Sarah Smith Occupational Therapy

27/05/2026

Early Career OT's! Come along this Friday to sharpen your assessment skills!

23/05/2026

Due to illness, last week’s OT Sparks Group Supervision session has been rescheduled.

Now running: Friday 12 June 2026
10:00am – 11:30am AEST
Alike Health, The Junction NSW or online

A few additional spots are now available.

Topic: Balancing Clinical and Administrative Demands

This practical group supervision session is for OTs juggling clinical reasoning, documentation, reports, emails, funding conversations and competing workload demands.

We will explore cognitive load, administrative pressure, and practical ways to protect clinical thinking during busy weeks.

Bookings via Humanitix:
events.humanitix.com/ot-sparks-2026

19/05/2026

Hi Everyone, there are still spots available for this Fridays group supervision. Come along!

12/05/2026

OT Sparks: Foundations for Practice
Session 5: The Assessment Toolkit

This session is all about the core assessment skills that early career OTs are still building in those first years of practice.

We’ll be looking at how to gather useful information, observe with purpose, choose assessment tools that fit the person and context, and strengthen the thinking that sits behind the assessment process.

Designed for new graduate and early career OTs wanting structured support alongside 1:1 supervision.

Friday 29 May 2026
10.00am – 11.30am AEST
The Junction NSW or online

Bookings via QR code

08/05/2026

This is the Home Modifications Decision Prompt Tool.

I made this one because home mods work can get very busy, very quickly.

There’s often risk to consider, pressure to get the recommendation written, funding requirements to address, and multiple people with different opinions about what should happen next.

And somewhere in the middle of all that, the actual clinical reasoning can get a bit buried.

For me, the most useful thing in those moments is to slow the thinking down before racing into solutions.

What is the person actually trying to do?

What is driving the need for intervention?

What has already been tried, considered, or ruled out?

What factors are shaping the decision?

Once those pieces are clearer, the recommendation usually starts to make a lot more sense.

This way of thinking is not new. Most experienced OTs are already asking these questions in some form. I just wanted to turn that reasoning process into something practical, visible, and easy to use.

So this resource is a prompt tool.

Something to help organise the thinking before jumping into formal recommendation writing, especially when there are competing priorities, imperfect options, or a few possible pathways.

I hope it’s useful.

You can download it here: https://ssoccupationaltherapy.com/home-mods-decision-tool

05/05/2026

OT Sparks | Session 5✨
Balancing clinical and administrative demands

This session explores how growing administrative demands impact cognitive load and the quality of clinical reasoning. We’ll map where attention and energy are being used, then redesign workflows to reduce overload and protect time for high‑value clinical decision making - supporting smarter, more sustainable practice.

📅 Session details
🗓 Friday 22nd May 2026
⏰ 10:00–11:30am
📍 Alike Specialist Medical & Healthcare Hub, The Junction
💻 Online attendance available

🎟 Tickets available via Humanitix:
👉 https://events.humanitix.com/ot-sparks-2026

📘 Program information:
👉 https://ssoccupationaltherapy.com/ot-sparks

05/05/2026

27/04/2026

It’s easy to assume OT recommendations are about equipment.

Often, they’re not.

A good recommendation starts with understanding what someone is actually trying to do, what’s getting in the way, and what matters most to them.

From there, it becomes about fit.

Fit between the person, the task, the environment, and the supports around them.

Sometimes that leads to equipment.
Sometimes it doesn’t.

The goal is always the same — something that is practical, usable, and actually works in everyday life.

That’s what good OT recommendations aim to do.

If you’re working through a tricky situation or not sure what the right next step looks like, feel free to reach out.

24/04/2026

If you’ve ever tried to call and we’ve missed each other — this is for you.

I’ve added a free 15-minute OT Quick Chat that you can book online.

It’s a set time for a quick conversation about referrals, assessments, or how OT might help in a situation.

No back and forth. Just book a time that works.

Booking link here -->https://sarah-smith-occupational-therapy-1.splose.com/online-booking/c2e7fa2b-2ec3-434c-8b1b-fdb8f7f2993f

20/04/2026

Calling all new grad and early-career OTs 👋

Session 4 is coming up next Friday (24/04/26)

YOUR OT BRAIN:
Developing Strong Clinical Reasoning Skills

OT Sparks: Foundations for Practice is a 12-month professional development and supervision program for early-career occupational therapists, delivered in collaboration with Alike Health.

Designed for OTs working in community and private practice, the program supports therapists who may feel underprepared for the complexity of real-world caseloads, clinical decision-making, and professional expectations. OT Sparks bridges that gap through structured learning, practical skill development, and supportive peer-based supervision.

The program runs monthly and offers a hybrid format - in person at Alike Health in Newcastle, with an online option available for OTs across Australia. Sessions focus on real clinical challenges, guided reflection, confidence-building, and developing sustainable habits for long-term practice.

This program is ideal for:
✔️ New graduate and early-career OTs (0–5 years)
✔️ Community and private practice clinicians
✔️ OTs working with mixed or complex caseloads
✔️ OTs seeking structured support alongside 1:1 supervision

Flexible ticket options are available, including single sessions, bundles, or the full 12-month program.

🎟️ Tickets are available here: https://events.humanitix.com/ot-sparks-foundations-for-practice (link in bio)

More info on the program can be found on Sarah’s website:

🔗 https://ssoccupationaltherapy.com/foundations-for-practice