Family Focus OT was founded by Emma Beare.

Emma Beare studied Occupational Therapy at the University of South Australia, graduating in 1998.  She has since worked mostly with children with a wide range of disabilities and challenges and their families.  She has 20 years experience working with children with autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disability, developmental delays, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.




Emma has worked at Autism SA, Disability Services, Child Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), Muna Paiendi (Aboriginal Community Health Service) and SASRAPID (SA Sport and Recreation for People with Integration Difficulty).  She has worked in a community development role in Amata, APY lands (an Aboriginal community in central Australia), Samoa, Ecuador and the Adelaide Hills.  Emma has also worked as a  tutor in Occupational Therapy at the University of South Australia.

Emma has presented at state and national occupational therapy conferences on a range of topics including working with Aboriginal children and their families, Aquatic Therapy for Children with Autism and Mothers’ experiences of having a child with autism.

Emma won the inaugural Occupational Therapy Australia "Innovative Practice Award" in 2001 for setting up the Aquatic Therapy Program for children with Autism through SASRAPID (SA Sport and Recreation for People with Integration Difficulty).
 
Emma lives in the Adelaide Hills with her husband Matt and their 3  children.

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