September 11, 2025 • 15 mins
In this episode of Link-up and Learn With Live, Sarah talked to Amanda Trist, an area manager and occupational therapist from New South Wales, to explore What Is Occupational Therapy & Why Does It Matter? . Amanda demystifies OT, illustrating it as a means to help individuals perform significant daily tasks, enhancing their independence and quality of life. Through real-life stories, Amanda showcases the profound impact of OT and its person-centered approach. This holistic therapy involves collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, including families and care teams, to tailor strategies that truly empower individuals to thrive in their everyday environments.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker A (00:00):
Foreign.
Speaker B (00:08):
Learn with Live Big.
I'm Sarah,
and today we're diving into the world ofoccupational therapy.
What it is,
why it matters, and how it's transforminglives.
Joining me is Amanda Trist.
She's a area manager for New South Wales andan occupational therapist.
Amanda works directly with individuals andfamilies to create lasting, positive
(00:31):
occupational change.
Amanda,
how would you describe occupational therapy tosomeone unfamiliar with it?
Speaker A (00:40):
Thanks, Sarah.
Well, to let you know what occupational
therapy is, it's often a very difficultconcept for the general population to
understand.
The title doesn't really explain all thatmuch.
What is occupation?
Well, occupational therapy is all abouthelping people to do the things that matter
(01:00):
most to them in their everyday life.
Now, that could be getting dressed, going toschool, cooking a meal,
accessing the community,
or joining in on social activities.
Here at live big, our OTs work with people ofall ages and abilities to build the skills and
confidence they need to live moreindependently and meaningfully.
(01:25):
So the occupation is not about jobs, but it'sabout everyday life.
So that's what occupational therapy is allabout.
Speaker B (01:36):
Sounds very beneficial.
How about if you could share a moment or a
story that illustrates the impact of thistherapy in real life?
Speaker A (01:44):
Absolutely.
So, as I tease it in a big.
We have a story where One of our OTs workedwith a young boy who was really struggling
with sensory processing and fine motor skillsand emotional regulation.
He found it hard to join in classroomactivities and was becoming quite withdrawn.
(02:05):
Now, through regular OT sessions,
we were able to focus on building his corestrength and coordination,
worked on his fine motor skills and his pencilgrasp to improve his coordination in his
handwriting skills.
And we also tried to address some of his whatwe call emotional regulation.
(02:28):
And we use tools like social stories andsocial games to help him understand and manage
different situations and provided a toolkit ofstrategies that he could use in real life to
help him manage some of his emotionalregulation in his daily tasks and particularly
the classroom.
(02:49):
Yeah.
Now, the teachers were able to work closelywith the OT in being able to implement some of
these strategies in the classroom.
And they were able to report that the
transformation was quite incredible.
And after about six months worth of ot, he wasable to write his name.
(03:10):
He was confident in joining in group play andeven started initiating conversations with his
peers.
And it was like he was able to come out of hisshell.
What is really important about OT is that wedon't work in isolation, so we work closely
with a multidisciplinary team.
So the occupational therapist was able toconsult with a speech pathologist
(03:33):
physiotherapist and psychologist who allworked together to align to this child's
shared goals and were able to improve hissocial communication and help him navigate
those interactions more confidently.
So it's a really good example of how OTs canidentify the areas that need working on with
(03:57):
the individual child, but also how as a team,
we can bring all the expertise together tohelp that child achieve his goals.
Speaker B (04:07):
Sounds very inspiring.
So what makes a great ot?
Speaker A (04:11):
Wow, that's a great question.
A great OT needs to be curious and creativeand compassionate and empathetic.
An OT I consider as being a great problemsolver who looks at the whole person,
not just a diagnosis,
(04:32):
to be able to grab some of those problems thata person may be experiencing in their everyday
life and to give them the strategies andsolutions that they need to be able to
increase their independence.
At LiveBig, our OTs are amazing at adaptingtherapy to suit each individual.
(04:56):
And that might mean that they use games ortech or everyday routines to be able to
achieve those goals.
And it's about meeting people where they're atand helping them move forward to improve their
level of independence in their everyday life.
Speaker B (05:16):
So I take it one of the most powerful aspects of OT is the person centered
approach.
So how do we do this at LiveBig?
Speaker A (05:25):
Well, at Live Big, I'm really proud to say that person centered approach isn't
just a buzzword,
it's kind of how we work.
It means that we start by asking our clientsand our consumers what's important to you and
we build our therapy goals around that.
