Mental Health & Wellbeing

Staff Spotlight: Welcome Patricia Capino!

Registered Occupational Therapist

We are thrilled to introduce a new face to the Buninyong PS team this year. Patricia Capino will be joining us every Wednesday as our very own Occupational Therapist.

Her Role at Buninyong PS

Patricia will largely be based out of "The Cottage," but you’ll also see her frequently across our school grounds, including at Scotsburn. As part of her collaborative role, she will spend significant time within our classrooms and with teachers to:

Observe students to better understand their learning needs.
Review classroom environments to ensure we are creating an inclusive learning area where students with sensory difficulties can thrive
Supporting early intervention strategies to help our youngest students thrive.
Building teacher capacity in making reasonable adjustments to support our students with an OT lens
Building capacity and knowledge within our Education Support Team in supporting students with more complex learning needs

At this stage Patricia won’t be working with individual students, as her role is going to be supporting our school’s journey to continue to provide an environment that supports all learners.

Get to Know Patricia

Patricia is a Registered Occupational Therapist with six years of specialised experience working with children of all abilities. Her background is impressive; she previously served as a Clinical Excellence Lead in the Philippines, where she mentored fellow therapists and championed family-centered, evidence-based care.

Her Philosophy:

Strengths-Based Care: Patricia operates with a neurodiversity-affirming lens, focusing on what children can do and building from there.
Play-Based Growth: She believes that therapy should be engaging and joyful, helping children find independence in their daily routines.
The Power of Early Intervention: Patricia is passionate about providing timely support, ensuring children build the confidence and foundational skills necessary for a lifelong love of learning.

We are so lucky to have her expertise on-site to support our students and staff alike. If you see her around on a Wednesday, please be sure to say hello!

Programs and Support

Please find below some great external programs and groups to support our neurodivergent community. Please reach out to Jarrod Rodgers if you have any questions about the programs below.

BEING ME - Neuro-affirming Programme for Autistic Young People

BEING ME — Now Open for April 2026 Booking

Over the 10 weeks, with 4–8 young people and 1 or 2 Specialist Autistic Mentors, we’ll move through themes that support connection, insight, and self-understanding:

Session 1: Getting to know each other – sharing joys, glimmers, and interests.

Session 2: Neurodiversity and intersecting identities.

Session 3: What is ‘autism’? What does being Autistic mean to me and others?

Session 4: Communication, socialising, and friendships.

Session 5 & 6: Sensory experiences.

Session 7 & 8: Looking after myself.

Session 9: Self-advocacy.

Session 10: Wrapping up and moving forward.

Suitability: Age 8–12 or 12–16. (The programme follows the same topics, but the approach is adapted for the different age groups and further personalised for the participants.)

Find out more: gr0ve.org/being-me

Tech Strategies for Families

When: Monday, 23 February 2026, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Where: Ballarat Family Relationship Centre, 34 Peel St North, Bakery Hill, Vic
Detail: Reflect on the challenges and opportunities of technology. Explores strategies for creating a safe and healthy tech environment for your family based on current research.

Triple P Online: Children and Screens

Detail: A free evidence-based toolkit for Australian families with children under 12. Focuses on healthy digital habits, online safety, and managing screen-time transitions.
Access: Triple P Parenting

Ongoing Support

Monday Meetups for Parent Carers of Neurodivergent Children (Online)

A peer-led space created by and for carers.

Focus: Calm and regulate the nervous system, explore daily strategies, and join an empathy circle with those who truly understand the journey.
Disclaimer: This group offers peer support, not professional coaching or therapy.
Organiser: Samantha Wittenberg | 0490 501 671 | samantha.wittenberg@gmail.com