THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST WHO BUILDS NEURO-AFFIRMING, TRAUMA-INFORMED THERAPY ENVIRONMENTS A journey creating therapy space based on paediatric neuroscience and psychology
With
Rochelle Mutton,
Director, Founder & Clinical Lead OT
Motivate Kids, Adelaide South Australia & Occupational Therapy Australia member
PEOPLE IN HEALTH CARE SEGMENT
Filmed in Broadview, South Australia | May 2025
Rochelle Mutton is a visionary leader and paediatric occupational therapist, best known for her work in creating neuro-affirming, trauma-informed therapy environments that empower children and families. As the Founder and Lead OT of Motivate Kids in South Australia, she has grown the practice over 8 years from a two-person team into a thriving organisation of over 40 staff across three purpose designed studios.
She pioneered the design and development of the Motivate Kids studio in Broadview, awarded the 2024 HIA-CSR South Australian Housing Award for Best Small Commercial Project. The facility sets a new benchmark for therapeutic environments for children, combining research-informed design with a deep understanding of regulation, sensory and developmental needs.
Grounded in clinical excellence and guided by a relational, values-led philosophy, Rochelle has led the development of holistic, evidence-informed services that extend beyond traditional therapy models—including Motivate Education, Motivate Internship, and programs that build both community and workforce capacity.
With expertise in sensory integration and attachment-based therapy, she mentors the next generation of therapists, advocates for sustainable, values-led service delivery, and collaborates on emerging research to shape the future of paediatric therapy.
At the heart of Rochelle’s work lies a commitment to connection and compassion—ensuring that every child feels safe, seen, and supported.
Source: Supplied and adapted
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Surgeon-scientist path laid for medical device research
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The program is aimed at early career researchers and clinician-scientists working in medical device research specifically in otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat), head and neck surgery.
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Landmark research projects tackle critical issues in emergency healthcare
For two decades, the demand for emergency department services in Australia has outpaced population growth and wait times have increased. In 2022-2023 more than 8.8 million emergency department presentations occurred nationwide.
While demand is a contributing factor, EDs are currently being impacted by various factors across the entire health system.
The Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF) is a non-profit organisation funding innovative Australian research that improves the way people are cared for in a medical emergency. The aim of the research is to deliver better and more effective health services to save lives and money.
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Lasers in dental treatment without needles and drills
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