Supporting healthier and happier bonds between children and their parents
Paediatric Occupational Therapy Melbourne
Need help navigating the big feelings in your little ones?
Do you find yourself getting stressed about your child’s behaviour or outbursts of emotions? Caught yourself describing them as aggressive, controlling, explosive or rough?
If you’ve been getting the feeling deep down inside that your child is desperately trying to communicate something, but you’re at the end of your rope with what to do – you are in the right place. Even if you’re starting to lose your confidence, feel overwhelmed or incompetent as a parent in how to respond, we see your situation time and again. And we’re here to help!
At Sensory Health Matters, we support parents, caregivers and professionals in the industry who want to understand and better address how a child’s sensory processing impacts their behaviour and ability to connect and learn.
Because here’s the thing…. the pushing, biting, separation anxiety, and difficulty focusing or interacting socially, are often subtle cues of emotional or sensory regulation difficulties, and early intervention is key.
Using relationship-based and trauma informed approaches, with a focus on shared joy, we help you understand your child’s unique needs and how we can use this knowledge to support their sensory, social and emotional well-being.
Make a change with our
Paediatric Occupational Therapy services
For the child, parent or guardian
Assessments (2-12 years)
For children experiencing sensory, emotional, behavioural or learning challenges, and parents wanting a deeper understanding of what is driving them.
You will gain clear insights into your child’s needs, along with practical, family-focused strategies to support everyday life.
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Theraplay
For parents and caregivers who want to gently establish stronger connections and more joy with their child using guided and evidence-based play therapy.
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Parent Coaching
For parents who want to understand what’s really driving their child’s behaviour and feel more steady in how they respond. Together, we make sense of your child’s needs, your own nervous system, and build simple, practical ways to support your whole family.
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For the OT professional or educator
Consultation
For educators seeking advice on addressing baffling behaviours, engaging children in learning, or making their learning environments, playgrounds, and services more trauma-informed and sensory-friendly.
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Clinical Supervision
For paediatric occupational therapists who are seeking to be mentored to improve the quality of their assessment or intervention services with their clients.
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Professional Learning
For educators, professionals and school teams that want to upskill and increase their understanding of sensory processing or trauma and their impact learning and relationships.
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Why work with a paediatric occupational therapist to assess your child’s sensory and relational health?
Better understand the root cause of concerning or confusing behaviours by considering sensory, relational, and emotional impacts.
Be supported and guided on how to gently foster love, trust and attachment using evidence-based modalities and move away from outdated and problem-compounding advice.
Finally feel more connected to your child and confident in your ability to love, nurture and support their needs.
Empowering you to become more connected, playful, and confident as a parent… And teaching you how to build your child’s capacity and resilience to self-regulate so they can feel safe to explore, learn and connect with their peers.
Just 3 steps to creating a healthier, happier home:
1. Submit an enquiry
Fill in the contact form and answer the provided questions. This will help us assess if we’re the right service provider for you. We’ll respond to your enquiry within 48-72 business hours.
2. Discovery call
A discovery call is a space to talk through what’s been feeling most challenging for your family, ask any questions you might have, and explore the different ways we can support you, along with the next steps ahead.
3. Caring support to create a change
Depending on the support that feels right for your family, we begin a shared plan that focuses on connection, understanding, and practical ways to support everyone at home.
Do something today… because the early years are the most powerful time for intervention
Meet Melbourne’s Trauma-Informed Paediatric Occupational Therapist, Angela Tieman
Becoming a parent has deepened this work in a way nothing else could.
Today, with over 19 years of clinical experience, I am a paediatric occupational therapist supporting children and families across Melbourne, interstate and internationally.
My work has been shaped by my training in Sensory Integration and Sensory Attachment Intervention during my time in the UK, where I developed a deep understanding of how a families sensory world, relationships, and behaviour are all closely connected.
But becoming a mum has deepened this work in a way nothing else could.
I now understand, on a personal level, the weight parents carry, the constant thinking, the second guessing, and the desire to truly understand your child while holding everything else together. This perspective sits at the heart of how I support families.
I work with families of children predominantly 12 years and under focusing on behaviour through a sensory and emotional lens, always grounded in connection, safety, and practical support for the whole family.
A little different to other approaches in my field, I support children to thrive within the context of their family and everyday environments.
Rather than attempting to eliminate behaviours, I seek to understand them for the valuable insights they offer into how a child experiences the world. I work closely with parents to make sense of these patterns together, including helping them understand their own sensory needs and how this shapes their responses day to day. From here, we build practical ways to support not just the child, but the whole family. Empowering families with this perspective is a true privilege.
Why chose us?
Over 19 years of clinical experience in Paediatric Occupational Therapy.
Caring and empathetic support.
Specialising in early intervention including 0-6 years of age.
Globally renowned and research-backed modalities including Theraplay.
We focus on the parent-child relationship and empowering the parent with everything they need to succeed.
Relational, sensory and trauma-informed approaches.
Testimonies of transformation
“After a challenging postpartum year, I was really struggling with my confidence as a new mum. Angela was brilliant in affirming how strong my relationship with my little boy was, highlighting beautiful moments that made me believe in myself again and made me fall even more in love with him.”
— Parent of an 11-month old
“I’m noticing moments that I wouldn’t have noticed before. I would have diregarded them on days she says she hates me. Whereas now, even on a bad day, there have actually been more positive moments.”
— An adoptive parent of 7-year-old
FAQ’s
Still have questions about whether our services are right for you?
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