Occupational Therapy resources

Handouts

Co-creating Sensory Reports
This infographic illustrates the process of co-creating a sensory profile report. It was co-designed for the OTs Online Connect & Reflect Session 29.5.24 on the topic ‘Co-creating Sensory Reports’.

• Download Co-creating Sensory Reports

Sensory Profile 2 in Mental Health
This infographic supports occupational therapists to interpret sensory profile quadrant scores in relation to occupational goals and everyday life. It was developed for CMHL 2021 OT Education Day – Sensory Modulation Forum.

• Download Sensory profile pdf

Sensory Support Plan Template
Use this worksheet to develop personalised self care strategies for seeking and avoiding in each of the seven sensory modalities to support the occupational goal of “better workplace wellbeing”.

• Download Sensory Support Plan Template

Sensory Kit Template
Use this template to create your own sensory kit. An example is provided for the occupational goal of supporting learning in training.

• Download Sensory Kit Template
• Download OT day handout example pdf

 

Assessments

Adult Adolescent Sensory Profile

The most commonly used occupational therapy assessment in Victorian public mental health services. Collaboratively complete the Sensory Profile with the person (and their family where appropriate) to identify sensory processing patterns in everyday life activities. This 60-item questionnaire is used for identifying and developing awareness and strategies to optimise the desired sensory environment. Generates an individualised profile of sensory processing across four quadrants: low registration, sensation seeking, sensory sensitivity, and sensation avoiding (Brown & Dunn, 2002).

Recommended sensory profile $ Sensory profile webinar

 

Sensory Profile 2

Winnie Dunn's family of standardised assessments to evaluate a child's sensory processing patterns in the context of everyday life. These questionnaires completed by caregivers and teachers determine how sensory processing may be contributing to or interfering with the child's participation in activities.

• Infant Sensory Profile: Caregivers complete this form for babies from Birth–6 months.
• Toddler Sensory Profile: Caregivers complete this form for toddlers aged 7–35 months.
• Child Sensory Profile: Caregivers complete this form for children aged 3–14 years.
• Short Sensory Profile: Caregivers complete this form for children aged 3–14 years. Items on this questionnaire, which are drawn from the Child Sensory Profile, are highly discriminating and provide quick information for screening and research programs.
• School Companion Sensory Profile: Teachers complete this form for their students aged 3–14 years.

Watch a webinar overview of the Sensory Profile 2: Pearson Clinical Assessments below

Sensory Profile 2 webinar

 

Adult/Adolescent Sensory History

This self-report or carer assessment by May-Benson & Koomar, is occasionally used in mental health settings. It is based on the model of Sensory Integration by Jean Ayres.

Recommended sensory history $

 

Books and Manuals

A summary of key manuals, books and resources to support implementation of sensory modulation within mental health occupational therapy practice settings.

• Living Sensationally Book
  This easy to read book by Sensory Profile author Winnie Dunn explains how people's individual sensory patterns affect the way we react to everything that happens to us throughout the day and how we can benefit from practical sensory strategies.
  
   
• Sensory Modulation & Environment: Essential Elements of Occupation
  This manual by Tina Champagne is full of practical information, theory, tools, worksheets and handouts created primarily for use with adolescent, adult and older adult populations with mental ill health. It includes the Sensory Modulation Program and popular non-standardised tools including Sensory Diet Checklist / Distress Tolerance Checklist.
  
   
• The Sensory Connection Program (Karen Moore, 2005)
  This manual and handbook provide group activities, handouts, and accompanying materials for use within adult mental health.
  See Therapro website for Free Sample pages
  
   
• The Sensory Connection Program Curriculum for Self-Regulation
  Curriculum and Workbook are designed to support adults and adolescents to learn self-regulation skills through the use of sensory strategies and social engagement.
  
   
• Sensory Modulation in Dementia Care: Assessment and Activities for Sensory-Enriched Care Book
  This book is for understanding and assessing the sensory needs of people with dementia, and learning how to implement sensory modulation-based approaches for enriched care. Drawing from the author's Sensory Modulation Program, this approach aids with self-organization and meaningful participation in life activities. It includes a downloadable assessment tool to help review individual sensory-processing patterns, and a range of sensory-based activities which can be carried out with people at all stages of dementia, both with individuals and in groups. The book also provides recommendations for modifying physical environments to make care settings sensory-enriched.
  
