A day in the life of an Occupational Therapist

An insight into 'OT' with Dhinashie Wathukarage, Paediatric Occupational Therapist at Aruma’s children’s clinic in Bayswater.

An Occupational Therapist, a job title commonly known by its shorter, more mysterious term, an ‘OT’, is an important role in the healthcare community.  

Occupational Therapy focuses on supporting people to develop the skills and ability to participate in meaningful activities, these activities are also called ‘occupations’, hence the term – Occupational Therapy.   

We sat down with Dhinashie Wathukarage, Paediatric Occupational Therapist at Aruma’s children’s clinic in Bayswater to find out what exactly an ‘OT’ does, and why it’s so important for children with a disability.  

Tell us a little about your role? 

As a Paediatric Occupational Therapist, I work on supporting children to in their daily tasks and play. We focus on enhancing a child’s independence and performance across all environments – school, home or kindergarten. 

 There are some key areas we focus on such as fine motor skills, gross motor skills, self-care skills, self-regulation skills (sensory regulation and emotional regulation), social and play skills. The flexibility of my role allows me to develop truly individualised plans and supports that cater to the unique needs of each young person.  

An essential part of my role is to collaborate and work with parents and carers to empower them with the skills and confidence to support their child’s development and learning.   

What made you want to study and pursue Occupational Therapy? 

I’ve always had a caring and empathetic nature, earning me the nickname “mother” of my friend group. At the end of year 12, I was torn between becoming a nurse or an occupational therapist. I ultimately chose OT because I was drawn to the wide variety of areas to work in, including mental health, hospitals, community settings, paediatrics, and rehabilitation.  

I also loved that my role involves supporting people in pursuing their interests and discovering what brings meaning to their lives—whether it’s learning to kick a football or making their own breakfast. 

What are the highlights of your role? 

One of the biggest highlights of my role is celebrating the little victories with the children and families I work with. I get to see those small steps of success as they make progress toward their larger NDIS goals. For example, I supported a child to learn how to tie her shoelaces so she could wear these really cool green sneakers she wanted to wear to school.  This brings me genuine joy.  

I also love the idea that one day, a child I’ve worked with will look back on their journey and remember me as someone who helped them develop skills that boosted their confidence and self-esteem. 

Can you give us a run down of a day in your life as an Occupational Therapist? 

The workday kicks off! I grab my go-to coffee and settle in for a quick email check. I love this time—it’s my chance to connect and clear my inbox. Once I’ve tackled those tasks, I set up my day so I have everything I need ready to make the most of the time I have with the children and families I am working with. 

My days are dynamic! No two days are the same I see families, children and young people in a range of different environments across the day (in clinic, in the community, schools and early education settings).  I sometimes head out for outreach sessions at local schools or in the community. These visits are incredibly rewarding!  It’s always great to work with children and families in their community.  

One of my favourite success stories involves a client who initially had trouble sitting with a plate of new food without moving away or becoming distressed. The focus of our work together was exploring different foods, now they confidently explore a broad range of food with support. Just last week, they tried a new sandwich peanut butter and jam! These transformations make my work incredibly rewarding. 

I always take time for a lunch break recharge and connect with my colleagues in the middle of the day. I finish my day by completing any admin tasks I have and do a quick check of my emails and check in with team members. 

Any rumours, or frequently asked questions you would like to address? 

I believe there isn’t a widespread understanding of what occupational therapists do. 

It’s also a common misconception that paediatric occupational therapy is just about play. While OT does focus on the use of play which can be anything a child does that is fun, engaging and motivating for each individual child.  

Every action a child takes during play provides us with valuable insights into their motor skills, cognitive abilities, and social interactions.  

For example, observing how a child uses their hands can reveal a lot about their hand dominance and fine motor control. Their ability to follow game rules can indicate cognitive processing skills, and their overall posture can tell us about their physical stability. 

So yes, we use play as a tool, but the work we do is layered and impactful, helping children develop vital skills that will support them in everyday activities. It’s all about making meaningful connections through play! 

If you’re interested in learning more about our Occupational Therapy services, give us a call 1300 538 746 or contact us online.