Functional Movement and Communication Strategies Workshop

Synopsis:

Breaking Barriers is a dynamic 10-hour blended learning workshop designed to elevate the confidence and capability of allied health professionals working with clients facing movement challenges—particularly those who struggle with or avoid floor-based transitions.

This workshop uniquely combines 2 hours of targeted online learning with an 8-hour, hands-on face-to-face practicum. The online component builds a strong theoretical foundation, while the in-person day transforms that knowledge into practical, client-ready strategies.

Whether you're a new graduate seeking structured guidance, a seasoned clinician looking to refresh your approach, or a professional working in community, disability, aged care, or rehabilitation settings—this workshop is for you.

What Sets This Workshop Apart?

Unlike generic movement training, Breaking Barriers integrates neuroscience, biomechanics, and communication science into a cohesive, evidence-informed framework. You’ll learn how to:

• Confidently assess and support clients with complex physical, cognitive, or emotional barriers to movement.
• Apply Polyvagal and Self-Efficacy theories to foster trust, reduce fear, and build client engagement.
• Use neurodevelopmental progression and biomechanical principles to guide safe, functional movement—especially floor transfers.
• Tailor coaching cues and communication styles to suit individual client needs, including those with neurological or musculoskeletal impairments.
• Recognise and respond to safety risks with clarity and confidence.

Practical Benefits for Participants

• Gain ready-to-use strategies for improving client outcomes in real-world settings.
• Build a toolkit of adaptable movement progressions and coaching techniques.
• Enhance your ability to support clients with pain, fatigue, cognitive impairments, or fear of movement.
• Leave with renewed confidence and a clear framework to guide your clinical reasoning and intervention planning.

This is more than a workshop—it’s a practice-enhancing experience that bridges theory and action, helping you deliver safer, more effective, and more empowering care.

Target Audience

This workshop is designed for allied health professionals of all experience levels who work with clients facing movement challenges, including those who perceive floor transfers as a barrier. Whether you are new to supporting clients or an experienced practitioner seeking to broaden your approach with innovative strategies, this workshop provides both foundational knowledge and advanced insights. This workshop aims to build confidence and competence in assisting clients with floor transfers, ensuring that participants leave with practical, actionable strategies to enhance their professional practice.

Meet Your Presenter - Jess Graham

Jess Graham is an experienced and passionate Exercise Physiologist with a specialised focus on paediatric and neurological rehabilitation for both children and adults. With over five years of clinical experience in the private sector, Jess is known for her ability to design and deliver personalised exercise programs that address the sensory and behavioural needs of her clients, resulting in improved engagement and therapeutic outcomes.

Her approach is rooted in a deep understanding of each client’s condition, context, and individual motivators. Jess creates dynamic and interactive sessions—particularly for paediatric clients—by incorporating play-based activities that make therapy enjoyable and effective. Her expertise in neurorehabilitation supports neuroplasticity and motor development, enhancing the impact of her interventions.

Jess’s commitment to excellence has been recognised through multiple accolades, including the 2023 Employee of the Year award at Optimum Health Solutions and Tasmania’s Employee of the Year award in 2021.

She holds a Bachelor of Exercise Physiology (Professional Honours) from the University of Tasmania (2019) and a Bachelor of Exercise Science (2018). Her passion for neurorehabilitation and paediatrics was sparked during her university placements and further cultivated through her role as a strength and conditioning coach for AFL Tasmania’s youth development program.

Jess has pursued extensive professional development in neurological rehabilitation, paediatric exercise prescription, balance and vestibular therapy, and autonomic nervous system regulation. She is also trained as a Behavioural Support Practitioner, equipping her with the skills to assess behavioural drivers and implement strategies that enhance client participation and outcomes.

Based at the Mornington clinic in Tasmania, Jess brings a holistic, empathetic, and evidence-based approach to her practice. Her dedication to continuous learning and innovation ensures that each client receives tailored support to achieve their goals and improve their quality of life.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Confidently assess and analyse client movement capabilities, considering their presentations and condition expectations.

2. Identify and address barriers, fears, or constraints preventing clients from attempting new movements, particularly floor transfers.

3. Apply biomechanics knowledge to adapt exercises, ensuring safety, functionality, and pain reduction while empowering clients through the Neurodevelopmental Sequence and other movement strategies.

4. Demonstrate practical understanding of the Neurodevelopmental Sequence, including positions like prone, supine, rolling, side-lying, and quadruped, and how to support clients in progressing through these positions.

5. Use effective communication and coaching techniques, including tailored cueing strategies, to enhance client engagement and movement execution.

6. Incorporate frameworks like Polyvagal Theory and Self-Efficacy to foster client buy-in and build confidence in attempting new movements.

7. Develop practical, realistic strategies for scaling and progressing movement challenges to align with individual client needs.

8. Recognise legal and safety considerations, including emergency response strategies, when supporting clients through movement tasks.