   
• Too loud too bright too fast too tight Book
  This book by Sharon Heller, a person with lived experience of Sensory Defensive Disorder and developmental psychologist, sheds light on what to do if you are sensory defensive in an overstimulating world.
  
   
• The Interoception Curriculum
  This book and activity card set is a ‘step-by-step guide to developing mindful self regulation’ by Kelly Mahler.
  

Find OT Professional supervision training

Occupational Therapy professional supervision training & resources CMHL

A Summary of supervision training, including online, face to face, and e-learning packages, as well as resources available and relevant to occupational therapists working in Victorian public clinical area mental health workforce. (note: some embedded links may not be active, this will be updated in the future)

• Download OT Supervision Resource Summary pdf

 

Find a Supervisor/Supervisee

Victorian Collaborative Centre’s mental health Allied Health clinical supervisor database

Occupational therapists can connect with professional supervisors using the database, it aims to provide increased opportunities for discipline-specific supervision for all allied health professionals working in public area mental services. Clinical supervisors listed in the database have asserted that they meet the minimum criteria for inclusion in the database.

Access supervision databases

 

Frameworks

The Victorian Allied Health Clinical Supervision Framework (Department of Health, 2019)

This Framework is for all allied health professionals in Victoria’s health workforce, it provides guidance, information and tools to support and enhance OT supervision.

• Access Victorian Allied Health Clinical Supervision Framework 
• Access e-learning Modules: 2-hour x 5 module course
• Download Organisational Self Assessment to support and enhance allied health clinical supervision and identify areas for further organisational development where required

 

Occupational Therapy Professional Supervision Framework (OTA)

The Occupational Therapy Supervision Framework has been revised to meet the needs of today’s occupational therapists. This free, evidence-informed resource is designed to empower occupational therapists, supervisors, leaders and managers across all clinical and non-clinical roles.

Otaus.com.au supervision

 

 

References

• Bihary, M. (2021). Transformative supervision whitepaper. Retrieved from https://michellebiharyhealth.com/white-papers
• Dancza, K., Volkert, A., Tempest, S. (eds.) (2023). Supervision for Occupational Therapy: Practical Guidance for Supervisors and Supervisees. London: Routledge
• Proctor, K. (1997). Bells that Ring: A Process for group supervision. ANZJ Fam Therapy 18(4) 217-220.

Models

1. Canadian Model of Occupational Participation (CanMOP; Egan & Restall, 2022)

This new revision replaces the CMOP (1997) and CMOP-E (2002) provides three essential things to guide occupational therapy practice:

• The Model: Canadian Model of Occupational Participation - How we think about occupation.
• The Approach: Collaborative relationship-focused occupational therapy – How we approach service provision.
• The Framework: COTIIP – Foundational processes and actions for promoting Occupational Participation

Webinars

The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy (CAOT) webinar series introduces the model, approach, framework, and integration in 4 free webinars.

Watch CAOT webinars

Text Book

Promoting Occupational Participation: Collaborative Relationship-Focused Occupational Therapy (Egan & Restall, 2022) CAOT/ACE.

Recommended book $

CMHL Occupational Therapy Education Day

2023 Occupational Therapy Education Day on Canadian Model of Occupational Participation Evaluation summary

• Download OT Education Day 2023 pdf
• Download 2023 CMHL OT Education Day - CanMOP snapshot

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2. Model of Human Occupation (MOHO; Keilhofner)

Text book

6th Edition Text Book: Kielhofner's Model of Human Occupation (Taylor, Bowyer & Fisher, 2023)

Recommended book $


Website

The Model of Human Occupation (MOHO)

MOHO site

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3. The Occupational Therapy Intervention Process Model (OTIPM; Fisher 2009)

The OTIPM, underpinning  the AMPS, ACQ-OP, ESI and ACQ-SI, is a model for the occupational therapy process that is client-centered, top-down and based on the client's needs and situation. In the OTIPM, the occupational therapy process is depicted as occurring over three global phases:

• Evaluation and goal-setting
• Intervention
• Revaluation

Each step in the process may be OB occupation based, occupationally focused, or both (Fisher, 2013). It guides documentation in all phases of the process and improves documentation to a clear occupational therapy perspective.


