About Megan Heffernan OT
Megan Heffernan Occupational Therapy (MHOT) is an Early Intervention Paediatric Occupational Therapy service for children aged 0-10 years and their parents.
We are passionate about nurturing early relational health between parents/caregivers and their children as the foundation for the mental, emotional and physical health and well-being of children and families in our community.
As Early Childhood Intervention clinicians, we know the importance of understanding the complexity of this ‘dance’ where there are experiences of trauma, neurodiversity, vulnerable nervous systems, and where extra developmental support and understanding is needed.
We value walking alongside parents to make sense of their child’s needs, nurturing parents’ confidence in their own capacity to respond to and support these needs. In partnering with parents and supporting their knowledge and capacity, we are impacting the child and family’s well-being well beyond the time they spend with us!
All services are provided with the underpinning values of acceptance, empathy, and partnership, navigating the trickiness of loving and parenting children, and making sense of their own unique needs, to support developmental progress.
Megan graduated from the University of South Australia in 2006 with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) and has worked with children and families in the Limestone Coast ever since.
Megan has a deep passion for staying connected to a broad range of research to ensure the therapeutic service she provides in her local community is of high quality.
Megan developed a passion for Early Intervention and nurturing Early Relational Health between parents and their children from the beginning of her work as an OT. Megan continues to incorporate bodies of knowledge that allow her to make sense of where challenges are experienced for children in their developmental journey, particularly knowledge of neurodevelopmental differences (ASD/ADHD), sensory processing and integration, developmental trauma, and attachment relationship difficulties. Being able to consider challenges through many lenses allows Megan to offer parents and children the support they need for well-being and progress toward the goals that are meaningful to them, in their daily lives.
It sets Megan’s heart on fire to connect meaningfully with others, meeting them where they are in that moment, gently staying present to listen with curiosity and compassion, to understand their story and what is meaningful to them. Megan is equal parts happy playing loudly and physically, or slowly and peacefully with children on the floor, or sitting alongside a parent, navigating the path of making sense of what’s happening for them and their child.
When Megan isn’t on the floor supporting children and families, she loves to get over-excited watching her own children play sport, staying terrible at cooking and backing out of the kitchen whenever possible, getting competitive fishing with her husband and three children, and discovering old injuries whenever there is a dance floor in sight.
Belinda, better known as Bindy, is a registered Occupational Therapist who graduated from the University of South Australia in 2012. Since then, Bindy has had experience working in both private and public sectors. Over this time, she has developed a particular passion for working with children and their families.
Bindy is a gentle, bright, and bubbly person who relates well to children. Bindy provides fun and engaging therapy using a strength-based, holistic approach.
Bindy is a certified Developmental Individual Differences Relationship (DIR Floortime) practitioner, promoting development through play and relationship. Bindy has a strong interest in sensory processing and is committed to working in collaboration with families to make sense of their child’s behaviour and develop strategies to support their child to feel regulated, allowing them to engage in everyday activities. Bindy is also passionate about supporting children with feeding challenges, with additional training in the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) approach.
Bindy is a compassionate, caring, down to earth therapist who understands the complexity and challenges of life, having started her family of three children in 2017. Between netball commitments, gardening, watching her family grow and helping her husband on the farm there is never a dull moment!!
Why work with us?
relationship and approachability,
Being worried and confused about your child’s needs can be exhausting and isolating. We prioritise creating a safe and accepting space to work in partnership with parents, to understand their concerns, and walk beside them in understanding their child’s needs and supporting progress.
personable/individually tailored support
We are committed to hearing parents and educators, listening to the experiences they have in caring for and supporting the child they love and nurture. By respectfully listening to what is important to you, we are able to offer targeted therapeutic support that aligns with you and your family (or classroom) priorities.
outcomes/supports
When being supported by Megan or Belinda, you and your child are being supported by a team with years of experience and knowledge, supporting children and families across a broad range of developmental areas, using a range of evidence based therapeutic approaches.
