PiP Cast: Perspectives in Paeds

In this episode, Jackie is joined by Georgia and Jessie to unpack fatigue and burnout in neurodivergent children, an experience that so often stays invisible until it tips into crisis.
They explore the difference between ordinary tiredness, fatigue and genuine burnout, why it's so frequently misread as defiance, laziness or regression, and the hidden "effort tax" of masking and constant accommodation that quietly depletes these kids.
The team also gets honest about whether stacked appointments and the push for visible "progress" can be part of the problem, what neurodiversity-affirming support looks like when rest itself is the goal, and how to help schools and families understand burnout when a child looks "fine" on the surface.
Relevant episode links: 
For access to free tools, clinical resources, and early access to Kid Link OT courses, all in your inbox. Join the list at
https://mailchi.mp/kidlink/mailing-list-sign-ups 
For on-demand learning from the Kid Link team, see our full catalogue of courses here: 
https://www.kidlinkeducation.com.au/
Please find the podcast that was discussed within our episode, with Kristy Forbes exploring neurodivergent burnout here: 
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Qyg1Ra0cWrvuQx9OolLqq?si=bSgBFmWVQJ6LIyqdg7OHKw&utm_source=copy-link
This podcast is brought to you by Kid Link Occupational Therapy.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram @pip.cast
We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live here in Mitcham, Victoria. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and recognise their ongoing connection to the land, waterways, and culture. As we support children and families, we are inspired by the wisdom and care that First Nations peoples have shown for generations.
Music by Daniel Pavey  ·  Produced by Michael Daniels

In this episode, Caitie is joined by Caity and Mikyla to take feeding and mealtime work beyond the clinic door - into schools, social settings and the everyday moments that matter most to families, like camps, excursions and birthday parties.

They unpack what genuine school buy-in looks like, practical tools for communicating a child's needs, and how to coach parents through "division of responsibility" - including why some need explicit permission to do less at the table.

They also discuss the role of a clients cultural food practices, and how clinicians can lean in to curiosity when it comes to different food practices and mealtime norms. The episode wraps with practical tips on how clinicians can work to support transference of feeding and mealtimes work from the therapy room to the child’s natural environments. 
Relevant episode links: 
For access to free tools, clinical resources, and early access to Kid Link OT courses, all in your inbox. Join the list at
https://mailchi.mp/kidlink/mailing-list-sign-ups 
For on-demand learning from the Kid Link team, see our full catalogue of courses here: 
https://www.kidlinkeducation.com.au/
This podcast is brought to you by Kid Link Occupational Therapy.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram @pip.cast
We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live here in Mitcham, Victoria. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and recognise their ongoing connection to the land, waterways, and culture. As we support children and families, we are inspired by the wisdom and care that First Nations peoples have shown for generations.
Music by Daniel Pavey  ·  Produced by Michael Daniels

In this episode, Jackie is joined by Georgia and Mikayla to unpack Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). They share their experiences and perspectives of DCD - from how it presents across different ages and settings to why it so often slips through the cracks, and who tends to fall through when no one names it.
They bust some of the most persistent myths around DCD, dig into the contentious overlap with dysgraphia under the new DSM, and explore why functional impact matters more than a percentile on a motor assessment.
The conversation also covers evidence-based, task-oriented interventions like CO-OP, the hidden "effort tax" these kids carry, and practical guidance on setting children up to thrive at home and school.
Relevant episode links: 
DCDQ: https://www.dcdq.ca/CO-OP Approach: https://www.icancoop.org/pages/courses
For access to free tools, clinical resources, and early access to Kid Link OT courses, all in your inbox. Join the list at
https://mailchi.mp/kidlink/mailing-list-sign-ups 
For on-demand learning from the Kid Link team, see our full catalogue of courses here: 
https://www.kidlinkeducation.com.au/
This podcast is brought to you by Kid Link Occupational Therapy.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram @pip.cast
We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live here in Mitcham, Victoria. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and recognise their ongoing connection to the land, waterways, and culture. As we support children and families, we are inspired by the wisdom and care that First Nations peoples have shown for generations.
Music by Daniel Pavey  ·  Produced by Michael Daniels

In this episode, Caitlin and Danni are joined by Melinda Shambrae to unpack Specific Learning Disorders. Melinda is a paediatric speech pathologist with 30 years experience, and is the co-owner of Word by Mouth Speech Pathology. 
Melinda has worked in the Department of Education & she set up the Language Consultancy team in Eastern Region. She has worked in the Learning Difficulties Centre at RCH where she first developed her interest in learning difficulties and the link between oral language and literacy.  Melinda has lectured at the University of Melbourne, consulted for SPELD Victoria, participated in a number of projects for  Speech Pathology Australia including contributing to the professional body’s position paper on Speech Pathologists working in literacy. Melinda has a Masters by Research and in addition to her clinical work with children and families, she has supported numerous schools by providing professional learning in the areas of speech, language and learning difficulties.
In this episode, Melinda shares her experiences and perspectives as the team discuss SLD’s - from early warning signs in preschoolers to the diagnostic pathway, and who needs to be involved when a family pursues a diagnosis. They bust some of the most persistent myths around SLDs and dig into what functional goal-setting looks within these clients' care. The conversation also covers evidence-based interventions, where multi-disciplinary care really matters, and practical guidance on timing assistive technology. 
Relevant episode links: 
SPELD Vic: Understanding Learning Difficulties: https://store.speldvic.org.au/products/understanding-learning-difficulties-a-practical-guide-for-parents-revised-edition
For access to free tools, clinical resources, and early access to Kid Link OT courses, all in your inbox. Join the list at
https://mailchi.mp/kidlink/mailing-list-sign-ups 
For on-demand learning from the Kid Link team, see our full catalogue of courses here: 
https://www.kidlinkeducation.com.au/
This podcast is brought to you by Kid Link Occupational Therapy.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram @pip.cast
We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live here in Mitcham, Victoria. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and recognise their ongoing connection to the land, waterways, and culture. As we support children and families, we are inspired by the wisdom and care that First Nations peoples have shown for generations.
Music by Daniel Pavey  ·  Produced by Michael Daniels

In this episode, Caitlin is joined by Emily and Caity to unpack when families and clinicians are told that "everything's fine at school." They explore the role of masking, why fluctuating functioning means "fine" participation often comes at a cost paid at home and how mixed presentations across settings can complicate diagnosis, delay support, and leave families feeling disbelieved. 
The team shares their own experiences of what it has looked like when working with schools to build participation for their clients, and how clinicians can support schools to notice needs that aren't always visible on the surface. 
Relevant episode links: 
Association for Children with Disability: https://acd.org.au/
For access to free tools, clinical resources, and early access to Kid Link OT courses, all in your inbox. Join the list at
https://mailchi.mp/kidlink/mailing-list-sign-ups 
For on-demand learning from the Kid Link team, see our full catalogue of courses here: 
https://www.kidlinkeducation.com.au/
This podcast is brought to you by Kid Link Occupational Therapy.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram @pip.cast
We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live here in Mitcham, Victoria. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and recognise their ongoing connection to the land, waterways, and culture. As we support children and families, we are inspired by the wisdom and care that First Nations peoples have shown for generations.
Music by Daniel Pavey  ·  Produced by Michael Daniels