Agnes Lai

What draws me to this work.

I’m drawn to the moment a child’s behaviour starts to make sense. It’s usually when someone stops asking “what’s wrong here?” and starts asking “what is this child telling us, and what do they need?” I’ve spent my career in paediatric OT, much of it within the NDIS, and I keep coming back to the same question: what would it take for this child to feel safe, understood and able to be themselves in their own home and day?

I have always enjoyed my work, which supports children with self-care, daily living skills, executive functioning, emotional regulation, fine motor skills and sensory integration. I also complete Functional Capacity Assessments and collaborate closely with families, schools and multidisciplinary teams to support goals that matter to the child and their family.

How I think about children.

Children are doing the best they can with the nervous system, the day and the supports they have right now. Differences in how a child moves, senses, plays, communicates or pays attention aren’t faults to fix. They’re how that child experiences the world, and they deserve to be understood and respected.

When I’m trying to make sense of a hard moment, I look at what’s around it first: how they slept, what the day has asked of them, how loud or bright or rushed the room is, whether they feel heard. A lot of difficulty sits in the gap between what a child is being asked to do and the support they have to do it. That’s good news, because we can often change the conditions even when we can’t change the child, and we don’t need to. And it’s never about parents getting it wrong. Parents know their child better than anyone, and my job is to add to that knowledge, not correct it.

What I’m like in a session.

I’m usually on the floor, following the child’s lead. What a child chooses to do tells me far more than my plan does. Movement, interests, special topics and play are all great ways in, and I’m happy to be led there.

I also work with parents right beside me. I’ll share what I’m noticing and why I’m trying something, so you leave each visit with ideas that fit your family and your week. Parents know their child best, and I’m here to bring ideas and curiosity to that.

How I set up my space and day.

My session kit lives in a bag that’s organised in theory and a friendly chaos in practice, with a few sensory favourites always on top. I keep the gaps between sessions gentle (snack, quiet car, no emails) so I can arrive with energy for the family.

What I’m thinking about.

Lately, I’ve been sitting with a specific question: What is a child’s ‘no’ actually trying to communicate? I’m constantly working to fine-tune how I read those subtle cues—looking past behaviour to see whether the environment is too loud or bright, or if a nervous system simply needs a moment to catch its breath before we connect.

What keeps me regulated.

I feel most like myself when I’m connected with nature. A sunset walk is my favourite way to settle after a full day, and travelling and cafe hopping give me a change of scene and something to look forward to. What I do know is that looking after my own regulation shows me how much the body, the environment and the rhythm of a day matter for everyone, also for the children!

Where Agnes visits.

Agnes visits families around Melton, Sunbury, Bacchus Marsh, Geelong and Ballarat, on weekend mornings.

Melton: Melton, Melton West, Harkness, Kurunjang.

Geelong and Lara: Geelong, Lara, Avalon, Corio, Norlane, North Shore, North Geelong, Geelong West, East Geelong, South Geelong, Belmont, Highton, Grovedale, Waurn Ponds, Armstrong Creek, Mount Duneed, Batesford, Fyansford.

Sunbury and surrounds: Sunbury, Diggers Rest, Bulla, Toolern Vale, Gisborne South, Gisborne, New Gisborne, Riddells Creek, Macedon, Mount Macedon, Romsey.

Bacchus Marsh and towards Ballarat: Bacchus Marsh, Maddingley, Darley, Ballan, Gordon, Bungaree, Dunnstown.

Ballarat: Ballarat Central, Ballarat East, Brown Hill, Warrenheip, Mount Clear, Sebastopol, Delacombe, Alfredton, Soldiers Hill, Wendouree.

Not sure whether your suburb is covered? Tell us where you are when you enquire and we’ll confirm.

Tell us a little about your child.

Use the link below to enquire about working with Agnes. Nisha reviews enquiries and helps find a suitable match; our admin team gets back to you about options, visiting areas and next steps.

Once you’ve decided to go ahead, your OT contacts you to introduce themselves and plan the first visit.