Sleep As An Occupation: The Importance Of Addressing Sleep Within Therapy

Episode 56: When Schools Say Everything is Fine

In this episode, Caitlin is joined by Emily and Caity to unpack when families and clinicians are told that "everything's fine at school." They explore the role of masking, why fluctuating functioning means "fine" participation often comes at a cost paid at home and how mixed presentations across settings can complicate diagnosis, delay support, and leave families feeling disbelieved.  The team shares their own experiences of what it has looked like when working with schools to build participation for their clients, and how clinicians can support schools to notice needs that aren't always visible on the surface.  Relevant episode links:  Association for Children with Disability: https://acd.org.au/ [https://acd.org.au/] For access to free tools, clinical resources, and early access to Kid Link OT courses, all in your inbox. Join the list at https://mailchi.mp/kidlink/mailing-list-sign-ups  For on-demand learning from the Kid Link team, see our full catalogue of courses here:  https://www.kidlinkeducation.com.au/ This podcast is brought to you by Kid Link Occupational Therapy. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @pip.cast We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live here in Mitcham, Victoria. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and recognise their ongoing connection to the land, waterways, and culture. As we support children and families, we are inspired by the wisdom and care that First Nations peoples have shown for generations. Music by Daniel Pavey  ·  Produced by Michael Daniels

Episode 55: From Overwhelmed to Empowered - Parent Coaching with Jacqui Ornellas

In this episode, Jackie and Georgia are joined by Jacqui Ornellas Snider, paediatric Occupational Therapist and ICF PCC-level Coach, to explore what it really means to bring a Coach Approach into paediatric practice. Together they unpack the core principles of coaching - from believing the client is the expert in their own life, to resisting the urge to fix - and what genuinely separates a coaching mindset from simply being a warm, curious clinician. From navigating the complexity of a teenager and parent in the same room with competing agendas, to knowing what to do when a family just wants you to tell them what to do, this episode gets practical. Whether you're an OT, speech pathologist, psychologist, or physio, you'll walk away with a clearer sense of what a coaching moment looks like mid-session - and at least one thing you can try tomorrow. Be sure to follow us on instagram @pip.cast  This podcast is brought to you by Kid Link Occupational Therapy.  We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live here in Mitcham, Victoria. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and recognize their ongoing connection to the land, waterways, and culture. As we support children and families, we are inspired by the wisdom and care that First Nations peoples have shown for generations. Music by Daniel Pavey  Produced by Michael Daniels  Relevant Episode Links: https://jacquisnider.com.au [https://jacquisnider.com.au/]

Episode 54: The Eighth Sense: Interoception in Paediatric Practice

In this episode, Caitlin is joined by Danni and Dayna to explore interoception - the often-overlooked sense that tells us what's happening inside our own bodies. From hunger and thirst to heartbeat and emotional states, the team discuss how interoception underpins so much of how children regulate, connect, and navigate their day - and when it works differently, the ripple effects can show up across feeding, behaviour, emotional regulation, and learning. The conversation goes beyond an OT lens, exploring why interoception is relevant for all clinicians. The team bring their caseload experience to the table, sharing what interoceptive differences actually look like in practice, and how to support a child in building their interoceptive awareness. Relevant episode links:  https://www.kelly-mahler.com/ [https://www.kelly-mahler.com/] Reference discussed: Khalsa, S. S., Adolphs, R., Cameron, O. G., Critchley, H. D., Davenport, P. W., Feinstein, J. S., Feusner, J. D., Garfinkel, S. N., Lane, R. D.,Mehling,W. E., Meuret, A. E., Nemeroff, C. B., Oppenheimer, S., Petzschner, F. H., Pollatos, O., Rhudy, J. L., Schramm, L. P., Simmons, W. K., Stein,M.B., Stephan, K. E., Interoception Summit 2016 participants (2018). Interoception and Mental Health: A Roadmap. Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging, 3(6), 501–513. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsc.2017.12.004 Be sure to follow us on Instagram @pip.cast Link to Kid Link’s upcoming live webinar:  Kids, Teens, And Digital Tech: Essentials for Clinicians https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/kids-teens-and-digital-tech-essentials-for-clinicians-tickets-1989626822385 For access to free tools, clinical resources, and early access to Kid Link OT courses, all in your inbox. Join the list at https://mailchi.mp/kidlink/mailing-list-sign-ups  This podcast is brought to you by Kid Link Occupational Therapy. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live here in Mitcham, Victoria. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and recognise their ongoing connection to the land, waterways, and culture. As we support children and families, we are inspired by the wisdom and care that First Nations peoples have shown for generations. Music by Daniel Pavey  ·  Produced by Michael Daniels

Episode 53: Rethinking Career Progression

In this episode, Jac sits down with Mik and Cowie to challenge the default "team leader is the only way up" pathway that is often promoted in allied health. They explore what career progression could look like if it was  less like a ladder and more like a rock wall? Sometimes up, sometimes sideways, sometimes back a step to leverage forward. They unpack why great clinicians don't always make great managers, how to design roles around your team's strengths, and why progression should be about about widening your impact, not how many people report to you. Be sure to follow us on instagram @pip.cast  This podcast is brought to you by Kid Link Occupational Therapy.  We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live here in Mitcham, Victoria. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and recognize their ongoing connection to the land, waterways, and culture. As we support children and families, we are inspired by the wisdom and care that First Nations peoples have shown for generations. Music by Daniel Pavey  Produced by Michael Daniels

Episode 52: Handwriting - When to Move On and What to Move On To

In this episode, Caitlin is joined by Maddie and Emily to talk about one of those questions that many paediatric clinicians wrestle with but don't always say out loud: when do you stop chasing the handwriting goal, and what do you do instead? They dig into the clinical signals that it might be time to take a different approach, how to have that conversation with families, what alternatives like typing and voice-to-text actually look like in practice, and  how to help families imagine a positive future for their child that doesn't centre on neat handwriting. Be sure to follow us on instagram @pip.cast  This podcast is brought to you by Kid Link Occupational Therapy.  We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live here in Mitcham, Victoria. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and recognize their ongoing connection to the land, waterways, and culture. As we support children and families, we are inspired by the wisdom and care that First Nations peoples have shown for generations. Music by Daniel Pavey  Produced by Michael Daniels