Lara Breaker-Rolfe: Occupational Therapy

08/06/2026

⭐️ Are you seeking a functional capacity assessment for an NDIS participant?

I currently have immediate availability for functional capacity assessments across the Gold Coast.

With over 23 years of occupational therapy experience, I provide comprehensive, evidence based assessments that help identify a participants functional abilities, support needs, and recommendations for future NDIS funding and supports.

A functional capacity assessment can assist with:
✅ NDIS plan reviews and reassessments
✅ support supporting access to appropriate funding
✅ identifying support needs across daily living activities
✅ recommend recommendations for therapy, support workers, assistive technology, and home modifications
✅ providing clear evidence to support NDIS decision-making

I have extensive experience supporting children, and adolescents with autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, developmental delay, and complex support needs.

📍Servicing the Gold Coast and surrounding area areas
☎️ Contact me today to discuss your referral or booking assessment

Please feel free to share with families, support coordinators, plan managers, and Allied health professionals who may benefit.

08/06/2026

Immediate availability for functional capacity assessments (FCAs)

04/06/2026

🌿 Understanding everyday functioning — how I use the Vineland-3 in Occupational Therapy

One of the assessments I commonly use in practice is the Vineland-3 (Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales).

The Vineland-3 helps us understand how a child is managing everyday life skills compared to other children of the same age. Rather than focusing on academic skills or diagnosis alone, it looks at how a child is functioning in real-world environments.

It explores areas such as:
✔️ Communication skills
✔️ Daily living skills (e.g. dressing, eating, personal care)
✔️ Social skills and relationships
✔️ Emotional regulation and coping
✔️ Independence and participation in everyday activities

💡 What I find especially valuable is that it captures the experiences of the people who know the child best — usually parents and caregivers.

I use the Vineland-3 alongside clinical observation, parent interviews, and other assessments to better understand:
• A child’s strengths and support needs
• How their challenges impact everyday functioning
• Areas where additional supports may help increase independence and participation

For many families, the Vineland-3 can also form an important part of the evidence used in NDIS applications, reviews, and Functional Capacity Assessments (FCA). It helps demonstrate how a child's functional abilities impact their day-to-day life and can support recommendations for appropriate funding and services.

💛 Assessments are never about reducing a child to a score. They are about building a clear picture of who they are, what is working well, and what supports may help them thrive.

If you have questions about the Vineland-3, Functional Capacity Assessments, or NDIS supports, feel free to reach out — I’m always happy to chat.

Send a message to learn more

03/06/2026

🌿 Understanding your child’s sensory world — how I use the SPM-2

You might hear me mention the SPM-2 (Sensory Processing Measure – Second Edition) as part of an OT assessment, so I wanted to explain what it is and how it helps 😊

The SPM-2 is a questionnaire completed by parents and/or teachers, which helps us understand how a child responds to different types of sensory information in everyday environments — like home, school, and the community.

It looks at areas such as:
✔️ Touch, movement, sound, and visual processing
✔️ Body awareness and coordination
✔️ Social participation and regulation across different settings

💡 What I find especially valuable is that it gives a picture of how a child is functioning across environments, not just in a clinic session.

I use the SPM-2 as another piece of the puzzle, alongside observation and other assessments, to help understand:
• What your child might be seeking or avoiding
• Why certain situations feel overwhelming or challenging
• How their sensory processing is impacting daily life

From there, we can develop practical, meaningful strategies — things that actually work at home, at school, and in real life.

💛 It’s not about labels — it’s about understanding your child and supporting them in a way that feels right for them.

If you have questions about sensory processing or assessments, feel free to reach out — I’m always happy to chat.

Send a message to learn more

02/06/2026

✏️ What is the Beery VMI — and how does it help in OT?

You might hear me talk about the Beery VMI (Visual-Motor Integration) assessment during sessions, so I thought I’d explain how I use it in practice 😊

The Beery VMI looks at how well a child can coordinate what they see with how they move their hands; an important skill for things like:
✔️ Drawing and handwriting
✔️ Cutting and craft tasks
✔️ Copying from the board
✔️ Everyday school activities

During the assessment, children are asked to copy a series of shapes that gradually become more complex. It’s simple, low-pressure, and often feels like a drawing activity for them.

💡 But what’s most important is what we 'do' with that information.

I use the Beery VMI as one piece of the puzzle — alongside observation, parent input, and other assessments — to better understand:
• How your child is processing visual information
• Whether challenges are coming from motor skills, visual perception, or both
• What supports will make the biggest difference

This helps me create practical, targeted strategies that support your child at home, at school, and in everyday activities.

💛 Assessments aren’t about labels — they’re about understanding your child and finding the best way to support them.

If you’re curious about assessments or how OT can help, feel free to reach out — I’m always happy to chat.

Send a message to learn more

01/06/2026

💬 Did you know Medicare offers additional support for children with autism?

Through the Medicare Helping Children with Autism (HCWA) program (now part of the Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders items), children under 13 may be eligible for up to 20 Medicare-rebated therapy sessions (including Occupational Therapy) to support assessment and early intervention.

✨ Here’s a simple breakdown:
• Up to 4 sessions can be used for assessment
• Up to 20 therapy sessions are available overall
• A referral from a paediatrician or psychiatrist is required
• Medicare contributes around $60 per session
• Sessions can be shared across allied health providers (e.g. OT, speech)

These sessions can be really helpful for:
✔️ Building everyday skills
✔️ Supporting regulation and participation
✔️ Developing practical strategies for home and school

💛 Timeframes and eligibility criteria do apply, so it’s important to get the right referrals in place early.

If you’re wondering whether your child might be eligible, feel free to reach out — I’m always happy to help guide you through the process.

01/06/2026

💬 Did you know Medicare can help with the cost of Occupational Therapy?

If your child has a GP (Chronic Disease Management) care plan, they may be eligible for up to 5 allied health sessions per year, including OT.

Medicare currently contributes around $60 per session, which can help reduce the overall cost.

✨ A few helpful things to know:
• The 5 sessions are shared across all allied health providers (e.g. OT, speech, physio)
• A referral from your GP is required
• There is usually a gap fee, depending on the clinic

These sessions can be really valuable for things like:
✔️ Initial assessment of needs
✔️ NDIS applications
✔️ Practical strategies to support your child at home or school

If you’re unsure whether this is right for your child, feel free to reach out — I’m always happy to help guide you 💛