Sense Rugby is a rugby-based occupational therapy group for children aged 4 to 12 who find it hard to be part of a sports team. Naturally Kids Allied Health is the exclusive Sense Rugby licensee in Townsville, and every session is run by our Occupational Therapists and Allied Health Assistants.
Your child doesn’t need to know any rugby, and you don’t need a diagnosis or referral to enquire. We start with what your child enjoys and does well, then build the skills around it, in a play-based, movement-based group where nobody is expected to fit in first.
Here is what your child gets when they join a Sense Rugby group with us.
Our team sets up pairs and small teams and coaches simple social moves in the moment, like asking to join in or passing to a friend.
Sense Rugby may suit your child if they avoid team games, find noise, crowds or contact overwhelming, react strongly to winning or losing, or struggle to join in at the park or playground. It is not the right first step for every child. Some do better with one-to-one occupational therapy first, and many do both.
If you are not sure, call us. We will talk through your child’s strengths, what you would like to change, and whether a group, individual sessions or both make sense. If we are not the right fit, we will help guide you to other options.
Sense Rugby runs weekly during school terms, for children aged 4 to 12. Wednesdays at Townsville District Rugby Union
Sessions times are as follows:
Call or send an enquiry. Our intake team gives you up-to-date waitlist information.
Sense Rugby is run by our Townsville team of paediatric Occupational Therapists and Allied Health Assistants. They work every day with children and teens, including those with autism, ADHD and developmental coordination differences. Occupational Therapists and Senior Allied Health Assistants plan and lead each session, and work alongside the children in the group. Meet our Townsville team to see their roles and our peak body memberships.
We have run Sense Rugby in Townsville for over four years. The program was started in 2015 by paediatric Occupational Therapist Carlien Parahi and rugby sevens Olympian Jesse Parahi.
We are neurodiversity affirming and trauma informed. We change the environment and build on what your child loves, rather than asking them to fit in first.
Individual therapy at our West End clinic or in your home, school or community, plus group programs: Joey’s Mob, Dungeons & Dragons and Minecraft Blockbusters.
Our West End clinic has a sensory gym and quiet therapy rooms, and our mobile team travels across the region.
We are a social enterprise, and surplus is reinvested into programs for children and families.
We explain funding and waitlist times upfront, and no diagnosis or referral is needed to enquire.
Children aged 4 to 12.
No. You can contact us directly.
It depends on your child and their goals. The section above explains what to consider, or call us and we will talk it through.
We can assist in coping strategies to help children adjust to noise, space and contact, and sessions follow a predictable routine. Tell us what overwhelms your child and we will plan around it.
Yes. Many children build core skills in individual sessions and then join a group to practise with peers.
Sense Rugby is run by Occupational Therapists and focuses on participation, emotional regulation and social skills, not on competing or winning.
Depending on your child’s plan and goals, it may be possible. Ask us before you book.
