By Abbey Cannan
A rugby based occupational therapy program designed to help kids become part of a team has recently launched in Noosa.
Founded by occupational therapist, Carlien Parahi and Australia’s Rugby Sevens Olympian Jesse Parahi, Sense Rugby gives kids a safe environment where experienced paediatric occupational therapists work with trained rugby players to help kids achieve success.
Along with her partners, occupational therapist Michelle Flaherty will be bringing the program to Noosa to help local kids and families.
Michelle said the program not only offered benefits for the children involved but also their families participating.
“We are currently servicing our therapy clients but are hoping to make this more accessible for other children and their families on the coast,“ she said.
“We work on skill development in regards to motor skills, social skills, and learning how to play a rugby game.
“We want them to feel included in a supportive environment, while finding connections with other families.
“The initiative gives the kids the opportunity to experience a club environment as we are linking within the community including the Noosa Dolphins Rugby Club.“
Michelle said there was a real need for further opportunities on the Sunshine Coast for kids that had been missing out on sport.
“Sometimes we have kids who have big emotional outbursts or they really struggle with a busy club environment so this program is super beneficial for them,“ she said.
“We’re working on a whole heap of extra skills that these kids will benefit from and it’s also a place for families to not feel judged and feel included in the community.
“I’m just so excited about it. We’ve already had a term of running it and a lot of the families have come back and said that the kids are benefiting so much more from it rather than doing one on one therapy in the clinic.
“We’re just starting to get it happening in Noosa and we’re hoping we can eventually extend to other areas as well.“
For more information contact admin@allabilities.com.au or call (07) 5449 0008. Visit www.senserugby.com.au
