Robin Southerington

About me

I am a registered and endorsed Mental Health Occupational Therapist, practicing since 2013 across the public and private sectors. Working predominantly with neurodivergent teens and adults, I value meeting clients and their families where they are, and supporting them to build ways of living that enhance their quality of life. I am passionate about working holistically with my clients and their support networks in a manner that is affirming and champions a person's self-determination. I am also currently a passionate supervisor of occupational therapists both internally and externally across a breadth of experience.

I bring my lived experience as a parent, caregiver, and member of the LGBTQIA+ community to all areas of my clinical and operational practice. Outside of work, I enjoy creative pursuits such as reading and knitting, and spending time with family and friends (particularly where board games are involved!) I am forever adding new hobbies to my list of interests, and enjoy the process of lifelong learning in all areas.

My experience

Current role:
- Senior Occupational Therapist (Allay Occupational Therapy; 2016- current)
Within my current role, I hold a combination of clinical and operational responsibilities, including provision of supervision to occupational therapists across a range of clinical experience.

Previous experience:
- Youth Mental Health Clinician (Ballarat Health Services, 2013-2014)
- Adult Mental Health Clinician (Barwon Health, 2014-2017; 2016-2017 part time role)

My current role/work

I am a community-based OT working with private clients (predominantly NDIS/Medicare/private health) with a primary diagnosis relating to a mental health condition. I work with a range of modalities in a bottom-up approach to support people to build a life that is meaningful to them and enhances their quality of life. I work with diagnoses including autism, ADHD, schizophrenia, and PTSD (including C-PTSD), utilising body-based, sensory and trauma-responsive strategies to support people to achieve their goals.

As a member of the operational leadership team, I have a range of responsibilities including staff training, practice development, and direct staff supervision.

My training

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours), with thesis in Remotivational Process

Clinical and Professional Supervision:
2018 - 2-day workshop with Michelle Bihary on "Professional Supervision", with team-wide provision repeated in 2019
2019 - 2-day workshop with Michelle Bihary on "Leadership Development"

My approach to supervision

With a focus on building a safe space to explore and develop clinical practice, I bring a strengths-focused and neurodivergent-affirming lens to my supervision. I am guided by the person I am working with, and value working collaboratively with my supervisees to build a supervision approach that best fits their needs and goals within their supervision spaces.