Supporting children to flourish through
relationship-based practice
Play & Learn Occupational Therapy was founded in 2014 with a simple but profound goal—to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and their families through accessible, relationship-focused support.
Our journey
We started as a small community-based OT practice working with children and families in western Adelaide. Over the past decade, we’ve built trust through genuine collaborative partnerships, working in natural settings where children actually live and learn. What began as clinical services has evolved into something more comprehensive.
We realised that the expertise we’ve built over 70+ years collective experience could support more children by empowering the adults around them—families, educators, and fellow clinicians. Today, Play & Learn OT operates as western Adelaide’s paediatric resource hub, offering:
– Accessible training across three streams (clinicians, educators, families)
– Community-based occupational therapy services
– Embedded school consultation partnerships
– Professional supervision and mentoring for paediatric OTs But our core hasn’t changed.
We still believe children learn best when they feel safe and connected. We still work collaboratively. We still meet children and families where they are.
What guides everything we do
LIFE & JOY Even when things are hard, there’s room for celebration, connection, and experiences that matter.
PEOPLE, NOT CASES You’re not a diagnosis or a number. We take time to understand who you are.
PRACTICAL EXPERTISE We know how to solve complex problems, navigate systems, and make participation achievable.
PLAIN SPEAKING No medical jargon, no corporate waffle. Just clear, honest information.
INCLUSIVE PRACTICE We respect diverse family structures, neurodiversity, and all ways of being in the world.
How we work
RELATIONSHIP & CONNECTION BEFORE SKILLS Children can’t learn when they’re in survival mode. We prioritise emotional safety, connection, and co-regulation before expecting skill development.
COMMUNITY-BASED, NATURAL SETTINGS We work with children in their everyday environments—at home, in childcare, at school. Therapy happens where children actually live and learn, making strategies practical and achievable.
COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS You’re the expert on your child, students, or clients. We bring occupational therapy expertise, but genuine support happens when we problem-solve together.
ACCESSIBLE WITHOUT COMPROMISING EXPERTISE We make complex child development concepts digestible. No jargon unless it’s necessary, and then we explain it. Practical strategies you can actually use.
PLAY-BASED & CHILD-LED Play is a child’s job. We follow their interests, build on their strengths, and make learning feel like fun rather than work. CURIOSITY DRIVES OUR PRACTICE We bring decades of experience, but each child, family, and situation is unique. We stay curious, keep learning, and adapt our approach to what actually works for you.
NEURODIVERSITY-AFFIRMING We respect different ways of being, learning, and experiencing the world. Support should honour who children are, not try to “fix” them.
Rachel van der Linden
Rachel has been supporting children and families since 1993, working across Australia and the UK. She’s passionate about helping children navigate learning and daily activities through relationship-based practice in natural settings. Over 30+ years, Rachel has integrated approaches from sensory processing to neurodiversity-affirming practice, parent coaching to clinical supervision. She believes in working within natural routines and building genuine partnerships with families. Rachel is also deeply committed to empowering fellow paediatric OTs, supporting colleagues to reflect on and enhance their clinical reasoning.
Nicole Oppermann
Nicole graduated in 1996 and has worked across diverse settings in Australia and the UK. For the past decade, she’s focused on paediatrics—supporting children to build on existing skills and develop new capabilities for everyday participation. Known for building strong collaborative relationships with families, teaching staff, and other practitioners, Nicole believes the best outcomes happen through teamwork. She’s particularly skilled in school-based OT, and creating supportive environments for children. Nicole also tutors at UniSA, sharing her experience with future occupational therapists.
Steph Carman
Since graduating in 2008, Steph has primarily worked with children and families in community settings—homes, childcare centres, kindergartens, and schools. Steph focuses on building relationships among children, families, and educators to deepen understanding of child development. She’s skilled at seamlessly integrating therapy into daily routines so strategies feel natural rather than added tasks. With training across communication, feeding, parent training, and sleep support, Steph brings a holistic, family-centred approach to supporting children’s participation in everyday life.
We're hiring
We’re looking for an awesome OT to join our team. If you think you’d be a good fit, please get in touch. Imagine doing the work you love, with the time, support and flexibility to do it well.
Come join our team to bring that vision to life.