Jacqui Barfoot Professional Development

Rich conversations and connection in Brisbane!

It was such a joy to spend two days with this wonderful group of practitioners exploring relational practice through Connect Play Learn.

One of the richest discussions we had was about how we collaborate with parents right from the start: setting goals that are meaningful to families, and having conversations about roles and expectations in therapy sessions. When we do this, and truly embody the principle of Mutual Competence, it becomes so much easier to involve families in sessions to find the next best steps forward.

And can we talk about the food at Victoria Park Function Centre? Absolutely amazing! We all reflected on how lovely it felt to be nurtured ourselves when we spend so much of our work offering support to children and families. 💛

Thank you to everyone who brought your insight, openness, and heart to the room. And thank you Carolina Acuna for your practical help on the day!

Last chance to register for CPD Empower in Sydney with Occupational Therapy Australia where I'll be delivering the Connect Play Learn training. Use the code EMP25NAT for a 10% discount:

otaus.com.au The Connect Play Learn program introduces the PAIR Model—a practical, evidence-informed framework that focuses on strengthening parent-child interactions and embedding relational practices into therapy sessions.

✨ My first LIVE online Connect Play Learn training is officially wrapped! ✨

Over 2 powerful days, 16 amazing practitioners dove deep into the PAIR Model and explored how to bring more connection, co-regulation, and relational intent into their everyday therapy.

The discussions were rich, the reflections were real, and the feedback was incredible:
🗣 “This has changed my practice.”
🗣 “I wish I’d done this sooner!”

It was such a privilege to hold space for this group - and I’m already looking forward to doing it all again in November.
Want to join the next LIVE round? Keep an eye out for details coming soon!

📍 For more information: jacquibarfoot.com/training

How do we support strong developmental outcomes and nurture parent confidence in early childhood intervention?

Research tells us that supporting an attuned parent-child relationship is one of the most powerful levers we have. But the busyness of everyday practice, and the pressures we often experience, can make this feel hard to focus on in sessions.

At the recent Occupational Therapy Australia National Conference, I had so many energising conversations with clinicians about how to embed a relational focus in everyday therapy - even in shorter term supports, with complex families, and within system constraints.

If you’re a practitioner looking for practical, evidence-informed ways to do just that, I’d love you to join me for Connect Play Learn this November.

🗓 Brisbane: 6 and 7 November 2025
📍 Face-to-face training | Victoria Park Golf Course

🗓 Adelaide: 13 and14 November 2025
📍 Face-to-face training | Glenelg Surf Club

🎯 Tools, reflection, and strategies to strengthen parent–child interactions
🌱 Based on the PAIR Model and current implementation research
🔗 Learn more or register: jacquibarfoot.com/training

Spots are limited for both locations.

🌱 Connect Play Learn – Upcoming Training Opportunities! 🌱

I’ve got a few different opportunities coming to join me for Connect Play Learn: a 2-day, evidence-based training grounded in relational practice and the PAIR Model. It's ideal for those working with young children with developmental difficulties and their families, who want to strengthen parent-child interactions as part of their everyday practice.

📍 Upcoming Dates and Locations:
🔹 30–31 October – Sydney in partnership with OT Australia (face to face)
🔹 6–7 November – Brisbane (in-person)
🔹 13–14 November – Adelaide (in-person)
🔹 20–21 November – Live Online (open to everyone)

👩‍🏫 What’s covered:
• Practical strategies to embed a relational focus in everyday sessions
• Tools to support parent-child interaction and mutual competence
• Reflective case discussions and real-life application
• Evidence and theory behind the PAIR Model

If you'd like more info or to register jacquibarfoot.com/training or email [email protected]

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Last week was huge!
I had the absolute pleasure of presenting two sessions at the Occupational Therapy Australia National Conference:

🟡 An oral presentation on an exploratory study with the Benevolent Society, where we tested goal attainment following training and implementation of the PAIR Model.

🟡 A workshop with Sheridan Prior on supporting parents to strengthen young children’s emotional regulation.

I had so many rich conversations about both topics, and loved the chance to connect with other clinicians and researchers doing incredible work.

Thank you OTA for the opportunity to present, collaborate, and learn. And how exciting that the OT Exchange Conference is coming to Brisbane next year!

Huge thank you to Ivy for helping me on my Connect Play Learn Stall at the National OT Conference in Adelaide!

A huge thank you to Ivy for being the ultimate sidekick at the National Occupational Therapy Australia Conference in Adelaide this week!

Ivy spent three full days helping me at my Connect Play Learn stall. Her enthusiasm, initiative, and eye for detail were invaluable.

It was such a joy to share this experience with her, and I’m so grateful for the energy and perspective she brought. Watch this space, I have a feeling this won’t be her last conference!

Thank you Laine Chilman for letting me have your daughter's wonderful company and keen advice!

Exciting to see my feature article in the Winter edition of OTA Connections Magazine!

Mutual Competence in Occupational Therapy: Power, partnership and parallel process

In this article, I reflect on how we can build authentic partnerships with people we work with, where strengths are recognised on both sides.

This piece draws from my clinical practice and research. I hope it sparks deeper conversations about what it means to work relationally in early childhood.

Big thanks Occupational Therapy Australia for the opportunity to contribute. I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve had a chance to read it!

Check out my feature article in the Winter Edition of the OTA Connections Magazine! Would love to hear your thoughts! 😀

(It's a bit hard to read as a screen shot! Apologies for that!)

🚨 Upcoming Connect Play Learn Trainings - Choose the Format That Works for You!

I’m excited to be offering multiple live training opportunities for Connect Play Learn - a practical, evidence-informed program that helps allied health professionals embed relational approaches in early intervention using the PAIR Model.

Here’s what’s coming up:

💻 LIVE Online – July 23 and 24
Limited spots remaining – early bird closes 16 May!

📍 LIVE in Brisbane – 6 & 7 November
2-day face-to-face training with full workbook and resource access

💻 LIVE Online – November 20 and 21
Interactive, small group format with optional reflective supervision

📍 LIVE in Sydney – 30 & 31 October (via OTA)
Book directly through OT Australia

📍 Adelaide & second Melbourne training – coming soon!

🖱️ More info or register: jacquibarfoot.com/training/

Let’s strengthen connection, co-regulation, and developmental outcomes, through relational practice that truly supports children and their families.

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