Kristyne Smith

Keyworker / Development Therapist
Specialist Educator

As a Specialist Educator in Special Education and Early Childhood Education, I am experienced in working with children from the preschool years to young adults in the high school years, their families, teachers, and therapists.

When families, educators and therapists work together, our young people are supported to reach their full potential through a supportive client centred approach to therapy.

Keyworker / Transdisciplinary Practice

Using family centred approaches and collaborating in partnerships with families/carers and a range of professionals (such as speech pathologists, Occupational therapists, specialist educators) to build the capacity and confidence of all those involved in supporting and caring for children with disabilities and/or developmental delay.

Routine Based Intervention

Routine based intervention is powerful in allowing more functional therapy goals and strategies to be achieved. Through Routines based interviews I collaborate with families to establish areas of priority for families and identify strategies to support families through solutions focussed intervention. Areas of need may include; sleep and bedtime routines, relationships, meal time routines, transitions to preschool or school.

Learning & Readiness For School

Supporting families/carers to develop partnerships with other professionals. Supporting families, carers and early childhood educators to develop and implement strategies (through play, daily routines and interactions) to support children and their families in readiness for school.

Play

Play is a super important skill for all humans. It is considered a neural exercise and it assists development of so many skills as a person moves through their life. For children, it is the primary way they learn. It is crucial for language development, social interactions, development of regulation skills, motor skills … the list goes on. Play is not only a goal area but also a therapy tool. We assist children to increase their play skills, as well as the skills play assists, through increasing primary caregivers to be responsive to their own child’s play.

Professional Development Training

Keyworker / transdisciplinary practice

Zones of Regulation

Special Education

Learning Difficulties

Early Childhood Education

Positive Behaviour Support

Autism Spectrum Disorder