So whether somebody wants to have betterinteractions or social interactions with
(05:48):
others,
whether they need more help managing theirdaily schedules,
they might have a goal of wanting to be ableto cook their own meals,
catch public transport,
or play with their grandkids,
we are going to do everything that we can totailor our support to help them achieve their
individual goals that are meaningful to them.
(06:12):
So it's all about empowering people to livetheir life on their terms.
So we are actually being very person centeredin everything that we do.
That's wonderful.
Speaker B (06:24):
And it's all about the village, isn't it?
So what are some of the ways families and careteams are included in the therapeutic
approach?
Speaker A (06:32):
So they're actually integral in this therapeutic approach.
Families and support teams are the key and wetry to involve them from the start by
involving them in setting goals that aremeaningful to the client.
We share the strategies,
making sure that they are applicable andrelevant to what we're doing and to the client
(06:56):
and we check in regularly.
We need to see that what we're doing isworking.
And if it's not, we need to be able to adaptand change and make sure that what we are
delivering and what we are providing to theclient is meaningful to them.
Our therapists often provide training andresources so that everybody's on the same
page.
And at Live Big, we know that therapy worksbest when it's a team effort.
(07:20):
We know that we need to be able to involve theteam because we might see our clients once a
week, once a fortnight, but the family and thecare teams is with those clients every day.
And so they need to be able to implement thosestrategies to make a difference in somebody's
life.
Speaker B (07:38):
Absolutely.
Environment plays a huge role in occupational
therapy.
What are some practical ways families and
carers can create supportive spaces?
Speaker A (07:48):
Yeah, the environment is really part of everything that the OT sort of looks
at.
When we're thinking about our therapies and
our strategies that we are giving to ourparticipants and our clients.
And families and carers can make a bigdifference by creating predictable routines
which help to reduce anxiety and buildindependence.
(08:11):
Also, adjusting the physical space orenvironment is also key.
Things like making clear pathways,
having some visual schedules,
having a sensory friendly environmental corneror space,
using adaptive tools that can make everydaytasks more manageable.
(08:32):
And when we talk about environment, we're alsonot going to forget this social environment.
So that's about encouraging positiveinteractions,
giving space for choice, and celebrating smallwins to help create a supportive vibe and
environment that empowers the person who isreceiving therapy.
Speaker B (08:53):
Can you share some examples of how small environmental changes lead to big
occupational shifts?
Speaker A (09:01):
Yeah, I can.
So recently one of our adult clients wasexperiencing significant mobility difficulties
which made every task like transferring,getting out of bed,
using the bathroom,
being able to stand for long periods of timeto be able to do their daily tasks like
preparing meals and attending to thehousework.
(09:24):
And they were even unsafe at times.
So the OT was able to conduct a thoroughassessment of their environment and how they
were functioning within that environment andencouraged a few,
or recommended a few key changes such asmobility aids, transfer equipment,
simple home modifications like rope rails inthe bathroom.
(09:46):
And we also looked at the layout of the hometo help reduce falls risks and improve access
to frequently used areas.
So all of those things might seem small andsmall little changes, but they actually make a
huge impact on on someone's ability to liveindependently in their own home.
Our clients can go on from needing constantassistance to being able to complete their
(10:11):
morning routine.
Or daily routine independently and safely,
and they can regain their confidence andreduce their risk of injury and feel more
control of their everyday life when we're ableto make those small environmental changes.
And what has made it even more effective isthe collaborative approach that OTs often use.
(10:34):
So we work closely with the clients, caresupport teams,
and including people like physiotherapists andtheir support workers to ensure that the
equipment and strategies that we areimplementing are practical and sustainable.
So it's a great example of how OTs cantransform someone's daily life by making these
(10:56):
environmental changes, working with their careteams,
so that we're achieving their goals ofindependence and safety at home.
Speaker B (11:05):
Yeah, it makes a big difference that the live big clinicians actually go out
to their clients.
Speaker A (11:09):
And it's really important to be able to deliver our services in the
environment that our clients live in,
because it becomes meaningful to our clients.
It is not being.
We can't achieve that in a clinic space or a
telehealth space.
We really need to be able to be able todeliver appropriate strategies that are
(11:30):
meaningful to our clients,
where they are, in the environments thatthey're functioning in.
And I think that's a really lovely thing thatOTs do.
Speaker B (11:39):
Yeah, it's a wonderful thing.
So what does long term success look like for
individuals undergoing occupational therapy?
