Helen Walker Occupational Therapy

21/08/2026

Today we’re celebrating someone very special – our wonderful founder and director, Helen Walker! 🎂

Helen is the heart behind Helen Walker Occupational Therapy, and anyone who has had the pleasure of working with her knows just how much she genuinely cares about the people around her.

Whether she’s supporting a client and their family, mentoring another clinician or helping one of us navigate a particularly tricky situation, Helen always brings warmth, compassion and an incredible amount of knowledge to everything she does. She has a wonderful ability to really see the person in front of her, listen to what matters to them, and keep looking for a way forward.

Behind the scenes, we also get to see the Helen who loves a good laugh and a good coffee, a walk in nature, sandy feet at the beach, quiet spa moments and time spent with the people she loves.

Helen, we hope that today you get the chance to slow down, fill your own cup for a change, and be thoroughly spoiled.

Please help us wish Helen a very Happy Birthday today! We hope the year ahead is a wonderful one. 🩷🩵💚🥳

20/08/2026

OT Helen had a fantastic time last week attending training on Understanding Visual Perceptual Skills in Children....delivered by the ever wonderful Chris Chapparo 🙌.

A crammed 2 days of up to date theories and evidence based strategies to take back to the team...and to bring to our client sessions....both young and adult.

Thanks Zi Mei Events.

Sooo looking forward to applying this theory to practice 🔎👀

19/08/2026

14/08/2026

Time to grab a Calming Cocoon TM before the lovely Becca closes her doors for ventures new!

📣 CLOSING DOWN 31st August

As OTs at HWOT we have LOVED LOVED LOVED using these cocoons with our clients for emotional and sensory regulation 💗. Definitely a key part of our sessions.

Please contact Becca or follow her social media for direct queries or purchases....

ALL premade stock is available for purchase with Pick UP available in North Lakes, QLD or for standard delivery fee until 31st August.

Calming Cocoon TM
www.calmingcocoon.com.au

We wish Becca the best of luck in her new venture.. 🍀

www.infinitesoulspace.com.au

11/08/2026

Helen Walker Occupational Therapy is closed today, Wednesday 12 August, for the Brisbane Ekka public holiday. 🎡

Our team will return to normal service tomorrow, Thursday 13 August.

If you need to get in touch, you’re welcome to send us an email or leave a message, and we will respond when we return.

For those heading along to the Ekka, we hope you have a wonderful day. And for those enjoying a quieter public holiday at home, we hope your day is safe, restful and lovely. 💙🩵🩷

07/08/2026

📅 Ekka Public Holiday Closure

Just a friendly reminder that Helen Walker Occupational Therapy will be closed on Wednesday 12 August for the Brisbane Ekka public holiday.

Our team will be taking a short break and will return to our usual hours on Thursday 13 August.

If you need to get in touch, please feel free to leave us a voicemail or send us an email. We'll get back to you as soon as possible when we return.

We hope everyone enjoys a safe and relaxing Ekka holiday, whether you're heading to the show or simply enjoying a well-earned day off!

04/08/2026

📢📢📢 Important health services information:
For clients, health professionals and organisations working with clients with Intellectual Impairment and/or Autism

Have you heard of Queensland Centre of Excellence for Intellectual Disability and Autism Health (QCEIDAH)?

Some of you may have previously known this service as their former name - Mater Intellectual Disability and Autism Service (MIDAS) - or the Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Development Disabilities (QCIDD).

At HWOT, we support a number of clients to access this service but have recently become aware they may not be that well known in the current NDIS environment - OT Helen and Social Worker Bec having known and worked with them since delivering services as Queensland Disability Services clinicians.

QCEIDAH run a specialist outpatient service at the Mater Hospital, Brisbane. They support patients 16 years and over with intellectual disability and/or autistic people who have complex health or mental health needs. This includes their long-standing weekly QCEIDAH clinic, dedicated Down syndrome clinic and private psychology clinic.

QCEIDAH are focussed on improving healthcare and health outcomes for people with intellectual disability and those on the autism spectrum, aiming to break down barriers in healthcare.

Their team of psychiatrists, general practitioners, nurses, psychologists, allied health professionals and researchers—including research assistants with lived experience—are devoted to improving the health and mental health of people with intellectual disability and those on the autism spectrum.

QCEIDAH accept referrals from GPs and medical specialists. Their intake and triage team are always super helpful by email or phone call.

To find out more if they can help you, a loved one or a client, check out their website:
🌐https://www.qceidah.com.au/

Referrals and enquiries can be made to:
📩[email protected]
📞07 3163 2412

OT Helen (back right) and Social Worker Bec (front right) are seen here with QCEIDAH's Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Melanie Johnston (back left) and nurse Shauna (front left).

We LOVE your work and are so grateful for you to be able support some of our most in-need clients, where previously barriers have meant reduced or NO access to much needed healthcare 🩷🩵💚

Definitely get in touch to see if the team can help you🙌

Qld Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability and Autism Health

24/07/2026

📱 Heads Up! A National Mobile Alert Test is Coming

On Monday 27 July at approximately 2:00 pm (AEST), a national test of Australia's new AusAlert emergency warning system will be sent to compatible mobile phones, tablets and some smart watches across the country.

When the test alert arrives, your device may:
📳 Vibrate
🚨 Play a loud siren-like sound for around 10 seconds
📱 Turn the screen on automatically

This will happen even if your device is on silent or Do Not Disturb, and you can't opt out of receiving the test.

For many people this will simply be an interesting reminder that Australia's new emergency alert system is being tested. However, for some of our clients, families and carers an unexpected loud sound can be distressing.

If you think the alert may cause anxiety or sensory overload, it may help to:
• Talk about it beforehand so everyone knows what to expect.
• Consider turning devices off or placing them in aeroplane mode before 2:00 pm if appropriate for your circumstances.
• Leave devices off for at least one hour if you choose this option.

Most importantly...

🚨 This is only a test. There is no action you need to take.

For more information about the national test, visit the AusAlert website:
https://www.ausalert.gov.au

23/07/2026

🎉 Happy 1 Year Anniversary, Krystal! 🎉

Today we're celebrating one year since Krystal joined the Helen Walker Occupational Therapy team as our Practice Assistant.

Over the past year, Krystal has become an invaluable part of our team, helping keep everything running behind the scenes while making sure our clients, families and clinicians feel welcomed and supported every step of the way.

Whether she's answering the phone, assisting with invoicing, coordinating appointments or helping keep our day-to-day operations on track, Krystal approaches every task with kindness, patience and genuine care. Her calm presence and willingness to help make a real difference, not only to our team but to the many families she speaks with each week.

Thank you, Krystal, for everything you've contributed over the past 12 months. We appreciate your hard work, your positive attitude and the care you bring to your role every day.

Happy one-year anniversary! We look forward to many more years with you as part of the HWOT family. 💙🩷🩵

19/07/2026

Our team had such a fun get together yesterday to celebrate our lovely OT Tash's upcoming wedding.

We are celebrating her early, in truly planned and organised OT style, with Tash taking some leave from work in September for her wedding and then in November for her honeymoon.

And of course with a DOING activity, wedding tattoos (for that sensory input and fine motor task) and a definite sequencing challenge 🤣.

Please join us in wishing her well for an amazing day, huge congratulations Tash 🎉🎊👰‍♂️🤵