Wynnum / Manly Occupational Therapy

Photograph: Esk Community Choir (Alexis Fitzgerald, music director) is involved with many aspects of making music. The World Health Organization released the   International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), 2025. This is important because music is part of our daily lives--including musical production, communication, writing / composing, rehearsing, listening, using assistive products and technology for culture, recreation and sport. The ICF provides a unified classification and terminology that can be used internationally for education, health, research. Music is described in this way in the newly revised ICF, 2025: b3400 Production of tones Functions of production of musical vocal sounds. d3151 Communicating with - receiving - general signs and symbols Comprehending the meaning represented by public signs and symbols, such as traffic signs, warning symbols, musical or scientific notations, and icons. d3351 Producing signs ...

Therapist working in Schools 1984--2024  During the last 40 years, I have worked in schools in south-east Queensland as an Occupational Therapist and Music Instructor (piano). Looking back, I am developing a list of ideas that work well for therapists as we begin the new school year in 2025. This may inform the development of ad hoc therapy support services in schools.      Occupational Therapist   (CC Attribution)                                   Petrie Tce State School--1970  By 'ad hoc,' I mean therapy services provided indirectly to school students in schools--by a range of parent-controlled and community service groups. The funding can be sourced through NDIS, Medicare, private and health insurance or other non-government funds. There is a constellation of therapy services that operate within schools in various ways--with varying lev...

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 ...