Neurodiversity-Affirming and Trauma-Informed Occupational Therapy
This workshop explores what it truly means to practise in a neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-informed way, moving beyond buzzwords into meaningful application. Led by an OT with lived experience of neurodivergence, this session creates space to unpack key principles and set practical steps for more inclusive, supportive practice.
Program Overview
******* This session has sold out. If you would like to be added to the waitlist and be notified when the workshop is next scheduled, please send an email to info@otaus.com.au.******
Neurodiversity affirming practice has become a bit of a buzz word, but how do we know if we are actually being neurodiversity affirming? What does this look like in practice and how do we ‘do’ neurodiversity affirming occupational therapy especially when some of our models and systems are steeped in colonisation and ableism? Being neurodiversity affirming and trauma-informed are key parts of occupational therapy practice to ensure we are supporting self-determination, and also take into account all types of inequities, contexts and the intersectionality of different identities of neurodivergent people, so that we can advocate for appropriate supports and reduce harm done by non-affirming therapies.
To be neurodiversity affirming and trauma informed we need to know what this means and have spaces to explore and break down these concepts in order to apply them to practice. By understanding the key principles and setting concrete action steps, occupational therapists will have new tools to support participation and engagement for neurodivergent clients.
The session will be a mixture of didactic content delivery, small and large group discussion, brainstorming, and personal reflection.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand and apply models of neurodiversity affirming practice developed by neurodivergent people
- Understand the overlaps between neurodiversity affirming practice and trauma-informed care and why it’s important for occupational therapy to be both
- Reflect on the importance of understanding intersectionality, power and privilege and how this impacts our practice and the client experience
- Use universal design principles to brainstorm practical strategies to move towards being more neurodiversity affirming and trauma-informed in our own occupational therapy practice
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Occupational therapists at any stage of their career with an interest in trauma-informed and neurodiversity affirming practice.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
DATE:
Friday 28th November 2025
TIME:
12:00pm | NSW | ACT | VIC | TAS |
11:30am | SA |
11:00am | QLD |
10:30am | NT |
9:00am | WA |
This session will run for approximately 90 minutes
Please login to Zoom 10 minutes before the scheduled presentation time
CPD HOURS:
Total CPD claimable workshop hours: 1.5 hours
Please allow 48 hours for your CPD Certificate to be loaded in your CPD Tracker after course completion.
RECORDING ACCESS:
This session WILL NOT BE RECORDED as it is an interactive workshop. Participants will receive course materials online in their OTA account.
REGISTRATION FEES & INCLUSIONS
EARLY BIRD FEES: Register on or before 31st October 2025
OTA Member: $54
Student New Graduate: $49
Non Member: $70
(All pricing is inclusive of GST)
STANDARD FEES: Book on or after 1st November 2025
OTA Member: $60
Student / New Graduate: $54
Non Member: $78
(All pricing is inclusive of GST)
*Registrations close at 11:55pm AEDT on 26th November 2025
Members must be logged in with username and password in order to register at the member rate.
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DISCLAIMER
All information is correct at the time of publication. OTA reserves the right to alter or delete items from the CPD calendar as required, and takes no responsibility for any errors, omissions and changes.
All workshop resources including copies of the presentation, along with all supporting documents and links are not for distribution and are the property of the presenter.
An OTA staff member or representative may be photographing this event for use in OTA publications and/ or on OTA social media sites. If you do not wish to be photographed, or have your image published please make this known to the OTA representative at your course or contact OTA on 1300 682 878 or at info@otaus.com.au
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Terms and Conditions including OTA’s refund and cancellation policy are available here
CONTACT US
Please email info@otaus.com.au or phone 1300 682 878
Presented By
Rebecca Rae-Hodgson
Rebecca is an Occupational Therapist with lived experience of neurodivergence and chronic illness. Known on social media as The Chronically Resilient OT, she has a small private practice working with neurodivergent and chronically ill clients, as well as creating worksheets, writing blogs, and developing and delivering training on topics related to chronic illness and neurodivergence. Current special interest areas are neurodiversity affirming practice, the wellbeing of neurodivergent health professionals, values exploration and sensory processing. She lives in New Zealand and loves board games, books, dogs and gentle nature walks. Rebecca has presented on neurodiversity affirming exploration of sensory preferences for the OTA neurodivergent affirming SIG and has guest lectured for occupational therapy programs for the University of South Queensland and the University of Canberra on wellbeing and neurodivergence. Rebecca recently presented at the OTA National Conference in June, where her workshop on this topic was so well attended it was standing room only!