Text book

Fisher, A. G. (2009). Occupational therapy intervention process model: A model for planning and implementing top-down, client-centered and occupation-based interventions: OTIPM manual. Colorado: Three Star Press.

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4. Kawa Model

'Kawa is the Japanese word for ‘river’. The Kawa Model uses the natural metaphor of a river to depict one’s life journey. The varying and chronological experience of life is like a river, flowing from the high lands down to the ocean. Along its meandering path, the quality and character of its flow will vary from place to place, from instance to instance. Occupational therapists try to enable, assist, restore and maximize their clients’ life flow' (Teoh & Iwama, 2015).

Text book

The Kawa Model Made Easy: A Guide to Applying the Kawa Model in Occupational Therapy Practice (2nd edition)

Download Kawa Model pdf

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Other Models

Not occupational therapy specific, but commonly used in mental health settings supporting occupational therapy practice include:

• Social & Emotional Wellbeing  
• Recovery
• Co-production

 

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Assessments

The most commonly used occupational therapy assessments used across public Victorian Area mental health and wellbeing services were identified as:

• Adult Adolescent Sensory Profile (Brown & Dunn, 2002)
  Identify sensory processing patterns in everyday life activities though this 60-item questionnaire. Use for identifying and developing client awareness and strategies to optimise the desired sensory environment. Generates an individualised profile of sensory processing across four quadrants: low registration, sensation seeking, sensory sensitivity, and sensation avoiding.
   
• Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM; Law, Baptiste, Carswell, McColl, Polatajko, Pollock)
  Available in 40 languages, digital version and app available at www.thecopm.ca
  -  Learning to use the COPM: Watch examples
  -  The COPM Learning Module | COPM
  -  The COPM with Clients with Mental Illness | COPM
  -  Cross-cultural Applications of the COPM | COPM
  -  Tip Sheets for using the COPM (e.g. #1 Doing the COPM Interview, #2 Asking the right questions, #3 Keeping the COPM issues manageable)
  - Manual: Law, M., Baptiste, S., Carswell, A., McColl, M. A., Polatajko, H., & Pollock, N. (2014). Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) Manual (Fifth ed.): CAOT.
   
• The Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS, Fisher & Jones 2014)
  A standardised observational assessment of the quality performance of activities of daily living in real environments, focusing specifically on 35 motor and process skills. Requires training and calibration, was reported as used by 65% of Victorian public area mental health services in 2021.  Currently available to previously trained and calibrated occupational therapists.
   - AMPS Course Handouts 2018.pdf
   - AMPS Intro Chapter
   - AMPS Reference List
  - Text books: Fisher, Anne G. & Jones, K. (2014). Assessment of Motor and Process Skills. Vol 1 & 2: User Manual (8th Rev. ed.) Fort Collins, CO: Three Star Press.
   
• Evaluation of Social Interaction (ESI, Fisher & Griswold, 2008)
  ESI is a standardised observational assessment of a person's quality of social interaction. The observation takes place in daily activities where the person interacts with one or more social partners. 3-day training course is followed by calibration (submission of 10 scored assessments). The course covers theoretical basis of the ESI as well as experiential learning of administration, scoring, and documentation procedures for the ESI, and how to incorporate occupation-based assessment and intervention into their ongoing occupational therapy services.  Currently available to previously trained and calibrated occupational therapists.
   - ESI score form (for calibrated users)
   - Intro to ESI Presentation by Centre for Innovative OT Solutions
  - Text Book: Fisher, Anne G. & Griswold, Lou Ann. (2014) Evaluation of Social Interaction, 3rd Edition. Three Star Press.
   