Speaker A (11:48):
Look, sometimes our clients get or receive occupational therapy over long periods
of time,
months and years.
So long term success in OT is about buildingskills that our clients need to be able to
attend to what they need to do in their dailylife over their lifespan.
(12:08):
So it's not just about ticking off theselittle goals,
which it kind of is.
But it's not all about that.
It's about helping people do things likeregulate their emotions,
make decisions,
participate in their everyday activities withconfidence,
whether it's a child learning to play withpeers or an adult master in public transport.
(12:32):
Success means that they're doing things thatmatter to them in ways that make them feel
safe so they're able to achieve theirindependence.
And at LiveBig, we love seeing clients grow inthat independence in their everyday tasks.
And it's a real win for us.
It's a great celebration.
The true measure of success is that throughour interventions,
(12:58):
the client has progressed to a point wherethey no longer require those intensive
supports that they once did,
that they've been able to develop the skillsand the strategies to grow and develop
independence for themselves in their everydayactivities.
Speaker B (13:15):
Amanda, this has been such an insightful conversation.
Thank you.
Before we wrap up.
What's one thing you wish people understoodmore about ot?
Speaker A (13:25):
I think one thing that I would like people to know is that OT isn't just about
recovery,
it's for growth.
And I think people sometimes associateoccupational therapy with rehabilitation after
an injury,
but it's so much more than that.
It is a very large,
overarching and encompassing role,
but it helps people build skills andconfidence and independence in everyday life,
(13:52):
whether that be a child learning to tie theirshoes or an adult navigating mental health
challenges or assessing and prescribing theaccreditation correct equipment that somebody
needs to be able to enable independence athome and in their community.
OT is all about unlocking potential andproviding the strategies required to develop
(14:18):
the skills that somebody needs to beindependent in their daily occupations or
their daily life.
Absolutely.
Speaker B (14:28):
Thank you.
Thank you so much, Amanda, for joining us and
sharing your thoughts on occupational therapy.
If you'd like to connect with us and learnmore about Live Big, visit livebig.com au and
don't forget to subscribe for moreconversations like this.
Thanks for listening and we'll catch you nexttime.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of thisnation whose country we work and live in.
(14:52):
We recognise Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslanders as traditional custodians and their
ongoing connections to land and sea.
We pay our respects to elders past, presentand emerging as law keepers of the world's
oldest living culture.
We celebrate the stories,
culture and traditions of Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islanders so we can, in the true
(15:16):
spirit of reconciliation,
continue the journey together.
Foreign.
Speaker B (00:08):
Learn with Live Big.
I'm Sarah,
and today we're diving into the world ofoccupational therapy.
What it is,
why it matters, and how it's transforminglives.
Joining me is Amanda Trist.
She's a area manager for New South Wales andan occupational therapist.
Amanda works directly with individuals andfamilies to create lasting, positive
(00:31):
occupational change.
Amanda,
how would you describe occupational therapy tosomeone unfamiliar with it?
Speaker A (00:40):
Thanks, Sarah.
Well, to let you know what occupational
therapy is, it's often a very difficultconcept for the general population to
understand.
The title doesn't really explain all thatmuch.
What is occupation?
Well, occupational therapy is all abouthelping people to do the things that matter
(01:00):
most to them in their everyday life.
Now, that could be getting dressed, going toschool, cooking a meal,
accessing the community,
or joining in on social activities.
Here at live big, our OTs work with people ofall ages and abilities to build the skills and
confidence they need to live moreindependently and meaningfully.
(01:25):
So the occupation is not about jobs, but it'sabout everyday life.
So that's what occupational therapy is allabout.
Speaker B (01:36):
Sounds very beneficial.
How about if you could share a moment or a
story that illustrates the impact of thistherapy in real life?
Speaker A (01:44):
Absolutely.
So, as I tease it in a big.
We have a story where One of our OTs workedwith a young boy who was really struggling
with sensory processing and fine motor skillsand emotional regulation.
He found it hard to join in classroomactivities and was becoming quite withdrawn.
(02:05):
Now, through regular OT sessions,
we were able to focus on building his corestrength and coordination,
worked on his fine motor skills and his pencilgrasp to improve his coordination in his
handwriting skills.
And we also tried to address some of his whatwe call emotional regulation.
(02:28):
And we use tools like social stories andsocial games to help him understand and manage
different situations and provided a toolkit ofstrategies that he could use in real life to
help him manage some of his emotionalregulation in his daily tasks and particularly
the classroom.
