Wynnum / Manly Occupational Therapy

Music Health Australia was established in 2008 by Sandra Kirkwood, as a network of people interested in music and health--from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. Music Health Australia is also a private practice--successful in obtaining grants for establishing the Purga Music Museum (Ipswich) and researching local music histories, such as the life of renowned Aboriginal tenor, Harold Blair; and the 100-year history of the Ipswich Thistle Pipe Band. Community Music is a movement that supports and energises music-making at all levels of society, not just concert performers, but all the people involved in the music scene. Through Community Music, people can build relationships with their neighbours at the local level and play in bands, or sing in choirs, and contribute to festivals and cultural celebrations. Frameworks for Culturally Engaged Community Music Practice were developed by Sandra Kirkwood (2009) for rural Ipswich, Australia as a case study that has relevance in A...

The landscape of human services is changing throughout 2025 with new Aged Care legislation and NDIS arrangements. Links are posted below, to inform about new developments.  Latest policy and advocacy updates are found online at Occupational Therapy Australia website (30 Oct 2025):  New report on NDIS Psychosocial Access  is available online. The new Aged Care Act came into force on 1 November, 2025. This introduces a range of reforms. These include the new home-based aged care program, Support at Home, which will replace the existing Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care programs. New information has come to hand about the post-budget analysis of the impact on allied health  (1Apr 2025). Occupational Therapy Australia response is available online. NDIS Legislative Reforms came into effect on 3/10/2024. This was followed by announcement of the new Thriving Kids program by the Prime Minister, 20 August 2025 which affects access to services/supports ...

MEDICARE--OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY--3 Jan 2026 Medicare Benefits Schedule  is found on the Australian Government website. MBS benefits are subject to change--according to MBS Online Standard Search | Medicare Benefits Schedule (health.gov.au) Medicare (MBS) Telephone: 13 21 50  for further information Children with an Approved Disability (Complex Neurodev; ASD) with Doctor's referral: 82010 Assessment > 50 min duration (4 sessions permitted--same day): MBS Benefit: $102.60 82025 Therapy > 30 min duration (20 sessions in a lifetime for under 25s): MBS Benefit: $102.60 93036 Telehealth therapy 30+ min duration (4 sessions permitted--same day): MBS Benefit: $102.60 93033 C omplex neurodevelopmental disorder and approved disability telehealth services 30 min duration (4 sessions permitted--same day): MBS benefit  $102.60 93041 Complex neurodevelopmental disorder and approved disability telephone services 50 min duration (4 sessions permitted--same day):  MB...

I came away from the Source Kids Disability Expo with a swag of information and resources. This review shares the new resources that I find interesting as I go through the brochures / catalogues / databases/ displays/ and discuss information about services, and assistive technology. Best news was finding a local supplier: Astris PME at Wynnum.  Displays   One of my favourite displays was 'Make Your Wheelchair Pop' by colourmywheels.com.au They had more than 40 awesome designs by Australian artists for pop-on wheelchair wheel covers. You measure your wheels and make orders online at  Colour My Wheels . This is a way to personalising your wheelchair with Dinosaur Dance, Comic Fun, Boom, Endless Summer or other artworks. States they are eco-friendly, sustainable, Australian made products. Featured artists.  Can customise designs.  Databases 2024 Disability Support Guide a DPS Publication has listings of some disability service providers, their location in ...

  What is new in Term 3?  My new Puppet Pals -- each with a different character -- will join me in telling stories, jokes, making up songs, and yarning with school students.  Puppets can talk about important things... This is especially important for NAIDOC Week because all the puppets are Australian native animals. NAIDOC Week is held from 7-14 July, 2024. It is a national annual celebration of the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. My Puppet Pals are part of Caring for Country and belonging to our Creative Community. We try new things--listening, looking, learning, making and exploring ideas. If we have questions, we ask Elders and people knowledgeable about native wildlife.  The Tasmanian Devil, Spotted Quoll, Bilby, and Cassowary are endangered animals.       Even the Koala's habitat is under threat when bushland and forests are destroyed. Habitat--Observing and Making I used to live and work at Pu...

 I have just heard from my colleague about the  THE BLACKMORES AUSTRALIAN PRO ADAPTIVE SURFING CHAMPIONSHIP | Adaptive Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour  which was held at Byron Bay, March 17-22, 2024. She says, ' Adaptations included:  assisted / probe unassisted / kneeling / standing / intellectually disabled / blind / waveski ... it was an awesome opportunity for people to be classified by Dr Mo who was there providing classifications to  help for the anticipation that it will be accepted as a sport for the next Paralympics now it's in the Olympics.' Adaptive Surfing " Operation Surf Santa Cruz 2015 " by  Presidio of Monterey: DLIFLC & USAG This has started me on a search to learn more about the  Association of Adaptive Surfing (AASP) Professionals  which is the international governing body for professional adaptive surfing.  The Stoke for Life Foundation initiated the structure and leadership team of the AASP.  The S...