• The Assessment of Compared Qualities - Occupational Performance (ACQ-OP) and Social Interactions (ACQ-SI)
  The ACQ-OP is a standardised companion interview for AMPS and/or ESI that supports occupational therapists to learn about a person's perspectives on his/her performance in a 5-10 minute semi-structured interview and, at the same time, evaluate the extent of difference between a person's reported problems with occupational performance and those observed by the occupational therapist when administering the AMPS or ESI. The ACQ-OP/ACQ-SI promotes developing client-centreed goals, planning and implementing interventions, and/or making recommendations for needed supports or assistance. Currently available to previously trained and calibrated occupational therapists.
   
• Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) Assessments Tools
  Are used at many Victorian area mental health services, including Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool (MOHOST), Occupational Circumstances Assessment and Interview Rating Scale (OCAIRS), Occupational Performance History (OPHI-II), Occupational Self-Assessment (OSA), Volitional Questionnaire (VQ), and Worker Environment Impact Scale (WEIS).
   
• The Domestic and Community Skills Assessment, Third Edition (DACSA-3)
  DACSA is an occupational therapy instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) assessment, which can be used to assess the domestic and community skills of a person with a mental health condition. The project to update and establish content validity of the DACSA-3 was conducted from 2021-2025 as part of a Master's research project at La Trobe University.
   
• Checklist of Leisure, Interest and Participation (CLIP)
  A contemporary Interest Checklist designed to help occupational therapists understand a client's current, past, and desired engagement in leisure activities, aiding in goal setting and therapeutic interventions. The CLIP is a revised version of the Modified Interest Checklist and includes more contemporary leisure activities (Levick, Broome, Ingram, Oprescu & Gray, 2025).

Who are we?

The Statewide Mental Health Occupational Therapy Educator led workforce scoping.

Discover the OT workforce profile, discipline specific activity, needs and workforce development priorities.

• Download the Victorian public MHOT workforce scoping presentation pdf
• Download the 2021 statewide MHOT educator led workforce scoping report pdf
• Download the infographic MHOT scoping poster pdf

 

Where are we going?

Strategic Plan for the Public Victorian Occupational Therapy Leadership Network (OTLN) 2024-2027.

In 2021, following the appointment of the first Statewide Mental Health Occupational Therapy Educator, CMHL auspiced and led the development of the first Strategic Plan 2021-2023. Each of the 23 Victorian Area Mental Health Services contributed to this strategic planning process, which included two half-day workshops led by Foresight Lane following Statewide Occupational Therapy Workforce Scoping.  Over 30 occupational therapy leaders participated in the strategic planning, bringing 659 years of OT wisdom! In 2024, CMHL participated in the review of the Strategic Plan for the Public Victorian Occupational Therapy Leadership Network 2024-2027.

• Download the latest Strategic Plan - Victorian Public MH OTLN 2024-2027 pdf
• Download the 2021-2023 OTLN Strategic Plan pdf

 

How can we connect and go further together?

Guidelines for Establishing Sustainable Occupational Therapy Communities of Practice (CoP).

These guidelines provide non-prescriptive OT discipline specific support to establishing, implementing, coordinating and evaluating sustainable consistent and effective statewide occupational therapy CoPs. The roles required are outlined for CoPs to be sustainable, valuable and effective spaces. Resources as appendices include Terms of Reference, meeting surveys, annual surveys, annual snapshot template, Expression of Interest and more.

• Download Guidelines for Establishing Sustainable Statewide OT CoPs (Revised Sep, 2025) pdf

 

Webinar Series

'Research & Embedding Evidence Series: Inspiring Pathways in Mental Health Occupational Therapy'

This webinar was brought to you by the OT Academic Network for CMHL Victoria. One hour introduction to a series of bite-sized research information presented in digestible chunks. Hear a story of a pathway into mental health occupational therapy research from the inspiring Professor Genevieve Pepin. Followed by a panel of occupational therapists with specialist mental health research experience, Rachael Starbuck, Eastern Health OT Senior, and Caitlin McDowell, author of the recent publication 'Research Related Knowledge, understanding and practice in public health-voices of occupational therapists'.