(02:49):
Yeah.
Now, the teachers were able to work closelywith the OT in being able to implement some of
these strategies in the classroom.
And they were able to report that the
transformation was quite incredible.
And after about six months worth of ot, he wasable to write his name.
(03:10):
He was confident in joining in group play andeven started initiating conversations with his
peers.
And it was like he was able to come out of hisshell.
What is really important about OT is that wedon't work in isolation, so we work closely
with a multidisciplinary team.
So the occupational therapist was able toconsult with a speech pathologist
(03:33):
physiotherapist and psychologist who allworked together to align to this child's
shared goals and were able to improve hissocial communication and help him navigate
those interactions more confidently.
So it's a really good example of how OTs canidentify the areas that need working on with
(03:57):
the individual child, but also how as a team,
we can bring all the expertise together tohelp that child achieve his goals.
Speaker B (04:07):
Sounds very inspiring.
So what makes a great ot?
Speaker A (04:11):
Wow, that's a great question.
A great OT needs to be curious and creativeand compassionate and empathetic.
An OT I consider as being a great problemsolver who looks at the whole person,
not just a diagnosis,
(04:32):
to be able to grab some of those problems thata person may be experiencing in their everyday
life and to give them the strategies andsolutions that they need to be able to
increase their independence.
At LiveBig, our OTs are amazing at adaptingtherapy to suit each individual.
(04:56):
And that might mean that they use games ortech or everyday routines to be able to
achieve those goals.
And it's about meeting people where they're atand helping them move forward to improve their
level of independence in their everyday life.
Speaker B (05:16):
So I take it one of the most powerful aspects of OT is the person centered
approach.
So how do we do this at LiveBig?
Speaker A (05:25):
Well, at Live Big, I'm really proud to say that person centered approach isn't
just a buzzword,
it's kind of how we work.
It means that we start by asking our clientsand our consumers what's important to you and
we build our therapy goals around that.
So whether somebody wants to have betterinteractions or social interactions with
(05:48):
others,
whether they need more help managing theirdaily schedules,
they might have a goal of wanting to be ableto cook their own meals,
catch public transport,
or play with their grandkids,
we are going to do everything that we can totailor our support to help them achieve their
individual goals that are meaningful to them.
(06:12):
So it's all about empowering people to livetheir life on their terms.
So we are actually being very person centeredin everything that we do.
That's wonderful.
Speaker B (06:24):
And it's all about the village, isn't it?
So what are some of the ways families and careteams are included in the therapeutic
approach?
Speaker A (06:32):
So they're actually integral in this therapeutic approach.
Families and support teams are the key and wetry to involve them from the start by
involving them in setting goals that aremeaningful to the client.
We share the strategies,
making sure that they are applicable andrelevant to what we're doing and to the client
(06:56):
and we check in regularly.
We need to see that what we're doing isworking.
And if it's not, we need to be able to adaptand change and make sure that what we are
delivering and what we are providing to theclient is meaningful to them.
Our therapists often provide training andresources so that everybody's on the same
page.
And at Live Big, we know that therapy worksbest when it's a team effort.
(07:20):
We know that we need to be able to involve theteam because we might see our clients once a
week, once a fortnight, but the family and thecare teams is with those clients every day.
And so they need to be able to implement thosestrategies to make a difference in somebody's
life.
Speaker B (07:38):
Absolutely.
Environment plays a huge role in occupational
therapy.
What are some practical ways families and
carers can create supportive spaces?
Speaker A (07:48):
Yeah, the environment is really part of everything that the OT sort of looks
at.
When we're thinking about our therapies and
our strategies that we are giving to ourparticipants and our clients.
And families and carers can make a bigdifference by creating predictable routines
which help to reduce anxiety and buildindependence.
(08:11):
Also, adjusting the physical space orenvironment is also key.
Things like making clear pathways,
having some visual schedules,
having a sensory friendly environmental corneror space,
using adaptive tools that can make everydaytasks more manageable.
(08:32):
And when we talk about environment, we're alsonot going to forget this social environment.
So that's about encouraging positiveinteractions,
giving space for choice, and celebrating smallwins to help create a supportive vibe and
environment that empowers the person who isreceiving therapy.
Speaker B (08:53):
Can you share some examples of how small environmental changes lead to big
occupational shifts?
Speaker A (09:01):
Yeah, I can.
