive experience in chronic pain management across all age ranges and in multiple health settings, including Singapore and the UK.
She did her initial training in Pain Management at INPUT pain unit, St Thomas’s Hospital, London, and has worked at the Complex Pain Service at Perth Children’s Hospital. She has a particular interest in topics including service delivery models, transitions from youth to adult pain services and the relationship between objectively measured activity behaviours and self-reports of physical capacity.

This presentation explores the role of OT and the Allied Health team in managing chronic pain across the lifespan. It highlights key differences and explores the impact of pain on function, self-management and quality of life across the lifespan.
This presentation will not be recorder so be sure to tune in on Tuesday 22nd July.

Please see the DOTWA newsletter or visit the members section of dotwa.org.au for your zoom link to attend. We hope to see you all there!

23/04/2025

Reminder Registration for Kelly Mahler closes this Friday!
Don’t miss your chance to be part of Kelly Mahler’s workshop:
“Interoception – The 8th Sense: The Science of How We Each Uniquely Feel”.
DOT(WA) has extended the final date for registrations WITHOUT her Interoceptive Curriculum to Friday, 25th April at 5:00 PM (Perth, Australia time).
Register now via our website to secure your spot!

Current Events DOT(WA) regularly hosts training events with local, national and international presenters. Some of these training events are specifically for occupational therapists and others are open to a range of professionals. Upcoming events will be advertised here on the website, via Facebook a...

07/04/2025

📢 Kelly Mahler PD Registration!

Don’t miss your chance to be part of Kelly Mahler’s workshop:
“Interoception – The 8th Sense: The Science of How We Each Uniquely Feel”.

Registrations close THIS FRIDAY, 11th of April, for tickets WITH her Interoceptive Curriculum, so get in now if you haven't already secured your ticket.

DOT(WA) has extended the final date for registrations WITHOUT her Interoceptive Curriculum to Friday, 25th April at 5:00 PM (Perth, Australia time).

Register now via our website to secure your spot!

Current Events DOT(WA) regularly hosts training events with local, national and international presenters. Some of these training events are specifically for occupational therapists and others are open to a range of professionals. Upcoming events will be advertised here on the website, via Facebook a...