Individual intensives program for children and young people in Queensland

An AHA individual intensive is a targeted therapy program designed to help children and young people consolidate and refine skills they have been assessed for and trained in by their occupational therapist, physiotherapist or speech pathologist. These sessions, delivered by an AHA under the supervision of the primary therapist, provide regular and focused practice to reinforce skill development in a familiar and engaging environment.

Key benefits: 

Locking in skills: Intensive, structured practice helps children move from learning a new skill to using it confidently in daily life. Repetition and real-world application are essential for skill retention and independence.

Maximising NDIS funding: AHAs provide a cost-effective way to extend therapy by delivering hands-on support at a lower cost, allowing families to stretch their NDIS plan further while ensuring their child receives frequent, high-quality intervention.

Best practice in disability support: Research highlights that AHAs play a valuable role in disability therapy when they work under the supervision of an Allied Health Professional (AHP), ensuring continuity of care, goal-focused sessions and evidence-based strategies tailored to the child's needs.

Examples of skills targeted: 

• Occupational therapy: Fine motor skills (e.g. handwriting, self-care tasks), sensory regulation, functional independence 
• Physiotherapy: Strength, balance, mobility, coordination for improved movement and participation 
• Speech pathology: Communication skills, social interaction, speech clarity, language development

By embedding regular, structured practice into therapy programs, individual intensives empower children to make meaningful progress while ensuring families get the most value from their NDIS funding. 

This physiotherapy-led intensive program is designed for children and young people who are blind or have low vision to explore and engage in sports or recreational activities that match their interests and strengths. It’s perfect for students during school holidays, and for school leavers building their lifestyle as a young adult.

The physiotherapist will work one-on-one with each participant to:

• identify a sport or activity they are interested in and assess their capacity or innate talent
• develop core skills and a deep understanding of the sport, including techniques, rules and strategies
• build physical confidence through strength, balance, endurance and fitness training
• prepare them for community participation by linking them to local clubs, teams or programs
• support their coaches and teammates, providing guidance to ensure an inclusive and successful sporting experience.

Sports may include goalball, blind tennis, blind cricket, soccer/blind football, swimming, athletics, dance, circus, cycling, rowing, sailing, triathlon, gymnastics and more. 
This program empowers young people to develop competence, confidence, and a lifelong connection to sport and active recreation. 

Our individual intensive speech pathology programs are designed to support children, teenagers and young adults who are blind or have low vision in developing communication, social interaction and language skills. Sessions are tailored to each participant’s needs and provide focused, high-repetition practice to build speech clarity, expressive and receptive language skills, and confidence in communication across different environments.

This program integrates key areas of the expanded core curriculum (ECC) to promote independence and participation:

• Compensatory access skills: Developing alternative communication methods such as tactile symbols, braille and auditory strategies.
• Sensory efficiency: Using residual hearing, tactile feedback and adaptive technology to enhance communication.
• Independent living skills: Improving communication skills for daily routines, self-advocacy and accessing the community.
• Social interaction skills: Enhancing conversational skills, turn-taking and self-expression in social settings.
• Self-determination: Building confidence in using expressive language to make choices and advocate for personal needs.  

Our individual intensive occupational therapy programs are designed to support children, teenagers, and young adults who are blind or have low vision in developing fine motor skills, daily living skills, adaptive strategies, and environmental navigation. Sessions are tailored to each participant’s needs and provide focused, high-repetition practice to build independence in self-care, school tasks, and functional participation in daily routines.

This program integrates key areas of the expanded core curriculum (ECC) to promote independence and participation:

• Compensatory access skills: Using adaptive strategies, tools and technology to perform daily tasks independently.
• Sensory efficiency: Enhancing touch, proprioception and auditory skills for fine motor and functional activities.
• Independent living skills: Developing self-care routines such as dressing, grooming, cooking and home management.
• Social interaction skills: Encouraging confidence in engaging with peers, teamwork and participation in group activities.
• Recreation and leisure skills: Supporting engagement in hobbies, creative activities and community participation.
• Self-determination: Setting personal goals for independence and developing self-advocacy in daily life. 

Orientation and Mobility (O&M) for children and young people focuses on developing the skills needed to navigate their environments safely, confidently, and independently. It includes training in spatial awareness, cane techniques, use of assistive technology, and safe travel in various settings such as schools, public spaces, and transport systems. O&M instruction empowers students who are blind or have low vision to participate fully in their communities and access educational and social opportunities.