Occupational Therapy

In Australia, occupational therapy plays a vital role in helping people regain their independence. If you are having difficulties managing everyday things like accessing the community, preparing a meal, dressing, remembering things or returning to work, then your neurological OT can help. They will be able to recommend the right equipment trials, explore modifications to your environment and adopt training strategies as well as many other ways to help you improve the ease with which you go about your day. This can sometimes be the difference between doing what you want independently or relying on others to help you.

During an initial assessment, our occupational therapists will use standardised assessment tools, in-depth task analysis and careful questioning to understand your needs and goals. Following this, together with you and your support network, they will address deficits in the function that will enable you to participate more in self-care, work, leisure, and community activities enhancing the quality of life, while reducing the burden on caregivers and societal resources.

Our experienced team can assess specific challenges in your everyday life and provide customised capacity building treatment plans and reporting where needed.

Our OT can help with the following aspects of your life:

Personal care such as showering dressing and grooming
Transportation safety and options
Meal preparation
Seating, positioning and pressure care
Productivity at work, school, volunteering and other daily tasks
Leisure and recreation
Sleep and rest
Health and wellness
Sensory processing and management
Cognition, memory and planning
Upper limb movement and fine motor skills
Manual Handling

By seeing a neurological occupational therapist you are seeing a professional who understands you, your condition and the impacts this has on your life. You will be seeing someone with in-depth knowledge on the impacts of brain injury, spinal cord injury and chronic conditions.

ARC DISCIPLINES

Neurological Physiotherapy
Occupational Therapy
Exercise Physiology
Neuromuscular Orthotics
Allied Health Assistants

OTHER DISCIPLINES

Speech
Pathology

LOCATIONS

In Clinic
Therapy at Home
Online Therapy

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Client Community Hub

Our community is bustling with clients at all stages of recovery and we love to celebrate every individual’s goal achievements, no matter the size of the gain. Visit the ARC Patient Hub for webinars, resources, downloads and more.

We also offer regular online educational webinars for our clients provided by our therapist team that you are welcome to join in.

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Rehabilitation for a
better tomorrow

Giving you the best neurological rehabilitation possible.

Advance Rehab Centre focuses on you as if it was our own family.

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CLINIC HOURS

Mon- Thurs	8 – 7pm
Fri	8 – 5pm
Sat	8 – 4pm

+61 (02) 9906 7777

Melissa Harrison

Cultural and Professional Development Manager & Neurological Physiotherapist

BSc (hons) Physiotherapy, University of the West of England, UK
Msc Neurorehabilitation, Brunel University, UK

Melissa has worked in the field of neuro physiotherapy since early in her career. She specialised as a senior neuro physiotherapist in the UK for a number of years - working across a variety of specialities including neurosurgery, neuro medicine, stroke and both inpatient and outpatient neuro rehab. This experience has given Melissa a solid understanding of the journey people go through from receiving their initial neurological diagnosis, through to much later stages of their rehab.

Melissa went on to complete a Masters in Neurorehabilitation in London, gaining valuable analytical and research experience and completing her own research project exploring the rehabilitation services available to people with brain tumours. Melissa has a special interest in neuro-oncology, as well as stroke and a wide range of post neurosurgery and neuro medical conditions. This experience led to her being invited to review and contribute to the Cancer Council's 'Understanding Brain Tumours' information booklet in Australia in 2019.

It is her time working as a physiotherapist at ARC that motivated Melissa further to remain living in Australia! Over her time working at ARC, Melissa has become a PD Warrior certified instructor and trainer - delivering practical courses to other allied health professionals across Australia.

She loves her job for continuing to develop the ARC team as it grows. Melissa enjoys supporting the team through change and growth, ensuring the highest quality of therapy is maintained, as well as the team culture that staff and clients thrive from at ARC. Melissa can be contacted at ARC Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and welcomes feedback on the service clients are receiving.

Outside of work, Melissa enjoys ocean swimming, tending to her rapidly growing plant family and making the most of the abundance of beautiful walks Sydney has to offer!

Lisa Meng

Hurstville Deputy Exercise Physiology Team Leader and ESSA Accredited Neurological Exercise Physiologist

Bachelor of Exercise Physiology, University of New South Wales

Lisa completed a Bachelor of Exercise Physiology at the University of New South Wales. Lisa started at ARC in 2018 and is passionate about assisting individuals in building a healthy life long relationship with exercise, no matter the impact of their disability. She believes that movement and exercise is a privilege that should be and can be enjoyed by all.

She has been involved in a number of Stand Walk Run intensives, an ARC driven program that involves the Multidisciplinary team to apply the principles of neuroplasticity to a client's program. Through this experience, she has been part of many client journey's that have seen clients with neurological impairments return back to sport, running, work and travels.

Lisa is the co-chair for the Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) special interest group. She has extensive experience working with FND clients and assisting them with understanding their condition, offering creative and sustainable management strategies and helping them re-integrate into physical activity.

Lisa is a cheerleader for her clients, not only in a therapy setting but for all further pursuits that aid in them living a fuller and more meaningful life. She has played a key role in supporting a Parksinson's client, Dean Laws, in completing two marathons and promoting the work of the Dean Team, which aims to improve the lives of all those living with Parkinson's.

Lisa has delivered an evening lecture to health professionals about the Role of Exercise Physiologists in Cardiometabolic risk factor management for the neurological population. Lisa is invested in assessing Neurological clients thoroughly, understanding the various risk factors and secondary health conditions that are related to Neurological conditions. She uses her treatment approach and education components to ensure clients understand their condition and empower them to follow a trajectory that leads them to improved overall health.

Lisa works full-time in our Hurstville clinic. She loves her time on the gym floor getting the most out of her clients, but also supervising the EPs on her team as she believes ARC is one of the best environments for a Neuro EP to thrive.