Welcome to SenseUp Therapies

Paediatric occupational therapy for children who experience the world a little differently.

We help sensory, neurodivergent and developmentally diverse children and their familie through sensory-focused, evidence-based occupational therapy because the earlier we understand your child, the more we can help.
CONTACT OUR TEAM 

You already know something is different

You have probably spent a lot of time trying to explain your child to other people. Trying to describe why the supermarket is overwhelming, or why getting dressed takes an hour, or why a tiny change in routine can unravel an entire day.

You have probably wondered whether you are overreacting. Whether things will just sort themselves out. Whether it is something you are doing wrong.

At SenseUp Therapies we are here to help you understand what may be happening, and to offer a potential solution

You do not need a referral or a diagnosis and you can contact us directly.

Located in Robina on Queenslands Gold Coast and Telehealth.
Therapy EquipmentTherapy EquipmentTherapy EquipmentTherapy Outdoor AreaTherapy EquipmentOccupational Therapy Practice

How we Support Your Child and Family

From a thorough first assessment to ongoing therapy, school support and parent coaching, we offer a connected, whole-family approach that grows with you

We use an individualised, child led approach which means we try to match your childs exact needs, meet them where they are at and through the careful use of equipment, games and play according to your childs interests and strengths, help them reach their potential in their chosen occupations.

Our sensory gym has a purpose-built, engineer-certified suspension frame and our therapeutic environment has been carefully designed to be low-arousal, safe and engaging for paediatric OT.

Everything we do follows a systematic four-level framework that begins where your child actually is, but recognises that this could be variable according to the time of day, who they are with or where they are.

We assess and treat within these four levels:

Level 1: Nervous system safety Before we ask anything of your child, we make sure they feel safe. Regulation and trust come first — always.

Level 2:  Sensory integration and sensory motor Using our ASI Fidelity-compliant sensory gym, we provide targeted sensory input to address how your child processes and responds to the world around them.

Level 3: Skill development Evidence-based, child-led therapy that builds functional skills ( motor, cognitive, emotional and adaptive) at your child's pace.

Level 4: Occupational participation Real life is always the goal. We work toward your child participating fully at home, at school, and in the community.

The earlier your child gets support, the greater the difference it makes.

Early occupational therapy intervention has a profound and lasting impact on a child's development, participation and quality of life.

You do not need to wait for a diagnosis and you do not need a referral.

The Therapy Process

1.THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS

Assessments are a necessary part of the therapy process to ensure that once OT is targeted and specific and therefore effective! It also gives us our starting place to measure progress against. 

Assessments are both structured and unstructured, with some done remotely online. Assessments may also be completed ad hoc during play or therapy sessions should that be the method that serves the child best. 

Structured assessments are standardised and normed, and provide age norms/percentile ranks for your child's performance against their age.  

Unstructured assessments are more informal, usually play-based and typically your child isn't even aware they may be observed/assessed.

Typically we will also observe your child at home, school and in the community (eg your local park) as indicated. 

Remote/ Online assessments include interviews, questionnaires and surveys as well as observation via video and photo. Telehealth for remote clients around Australia can participate in this as well as local families whose child struggles to attend or participate in person. 

**Whilst we offer a variety of assessments at SenseUp, we also acknowledge that some assessments are not necessarily affirming for the child and are therefore never forced or expected. 

2.THERAPY PLANNING

A process of therapy planning takes place once some or all assessment results are known, have been analysed to provide a clear picture of the developmental areas that may or may not be supporting your child. 

Your therapist will present these findings on The SenseUp Model (as above) to make it easy to see and understand. 

Together you will prioritise the areas that will be addressed in therapy, the therapy approaches and programs that may be indicated and goals will be set. 

Time frames will be discussed, as well as frequency of sessions and a quote will be provided. 

A therapy day and time will also be agreed. 

Reviews of goals and progress will be shared termly or 6 monthly depending on the goals and your needs. 

3.THERAPY INTERVENTION

At SenseUp Therapies we prefer weekly, or biweekly appointments as this is where the evidence tells us, as well as our own experience, that the most progress is made. 

Caregivers should ideally be present at appointments and participate as invited by their child or therapist. 

We work alongside you and your family as your observations and instincts contribute to the big picture. We equip you with practical strategies for everyday life as therapy doesn't stop when your child leaves our clinic.

Home activities or strategies will also be suggested/ demonstrated to ensure you feel empowered to use strategies to make everyday life easier and richer. 

Please see our Tip Sheets and Blog posts for immediate access to ideas and information.