So recently one of our adult clients wasexperiencing significant mobility difficulties
which made every task like transferring,getting out of bed,
using the bathroom,
being able to stand for long periods of timeto be able to do their daily tasks like
preparing meals and attending to thehousework.
(09:24):
And they were even unsafe at times.
So the OT was able to conduct a thoroughassessment of their environment and how they
were functioning within that environment andencouraged a few,
or recommended a few key changes such asmobility aids, transfer equipment,
simple home modifications like rope rails inthe bathroom.
(09:46):
And we also looked at the layout of the hometo help reduce falls risks and improve access
to frequently used areas.
So all of those things might seem small andsmall little changes, but they actually make a
huge impact on on someone's ability to liveindependently in their own home.
Our clients can go on from needing constantassistance to being able to complete their
(10:11):
morning routine.
Or daily routine independently and safely,
and they can regain their confidence andreduce their risk of injury and feel more
control of their everyday life when we're ableto make those small environmental changes.
And what has made it even more effective isthe collaborative approach that OTs often use.
(10:34):
So we work closely with the clients, caresupport teams,
and including people like physiotherapists andtheir support workers to ensure that the
equipment and strategies that we areimplementing are practical and sustainable.
So it's a great example of how OTs cantransform someone's daily life by making these
(10:56):
environmental changes, working with their careteams,
so that we're achieving their goals ofindependence and safety at home.
Speaker B (11:05):
Yeah, it makes a big difference that the live big clinicians actually go out
to their clients.
Speaker A (11:09):
And it's really important to be able to deliver our services in the
environment that our clients live in,
because it becomes meaningful to our clients.
It is not being.
We can't achieve that in a clinic space or a
telehealth space.
We really need to be able to be able todeliver appropriate strategies that are
(11:30):
meaningful to our clients,
where they are, in the environments thatthey're functioning in.
And I think that's a really lovely thing thatOTs do.
Speaker B (11:39):
Yeah, it's a wonderful thing.
So what does long term success look like for
individuals undergoing occupational therapy?
Speaker A (11:48):
Look, sometimes our clients get or receive occupational therapy over long periods
of time,
months and years.
So long term success in OT is about buildingskills that our clients need to be able to
attend to what they need to do in their dailylife over their lifespan.
(12:08):
So it's not just about ticking off theselittle goals,
which it kind of is.
But it's not all about that.
It's about helping people do things likeregulate their emotions,
make decisions,
participate in their everyday activities withconfidence,
whether it's a child learning to play withpeers or an adult master in public transport.
(12:32):
Success means that they're doing things thatmatter to them in ways that make them feel
safe so they're able to achieve theirindependence.
And at LiveBig, we love seeing clients grow inthat independence in their everyday tasks.
And it's a real win for us.
It's a great celebration.
The true measure of success is that throughour interventions,
(12:58):
the client has progressed to a point wherethey no longer require those intensive
supports that they once did,
that they've been able to develop the skillsand the strategies to grow and develop
independence for themselves in their everydayactivities.
Speaker B (13:15):
Amanda, this has been such an insightful conversation.
Thank you.
Before we wrap up.
What's one thing you wish people understoodmore about ot?
Speaker A (13:25):
I think one thing that I would like people to know is that OT isn't just about
recovery,
it's for growth.
And I think people sometimes associateoccupational therapy with rehabilitation after
an injury,
but it's so much more than that.
It is a very large,
overarching and encompassing role,
but it helps people build skills andconfidence and independence in everyday life,
(13:52):
whether that be a child learning to tie theirshoes or an adult navigating mental health
challenges or assessing and prescribing theaccreditation correct equipment that somebody
needs to be able to enable independence athome and in their community.
OT is all about unlocking potential andproviding the strategies required to develop
(14:18):
the skills that somebody needs to beindependent in their daily occupations or
their daily life.
Absolutely.
Speaker B (14:28):
Thank you.
Thank you so much, Amanda, for joining us and
sharing your thoughts on occupational therapy.
If you'd like to connect with us and learnmore about Live Big, visit livebig.com au and
don't forget to subscribe for moreconversations like this.
Thanks for listening and we'll catch you nexttime.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of thisnation whose country we work and live in.
(14:52):
We recognise Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslanders as traditional custodians and their
ongoing connections to land and sea.
We pay our respects to elders past, presentand emerging as law keepers of the world's
oldest living culture.
We celebrate the stories,
culture and traditions of Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islanders so we can, in the true
(15:16):
spirit of reconciliation,
continue the journey together.
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