Allied Health
Allied Health
The Allied Health team at Marnebek work to support staff and students at the school to ensure that students can achieve their full learning potential. The team works under a Multi-Tiered Systems of support framework with an overarching goal to support students to fully access their learning within the school environment. The Allied Health team works collaboratively with other teams and professionals within the school to ensure intervention is holistic and student-centred. They are also involved in providing documentation and recommendations for the Disability Inclusion Profile (DIP) for students undergoing this process. You can read more about the different allied health disciplines and what they offer within the school below.
Speech Pathology
The Speech Pathologists at Marnebek work closely with students, families, teaching staff and therapy staff to meet students’ complex communication needs.
We assist students in the following areas:
Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)
Play
Social skills
Understanding and using language to communicate
Literacy
Mealtime support
Our Speech Pathology team implement a classroom-based therapy model, helping teachers to establish and reinforce language and communication supports within their classes, giving students the confidence to participate in classroom learning and activities. Additionally, Speech Pathologists run some small group programs on a termly basis for students who require targeted support in a particular area, such as use of AAC, play, articulation or social skills. Short-Term, individualised intervention can be provided on a referral basis upon approval from learning due to communication barriers.
Physiotherapy
Our physiotherapist at Marnebek helps students learn to move, develop and play at a level appropriate for them to help in the participation and success of learning activities. The role of a physiotherapist in a school includes the following:
Helping junior students develop their gross motor skills and encourage social play in Little Moving Buddies Group
Assessing and providing equipment that a student may need to help with their mobility
Develop and deliver intervention within the Health & PE curriculum area, in consultation with teachers
Provide a comprehensive physio assessment (eg. range of movement, fitness, gross motor etc.)
Physiotherapy is available to students throughout the school terms and is dependent on the level of their need to access their learning.
Occupational Therapy
At Marnebek, our Occupational Therapists foster independence and engagement in the everyday activities that matter most to our students. We focus on building functional skills across:
Self-care: toileting, eating & mealtimes, dressing and persona hygiene
Life skills: following routines, emotional regulation, play & social skills, community participation and cooking
School-based tasks: fine moto skills & handwriting, tasks engagement, and sensory regulation
We offer a range of targeted group interventions to help students develop there specific skills in a supportive, engaging setting. These include:
Heavy Work: increasing sensory regulation & body awareness through movement
Lego Club: promoting positive social interactions & fine motor skills
Sensory Food Group: building food tolerance by exploring texture & tastes
Life Skills Cooking Group: building independence through meal preparation
Drivers Ed: introducing road safety & travel skills
Handwriting Groups: improving fine motor control & legibility
Movie Program: enhancing social communication & emotional understanding
For students requiring more targeted support, we provide tailored recommendations and interventions while working alongside teachers, families and external care teams to meet their unique needs.
Music Therapy
Music Therapy at Marnebek support students’ wellbeing and daily needs through one-to-one and small group sessions. Music therapy differs from a music teacher as it takes a holistic, community-based approach that focuses on non-musical goals such as communication, social skills, movement, mood, emotion and learning. The program works closely with teachers and staff to address daily challenges, promote positive routines and build long-term, proactive support for students. To access music therapy, an internal referral process takes place alongside discussions with school leadership and support teams.
The Music Therapist also:
Helps upskill with practical strategies to use in the classroom and playground
Connects with families to share strategies for home and links them to outside services and NDIS supports.
Offer short-term, creative counselling to promote mental health and wellbeing
Provides opportunities for students to share their strengths and talents with peers
Provides music therapy activities such a song-writing, playlist creation, creating own music, music listening, music learning, guided relaxation and improvising.
Music therapy works with the school community to ensure all students, staff, and families are supported.
Nurse
Our Registered Nurse carer for all of our students who require management of acute illnesses or injures at school. She liaises with families and medical practitioners to develop health care plans for those with chronic illnesses, supporting students to feel well and reach their maximum learning potential. She is also available to respond emergencies until further medical care can be accessed.
Psychologist
The psychology team at Marnebek works closely with the Allied Health and Wellbeing teams to support the emotional health of all our students. We provide 1:1 support and group-based support in the form of counselling and targeted psychological interventions along with indirect support including psychoeducation and tailored recommendations to teachers and families.
Psychologists at Marnebek work with the following concerns:
Anxiety
Depression
Anger and aggression
Inattention and hyperactivity
Social conflicts
Self-harm and suicide
Major changes in family
Online Safety
We also work alongside the NDIS Navigator at Marnebek to gather and provide evidence to support families to access the NDIS. This entails completing observations and assessments and preparing recommendation letters and assessment reports.
