At Ability Action Australia, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to get more out of life today, no matter where they live.
For six-year-old Axel and his grandparents on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, accessing consistent support wasn’t easy. But through our established Outreach Service, Axel and his family have experienced the life-changing impact of child- and family-centred Occupational Therapy (OT).
Meet Axel
When we first met Alex in June 2023, he was attending school for no more than half a day per week due to behavioural and attention challenges. School tasks could become overwhelming for Axel, and he would respond with aggression, avoidance, or by running away. His grandparents, who are Axel’s primary carers, reached out to Ability Action Australia for support.
Practical Tools, Personalised Care
Via Ability Action Australia’s Outreach Service, we were able to provide consistent, personalised support to Axel and his family in their own environment on Kangaroo Island.
Through a combination of regular in-person visits from our clinician and telehealth sessions between appointments, we ensured continuity of care, keeping Axel’s progress on track and allowing for ongoing guidance.
Axel’s clinician introduced a range of evidence-based, practical strategies tailored to Axel’s unique needs and learning style, including:
- Visual schedules and timers to support routine and reduce anxiety
- Social stories and reward-based activities to encourage positive behaviour
- A sensory diet and kitchen activities to help Axel with behaviour and independence
- Modelling appropriate play behaviours in competitive games, such as turn-taking, to build social and emotional skills
- Zones of Regulation training for Axel and his family, helping them all better understand emotions and self-regulation
- Intentional exposure to challenging tasks alongside immediate feedback and guidance on regulation strategies
At every step, the clinician’s focus was on collaboration with Axel, his grandparents, and his educators. This helped to build a strong support system that empowered everyone involved.
Action with Impact
Today, Axel is participating more fully in daily routines and school life, and has been able to join excursions with confidence and independence. He is able to engage in challenging tasks for longer periods of time, and with adult support is able to regulate and then re-engage if the task becomes overwhelming.
Axel’s emotional awareness has also improved. He has fewer outbursts and is learning to remove himself from difficult situations as a healthy coping mechanism.
Axel’s progress has had a ripple effect on his family, school community, and future. His grandparents now feel more equipped and supported, and his teachers are better able to include him in classroom activities.
Quality Support, No Matter the Location
At Ability Action Australia, we’re proud to offer Outreach Services that bring quality, personalised occupational therapy, speech pathology, positive behaviour support and more to families in regional and remote areas. Our team is passionate about creating positive, meaningful change through flexible, child- and family-centred supports.
Need support for your child? We’re here to help, wherever you are.
If you want to learn more about our services or discuss how we can support your child, please reach out to our friendly team at hello@abilityactionaustralia.com.au or 1800 238 958.