Watch research & embedding webinar

Textbook

A Guide to the Formulation of plans and goals in Occupational Therapy
Sue Parkinson & Rob Brooks (2021) practical guide for occupational therapists to implement occupational formulations and measurable goals using the Model of Human occupation (MOHO). Section dedicated to examples of occupational formulations and goals.

Recommended book $

Articles

• Brooks, R., & Parkinson, S. (2018). Occupational formulation: A three-part structure. 81, 177-179. doi:10.1177/0308022617745015
• Parkinson, S., & Gray, E. (2016, 13 August 2016). Constructing measurable goals using MOHO [Animated video].
• Parkinson, S., & Jamieson, L. (2017). Unlocking potential: occupational case formulation in a prison setting. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 80 (8), S6.
• Parkinson, S., Shenfield, M., Reece, K., & Fisher, J. (2011). Enhancing professional reasoning through the use of evidence-based assessments, robust case formulations and measurable goals. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74, 148. doi:10.4276/030802211X12996065859364
• Improvement Cymru. (2021, 12 June 2021). Outcome measures and goal setting [Animated video].
• Jamieson, L., & Parkinson, S. (2017). Unlocking potential. OTnews, 36-37. 

 

Examples

See an example of an occupational formulation via the site below.

occupationalformulation.com

 

Connect with your service Implementation Lead

Occupational Formulation Implementation Leads have been identified from each Victorian Area Mental Health & Wellbeing Services. A Community of Practice (CoP) supports Occupational Formulations Implementation Leads. Contact your Programs Senior Occupational Therapy Lead/Chief if you would like to connect with the Implementation Lead or become an Implementation Lead and participate in this CoP yourself. 

Statewide Group Templates

• Group Module Template doc
• Group Module Example doc - "Sharing Tails"
• Group Module Example doc - "Health Lunch Group"
• Group Module Evaluation doc

 

Group Facilitation Competencies

Department of Health (2024) Early Career Allied Health Mental Health Program: Interprofessional Competencies for the Allied Health Mental Health Expanded Disciplines Program 2024 & 2025. Access resources via button below.

Competency resources

 

Text Books & Articles

• Cole (2025), Group Dynamics in Occupational Therapy: The Theoretical Basis and Practice Application of Group Intervention
• Woodhead, G. & Monson, K. (2014), All Together Now: Therapeutic Group Work in Early Psychosis. Orygen Youth Health Research Centre
• Scanlan, JN., Argent, S., Ayling, B., Mouawad, A. & Woodward, M. (2015). The development and pilot testing of an occupational therapy group participation rating scale for inpatient mental health settings. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 62, 333–340 doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12234
• Nicholls, J. Gresham, B., Kehoe, M., Hopkins, L., Halperin S., & Lee, S (2022): Using quality improvement methods to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of a social skills intervention for public mental health consumers with psychosis, Clinical Psychologist, 83-91. DOI: 10.1080/13284207.2021.2018571

 

Examples of Occupational Therapy Group Programs used in Mental Health Contexts

• Moore, K (2006) The Sensory Connections Program: Activities for Mental Health Treatment. Therapro Inc.
• Krupa, T., Edgelow, M., Chen, S., Mieras, C., Almas, A., Perry, A., Radloff-Gabriel, D., Jackson, J., Bransfield, M (2010) Action Over Inertia. CAOT. ISBN: 978-1-895437-84-3
• Parkinson, S. (2024) Recovery Through Activity: Increasing Participation in Everyday Life. 2nd Edition. Routledge. ISBN 9781032322407
• Bramley, S. & Mayne, N. (2019). The Works Manual Revised.  Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust, IK.
• Hitch, D., Vernon L, Collins R, Dun C, Palexas S, Lhuede K. (2022) The Pathways to Participation (P2P) Program: A Pilot Outcomes Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 17;19(10):6088. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19106088.
• Roberts, D. L., Penn, D. L., & Combs, D. R. (2016). Social cognition and interaction training (SCIT): Group psychotherapy for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders: Clinician guide. Oxford University Press.